It might seem strange that you’re asking how to place a rug in a living room, but there’s actually a fair amount to consider. At Rugs Direct, we’re proud to offer the finest and largest collection of rugs in the UK. From small flatweave rugs for outdoor use to large sheepskin rugs to complete, we sell small rugs, large rugs, and bespoke-sized rugs for domestic and commercial use.

How you choose to place your rug in your living room depends on a few factors, which we will discuss below. You might want to choose a rug from our selection beforehand and then use the information below to know how to place it in your living room once purchased.

Take a look at our top tips below on how to place a rug in a living room.

Try Placing Your Living Room Rug Under Furniture

Don’t be afraid to place your living room or dining room rug under furniture. It’s important to take measurements of your chosen rug to ensure it fits comfortably underneath your furniture. If you’re buying a large area rug, you ideally want it to hold all your furniture within it, including tables and chairs. However, if this isn’t possible, just make sure that as long as your living room rug is able to hold the coffee table or dining table, the surrounding chairs can be separate from the rug.

With that being said, there is an unwritten rule that dining room rugs should be big enough to hold both the dining table and surrounding chairs. This includes when the chairs (or seating areas) are pulled out.

Additional Factors to Consider on How to Place a Rug in a Living Room

We all have different sized and shaped living rooms, so placing a rug sometimes isn’t as simple as “placing it underneath the furniture”. We’ve tried to simplify living room spaces into three categories to help you identify which living space you’re working with so you’re better able to know how to position your living room rug.

Smaller Living Rooms

For smaller living rooms, it’s advised you opt for a smaller rug, something like a 5x8. You can position this rug in a few ways, either under a coffee table/eating and seating area, or centrally (if you don’t have a table) or jutting out from the sofa. However, if you want to give the illusion that your living room is bigger than it is, you can buy a large rug that’s able to hold all your furniture to help unify the living space.

Medium Living Rooms

Medium-sized living rooms should go bigger, something like a 9x10 or 11 and anchor your furniture (like your sofa) so that only your front legs are on top of the rug. Be sure to measure your rug beforehand so that the sides of the rug extend beyond the sides of the sofa.

Large Living Rooms

For large living rooms, we’d go with our biggest rug sizes, which is about 9’2x11’10 and using this rug as the focal point of your living room. A rug of this size should comfortably fit most coffee tables, dining tables and chairs, and be sure to place these in the centre of the rug. As stated above, your rug should be big enough to hold the chairs even when they’re not tucked in.

Of course, if you’d prefer to move your rug into a different area of the room, for example, if you don’t eat in the middle of your living room, or you have a work desk positioned somewhere in your living room, then position the rug here.

If you find the dimensions of our rugs don’t align with your needs, you can still apply the same principles to your large living room space. Alternatively, we may be able to create a bespoke rug to match your required size options.

Other Tips to Consider When Buying a Rug for Your Home

Cover High Traffic Areas with Rugs

Areas that commonly encounter high levels of foot traffic might do well to have a durable rug. This includes entranceways, the bottom of your staircase, underneath kitchen sinks and anywhere you frequently walk upon. The key is to buy a rug that’s big enough and durable enough to withstand heavy foot traffic. Otherwise, you risk your flooring developing strange scuff patterns and general wear and tear.

Splash Out on Your Rug

Rugs can be expensive, but the way we see it, we’d rather you purchase rugs of genuine quality that complement your living space and stand the test of time than pay less for something that won’t last a year. Large rugs are an investment and a focal point of your living room. It will see everyday use as well as constant foot traffic, so when you return home, you want a rug that boasts exceptional quality and durability.

Don’t go cheap when it comes to living room rugs, take a look at our wide range of small and large rugs to get an idea of the size and style you want.

Enhance Your Living Room’s Interior Design Today

Rugs Direct is here to help you enhance your living room design with one (or more) of our premium rugs. Whether you’re looking to line your coffee table with a small flat weave rug, or you’re looking for a large plush rug to become the focal point of your living room, we have you covered.

Explore our huge range of stylish modern rugs for today or get in touch directly for any bespoke rugs.