Darren Palmer has a broad portfolio, having studied fine art & graphic design, originally working in advertising and owning his own graphic design company. After succumbing to his true passion, Darren now operates his own interior design studio and has been a judge on numerous seasons of The Block.
The purpose of a rug is to demarcate a space and add a decorative element to your space. The beauty of rugs is they can be used in any space, even outdoors. What people often aren’t sure of is where to put a rug, and what size and shape it should be in each setting.
Here's my guide on how to position a rug in your space:
HOW TO POSITION A RUG IN A LIVING ROOM
Let’s start with the biggest space, the living room. Big rugs make dramatic statements and small rugs can look timid and underwhelming. Usually, the bigger the better!
As a guide, allow for the original flooring of the room to show around the boundary of the space, leaving approximately 300mm (minimum), so that your rug doesn’t overwhelm the floor.
That said, a rug needs to be big; big enough to put all the feet of the furniture within the room on the rug. Ideally, the furniture should sit on the rug with 5-10cm of the rug visible behind or beside the feet.
HOW TO POSITION A RUG IN A BEDROOM
The right rug for one bedroom won't necessarily be right for another, however, the rug position in a bedroom is just as important as any.
Here are some important rules of thumb on how to position a rug under a bed:
- When using a rectangular rug underneath a bed, avoid the temptation to push it to the foot of the bed; otherwise your feet will fall on the hard floor each morning.
- Ensure your rug sits in front of your bedside tables, or your bedside tables sit on the rug. This will tie all the elements together, giving you something soft to have beneath your feet before you call it a night.
- Alternatively, use a rug for decorative effect. Placing a rug under one corner of a bed creates an interesting break of shape on the floor.
- For a large bedroom, apply the same rule as a large living room.
- For a reading nook, use the rug as an island for the chair, side table, and floor lamp.
HOW TO POSITION A RUG UNDER A DINING TABLE
Round rug:
If you have a round dining table, then a round rug makes sense. Ensure it’s big enough to pull out the chairs, leaving the feet on an even level.
Rectangle rug:
The same principle applies for a rectangular dining table; the ideal size is up to 1.5m wider and longer than the dining table itself.
