How to Size & Place a Living Room Rug | Silk Road Rugs WA

Just imagine you’ve just bought a stunning living room rug, but it ends up being either too small or too big. Frustrating right?

Choosing the right area rug size and placement can be tricky, especially when you’re picturing how it will tie your lounge together.

But fear not! In this guide, we’ll walk through measuring, choosing, and positioning your living room rug. So, you can pick a rug that anchors your seating area and flows perfectly with your furniture.

Let’s dig in.

Measure Before You Buy | Determining the Ideal Rug Size for Living Room

Start by measuring your lounge furniture and room dimensions. The goal is to cover the major seating area without jamming the rug against the walls.

A common rule is that the rug should extend about 20–30 cm wider on each side of your sofa. In other words, measure your sofa’s length and add roughly half a metre (twice 25 cm) to get the rug’s length.

For example, if your sofa is 200 cm long, consider a rug at least 260–280 cm long so it extends beyond the sofa ends.

Likewise, leave space between the rug and walls. We suggest keeping around 40 cm of floor exposed between the rug edge and the walls for a balanced look. This border lets the rug frame the seating area without making the room feel smaller.

For example, in a 4 m wide living room you might choose a rug around 3 m wide (leaving 40–50 cm on each side) to allow floor space to show.

Quick Rug Measuring Tips:

• Measure your sofa and chairs – Add 20–30 cm on the sides to find the rug’s length.
• Plan for furniture overlap – Rugs can be tucked partially under furniture. Ensure the rug is large enough that major pieces (sofa, coffee table, chairs) still have ‘room’ on it. Even if all legs can’t sit on the rug, try to keep at least the front legs of sofas/chairs on it.
• Consider layout – For L-shaped or sectional sofas, use a single large rug (or a custom shape) that covers the entire seating footprint.
• Don’t forget scale – A small rug in a big room can look lost. It’s better to size up and trim smaller rugs if needed than to undercut the space.

Use a tape measure and painter’s tape to outline your sofa area on the floor. Visualise the rug by marking the dimensions you calculated. This real-space mockup helps avoid buying an undersized rug.

Living Room Rug Sizes & Best Uses for Every Space

Below is a handy reference guide for common rug dimensions and how they work in different types of living room with rug layouts:

Key points:

• A standard 3×5 ft (90×150 cm) runner rug or mat might serve well at an entrance, but it’s too small for a living room seating zone.
• A large 9×12 ft (270×360 cm) rug is large enough to accommodate most living room furniture. All legs of the sofa and chairs should be placed on a rug this size.

How to Choose the Right Material & Style for Your Living Room Rug

Aside from size, consider the material and design.

In Perth’s climate, wool rugs are a cozy, durable choice that add warmth in cooler months. Our pure wool rugs come in rich textures that hide footprints and wear well under sofas.

For a lighter look or high-sunlight rooms, cotton rugs are breathable and usually easier to wash (great if you have kids or pets). Bold patterns or colours can hide stains better than plain light rugs.

Further, at Silk Road Rugs WA, you’ll see that our modern rugs (with geometric or abstract designs) and classic wool rugs (with timeless Persian-style motifs) each offer something unique.

• modern rugs often feature flatweave or low pile for easy cleaning
• classic rugs add an elegant, vintage feel.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget practicality:

For a busy family room, choose rugs labeled stain-resistant or easy-clean. And always use a non-slip underlay (available in-store) to keep the rug in place underfoot and protect your floor.

Rug Placement Rules: How to Position Living Room Rug the Right Way

Proper rug placement is key to making a space feel cohesive. Here are four common strategies to create a different vibe in your living room:

1. All Furniture on the Rug

When space and budget allow, place every seating piece (sofa, chairs, side tables) on the rug.

This anchors the entire conversation area on one ‘island,’ unifying the layout. It works beautifully for large rugs (e.g. 240×330 cm or bigger) in open-plan lounges. This approach feels grounded and is ideal for modular sofas or sectional lounges.

2. Front Legs On

A very popular rule is to position only the front legs of your sofa and chairs on the rug.

This keeps them visually connected but allows some floor space showing behind. It helps avoid an oversized feel if the rug can’t reach under every leg. We recommend at least the front legs on rug for a balanced look.

This is perfect for medium rugs (like 150×240 or 200×300) in average-sized rooms.

3. Rug Floating (Off the Rug)

For very small rugs or oddly shaped lounges, you can let the rug float in front of furniture.

In this case, place the sofa and chairs around the rug rather than on it, using the rug as an accent rather than a base. For example, a cozy reading chair can sit beside a small round rug in a corner, or a statement coffee table can rest on an accent rug with just the table legs on it.

This is a bolder, more casual layout, best for rugs like 120×180 or 150×240.

4. 18-Inch Rule

For large living rooms, leave around 18 inches; 45 cm of bare floor visible between the rug and the walls.

In smaller spaces, shrink that buffer to roughly 20 cm so the rug doesn’t seem lost. Either way, having some floor around the rug frames the area and keeps proportions balanced.

Quick Rug Placement Tips:

• Don’t jam the rug under doors or entry points; make sure furniture can pull back without catching on the rug edges.
• Experiment with placement in your space like center the rug in the seating area for symmetry, or offset it slightly for a casual feel.
• Consistency is key; make sure the rug repeats an element of your decor (colour or pattern) to tie it together.

What About Placing Irregular or Round Rugs in Your Living Room?

Most rugs are rectangular, but don’t overlook irregular shaped rugs!

Unique or irregular rug shapes like ovals, circles, kidney shapes, free-form can add artistic flair. They make great focal points in your living room & modern or boho spaces. They are ideal for defining zones in open-plan living areas, softening sharp furniture edges, or accentuating features like a coffee table.

Whereas, round rug under a circular coffee table creates a distinct nook.

If you have an awkwardly shaped sofa or an asymmetrical layout, consider a custom rug shape. We offer many odd-size and custom rug options that can be tailored to your space.

Quick Visual Checklist: How to Size & Place Your Living Room Rug

Got a tricky space? Not sure what will fit? Or looking for that just-right rug size and style?

Find Your Perfect Living Room Rug at Silk Road Rugs WA

Our friendly team can advise you on the living room carpet size and layout that will transform your space. Browse our wide range of modern rugs (for a contemporary look) or classic rugs (rich Persian and traditional patterns) to see how they might fit in your lounge.

Flexible layouts, quality materials, and the right dimensions can make your living room inviting and balanced.

Shop Living Room Rugs Now

Contact us or visit our rug store in Mirrabooka.  Our experts will guide you on how to lay rug in your living area for the best effect – no guesswork needed.

Let us turn your flooring woes into wow!