A true centrepiece, you can use a rug as inspiration for the rest of your sitting room by taking cues from its colour, pattern and texture. The difficult part, of course, is selecting a design in the first place.

Finding a rug that matches your preferences on all three of the above criteria is just the start. Size, material, pile and shape are also important factors. Then, you need to figure out how to position it in your space. Keep reading for our tips on how to choose and place the perfect rug for your home.

 

 

What Size Rug is Best for a Sitting Room?

To find the right-sized rug for your sitting room, a good starting point is to measure the length and width of your whole room, not just the floor space. The general rule is ‘the bigger, the better’. However, you need to make sure it won’t get in the way of any fixtures and fittings such as fireplaces, plug sockets and doorways.

One way to find the ideally sized rug is to measure around the periphery of your central furniture. Doing this ensures at least two feet of each piece of furniture will come into contact with the rug’s surface and help create a complete, considered design.

To get a floor covering that fits in perfect proportions with your sofa, make sure the rug:

-Is longer than your seating area, as this gives a sense of spaciousness

-Is wide or big enough for at least a third of your sofa to stand on it, helping it stay in place and tie in with the rest of the room

Finally, make sure there is a good amount of exposed floor space between the edge of your rug and the room. A 45cm gap is considered a good rule of thumb. Ideally, this should be equally spaced around the whole perimeter to create a balanced look. 

How to Place a Rug in a Sitting Room

The way you place a rug in a sitting room affects the overall impression of your living space. One important error to avoid is the “floating rug” phenomenon. This is when a rug is too small and sits in the centre of a space without coming into contact with a single piece of furniture. This disconnects the rug from all the other room elements, which is the opposite of what we are trying to achieve.

Placing at least two feet of your furniture pieces on a rug, particularly if it’s in the centre, is one way to avoid this problem. Alternatively, you can choose a rug that’s large enough for all of your furniture to fully sit on. Just make sure it doesn’t come into direct contact with the wall. 

Other ways you can place rugs in a room include:

-To create zones in open-plan areas, such as one rug under your dining table and chairs and another under your sofa or other seating

-Reflecting the symmetry of your furniture. For example, placing a circular rug under a round coffee table

-Marking out walkways around furnished spaces. This helps to protect and add comfort to high-traffic areas 

 

 

What are the Best Rug Materials?

The comfort and durability of your rug is determined by the type of material it’s made from, so it’s worth spending time thinking about what features you want. For example, consider your lifestyle and amount of traffic in your room. Spaces with lots of footfall will require a more durable material, as will homes with children and pets.

To help you further, we’ve outlined some of the benefits of the most popular rug materials.

Wool

An enduring favourite due partly to its versatility, wool rugs are soft underfoot and, if cared for properly, can last for decades. Warm, hypoallergenic and great for sound absorption, designs range from thin, flat weaves to thick shag piles. 

Cotton and Linen

These natural fibres may be less durable, but they are more affordable and far easier to clean than other materials. Some cotton rugs can even be put in the washing machine. They also come in a huge range of patterns and colours as well as being breathable, which helps with the room’s air circulation and temperature control. Many of our rugs feature a cotton backing to a wool or jute yarn weave which adds to their durability.

Jute

This coarse fibre is less plush but extremely hard-wearing, meaning this is an ideal material for high-traffic living spaces. They can be easily vacuumed and spot cleaned. Plus, they’re affordable, suitable for people with allergies and sustainably sourced. 

Silk

One of the most expensive rug styles you can buy, these designs are often intricately woven. As this luxurious material requires professional cleaning and can wear easily if overused, it shouldn’t be placed in areas of high traffic. However, if you want a piece that’s intricate and beautiful, silk rugs are a great option.

PET - Recycled Plastic Bottles

A more unusual option that we offer is recycled plastic bottles, which offers a much softer tread than you might imagine. Other benefits of this weave include, of course, that it is incredibly eco friendly, and also that it lends the rug weather-resistant qualities that make it perfect for both indoor and outdoor use. 

High Pile vs. Low Pile

A rug’s pile – meaning the design’s fibre density and thickness – can completely alter its look, feel and longevity.

Low-Pile Rugs: If you’re looking for a rug that can be cleaned easily, opt for designs such as a dhurrie or kilim rug. With shorter fibres, these styles are sturdy and can be easily vacuum cleaned.

High Pile Rugs: With their taller, looser fibres, these styles of rug can be trickier to take care of. They are, however, wonderfully warm and soft underfoot, endowing a space with a more luxurious feel (only silk designs, which are usually low-pile, can rival them on this). These deeper styles make perfect bedroom or living room rugs.

 

What Shape of Rug is Best in a Sitting Room?

When it comes to the shape of your rug, don’t feel restricted by rectangles. Look to the room itself for inspiration, and seek a format that complements your existing furniture and layout.

Irregular Shapes

Rugs featuring more unusual silhouettes, such as triangles, hexagons or even novelty shapes, are fun and whimsical. However, they can be difficult to incorporate into a scheme. Smaller living rooms are a great place to experiment with abstract forms, especially if you follow the positioning rules above to create a tied-together look. 

Circular Rugs

Circular rugs are great for reflecting similarly shaped furniture. For example, if you have a circular table, placing a rug that matches its curved outline directly beneath will make it a focal point. They’re also great for creating cosy zones, particularly in unusually-shaped rooms. 

Rectangular and Square Rugs

Those with more angular furniture will find a square or rectangular rug their best port of call. They’re great for maintaining flow through contemporary spaces and enhancing minimalist, elegant looks. They’re also ideal for covering large areas. 

Runners

To delineate and protect walkways in your sitting room, runners are ideal. Placing them in front of cabinets, sofas or by window nooks can help add coziness and create zones within your space. Plus, they stop your floor being worn out by high footfall. 

 

 

What Colour Rug is Best for a Sitting Room?

Once you’ve narrowed down the size, shape and pile, it’s time to choose your rug’s colour and pattern. When you’re selecting your shade, keep the size, atmosphere and use of your room in mind. For example, a large dark rug might feel too oppressive but might be useful for hiding dirt in smaller rooms.

Below are some starting points to help you narrow down your options. 

Match Your Sofa

In many living rooms, the sofa or seating is a major focal point. Choosing a shade that’s complimentary to this furniture will ensure there’s no design clash and help tie the room design together. Opt for patterns with matching hues or similar shades with contrasting textures. 

Complement Your Floor

The shade of your carpet or a hard floor will impact your rug colour choice. For example, you could contrast a dark hard floor with a pastel hue or select an abstract pattern to stand out on neutral carpet. If your flooring has a pattern or texture, then choosing block colours will be more complimentary. 

Opt For Neutral

A print needn’t be loud. Seek a linear pattern such as stripes or chevrons in muted hues to add interest to a minimalist interior. Browns and warm greys are ideal for adding warmth into neutral designs, with beige and cream offering cooler options.

Make a Bright Statement

Don’t be afraid to go bold. Much like cushions, rugs can introduce uplifting pops of colour in a subtle manner. Their position on the floor, plus the fact that they are often hidden by furniture, makes them a great way to introduce a little dash of daring design.

 

Set the Tone with Your Rug

For those who are yet to start decorating their living room, a rug is the perfect place to begin. Think about how you want the rest of the room to look and feel, and try to find a design that emulates this.

Once you’ve settled on your dream piece, use it as a springboard for the rest of the space, picking out similar shades to create synergy across the room.