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How to Choose a Rug for Your Dining Room
Measure Well to Be Sure You (and Your Dining Chairs) Have Room to Move
I am an Interior Decorator in PA, stitching my urban roots into suburban spaces from NY to Philly. I am living my dream helping people achieve inspirational spaces. Visit me at www.loveyourroom.com and check out my blog for inspirational ideas.
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It takes a little thought to find the right rug for your dining space. It should be long and wide enough on all sides to allow for chairs to slide in and out, and you have to watch out for other pieces of furniture you place in the room.
For a standard dining table (42" x 64") that seats 4-6, a rug that measures 8' x 10' is usually a good place to begin. But there other considerations that affect the size and style rug that you decide to use.
I recently researched area rugs for a clients' dining room. It was a tricky situation because the room was narrow. I needed to visualize the rug size, so I used painter’s tape to map out the size it could be on the floor, then shopped for a similar sized rug. Here are some other pointers to help in your search:
For a standard dining table (42" x 64") that seats 4-6, a rug that measures 8' x 10' is usually a good place to begin. But there other considerations that affect the size and style rug that you decide to use.
I recently researched area rugs for a clients' dining room. It was a tricky situation because the room was narrow. I needed to visualize the rug size, so I used painter’s tape to map out the size it could be on the floor, then shopped for a similar sized rug. Here are some other pointers to help in your search:
by Amoroso Design
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Arrange your furniture BEFORE determining your rug size. You should measure where your area rug will end so the rug does not get caught under the front of your server, sideboard, corner cupboard, or other piece of furniture.
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Make sure your rug size includes some chair room. Measure the top of the table and add 24-30 inches to each side so you have room to easily pull out and push in a chair while sitting in it. It’s really a hassle if the dining room rug is not large enough and the back legs of your chair keep going over the edge of the rug.
Tip: Synthetic, machine-made rugs might be a better choice for your dining room because they allow chairs to slide easier than hand-knotted or hand-tufted rugs.
Tip: Synthetic, machine-made rugs might be a better choice for your dining room because they allow chairs to slide easier than hand-knotted or hand-tufted rugs.
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| If your dining space is set up so the table is centered but the rug is not, try a rug with an all-over design and no defining border or center medallion. This way your eye will not pick up on where the rug's center and edges actually are. |
| Leave breathing room between rug and wall. A large rug should leave at least 8 inches between it and the wall. A good rule of thumb in a dining room is to keep 18 inches of flooring uncovered around the perimeter of the room to showcase your rug and make your room feel larger. This will also assure that any floor registers and radiators will not be covered by rug. |
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Choose a rug shape that accentuates the shape of the table. If you have a round table, a round rug will look great. Remember to add 24-30 inches all around to your table's diameter so the chairs have room to slide in and out.
by Habachy Designs
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If you have a square table, opt for a square rug shape to complement the table. And if you have a shiny finish on your table, choose a smashingly bold rug color.
by Niche Interiors
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A dining room rug in a bold pattern and color can be the focal point of your room.
by Nicole Hollis
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Use a rug with a small pattern or a light tone to make a dining room feel larger and more airy.
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Your rug color can help define a room and make it feel cozy. The rug color is the base for enhancing the color and texture of your dining room set. Contrast the stain color to make your furniture stand out.
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by twenty7 design
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| For an eclectic feel, consider layering short-pile soft faux animal hide rugs to create the look of a larger one. It adds texture and softness to your floor.
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For a long table in a narrower room, you can place two solid rugs side-by-side to cover the length without increasing width.
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| Another affordable way to get the custom size you need is to have a remnant cut and the ends bound to the dimensions you want. |
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| In a room where you want to show off the floor, select a smaller size rug in a tone or pattern that picks up on other elements in the space. This rug picks up on the wall color, and its leafy pattern has tones similar to the furniture and art work. The room looks harmonious. |
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If you want to downplay the existing floor, select a large rug with a bolder, vivacious overall pattern. Leave at least 8 inches between the rug and the wall.
| You may have a situation where you have no choice but to place the front legs of a buffet table or other furniture on the rug. Shim the back legs to keep the piece level.
More: 11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them Oriental Rugs Beyond the Living Room 21 Ways to Arrange Carpet Tiles Like a Pro |
Comments
camielle Any reccomendations on where to look for rugs? I've been looking for a rug for my dining room for a while now to fit a particular color scheme and am struggling to find one I like, though I only know of a few fairly known places online to look - typically I gear toward PB or Ballard Designs styling. I've looked at RH, but their new style is more muted than I want to go. Thanks!
23 months ago · Like
bepsf I agree with everything here except the statement recommending synthetic rugs - Wool is naturally stain resistant, no more difficult to slide a chair on than a synthetic rug and far more durable & resistant to matting under table & chair legs.
22 months ago · Like
elianen Excellent taste and simply beautiful...
22 months ago · Like
UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES Shoshana, this is an excellent piece. Thank you for sharing this info.
22 months ago · Like
mrsben Wonderful tips. Thanks you!
22 months ago · Like
dawnwinds58 In the second photo there are some absolutely fabulous chairs in a paisley-type pattern. Any information on their source would be greatly appreciated. There's an idea for a book, incorporating paisleys into your home. I am a life long fan of paisleys, from the muted calming color blends such as those chairs to rich vibrant 'statement' jewel tones. 
22 months ago · Like
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dawnwinds58 If those paisleys don't suit modern tastes, how about these? 
22 months ago · Like
CAROLE MEYER Beautiful examples......I found in our home that because I was using a neutral color palette I needed to add texture and design to pop up the look. This Chevron stripe rug came from West Elm and is a great price.....I love the look. See below....Carole www.carolemeyerart.com 
22 months ago · Like
flopsycat1 We love the look of this Native American rug design with the contemporary decor of our Arizona desert home. 
22 months ago · Like
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gwen mckay i think some of these ideas were good
22 months ago · Like
mkowata I love this post. I've learned so much. Thank you!
3 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on July 13, 2011.
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