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Design by Mark D. Sikes

A:

So the general rule is that your rug should be big enough for the front legs of all your living room furniture to sit on it. We want to avoid a small rug that floats in the middle of the room without touching any furniture.

Since a 9’x12′ rug is still too small for Katie’s room, I’m assuming that the room is quite large and the furniture is spaced out so here are my suggestions –

A) Buy a bigger rug. If you’re ok parting with your current rug, find one that’s large enough for the front legs of your furniture to sit on it. Or even better, find one that’s big enough for all the legs of your furniture to sit on it. 11’x14′ or larger is a good place to start.

B) If you’re attached to your current rug…the one that’s too small…try layering rugs. A solid colored wool or jute rug is a great base and a patterned rug on top may be just what you need to accommodate for size without sacrificing style!

C) If it doesn’t feel too cramped, try scooting your furniture in closer together. It’s possible that pulling the furniture in tighter will create a more connected space and you’ll avoid having to purchase a new rug! Side note: If you pull your furniture in closer, I give you permission to move your couch away from the wall. In fact, I often prefer it that way!

For more rug tips, check out these posts –

Rug Size + Placement Guide
(I put together a bunch of rug size guides for each room of the house to help you find a size that fits your space.)

The Best (+ Worst) Rugs for High Traffic Rooms
(Cause we all know how frustrating it is to see a brand new rug get ruined from foot traffic!)