Choosing the Rug Size for Your Living Room or Entryway

What’s the right size rug for your living room or entryway? Determining the best rug size depends on the size of your space, the furniture, the layout, and more. Whether you have a large or small space, a specific idea in mind, or you’re not sure where to start, our area rug guide for how to choose the right rug for your living room or entryway will be sure to help you get the perfect rug. We’ll help you find the right size area rug for your space no matter the dimensions, and we’ll also give you some inspiration and examples of what the finished product may look like in your home. 

What Size Area Rug for Living Rooms?

When it comes to choosing the area rug that will fit your living room or entryway, first you should decide how your furniture will be set up. If you’re planning on purchasing new furniture, choose how you want the room to look before you invest in a rug. It’ll be easier to determine the right size rug once the furniture is in place. Ask yourself if you will have a sectional with a coffee table, two small couches, or a small couch and a couple of chairs. Will you arrange the room around one centered piece like the fireplace, or will you leave some space to create an opportunity for more depth? 

Once you have decided on what elements you will have in your home and where they will be placed, you’ll have a better idea of what you’re looking for in an area rug, especially when it comes to size and style. There are two common ways that area rugs are styled in living rooms today. Each one has a unique look, and while both are stylish and trendy, your ideal size may come down to personal preference.

Living Room Rug Size: Outside of Furniture

The first way that you can style an area rug in your living room is with the rug under all of the furniture. This means that you’ll need to measure the from the outside of your furniture to find the best area rug for your living room space. One recommendation we have is to add five to eight inches to the outer measurement on both sides of your furniture. This will ensure that the rug you purchase will fit underneath the furniture, as it is always better to have too big a rug than too small. Rugs that are underneath all of the living room furniture tend to bring a room together and define a living room space. Typical area rug sizes for living rooms depend on the size of the room and the furniture inside, but 5x7 rugs, 8x10, and 9x12 are popular sizes for most living rooms. 

Living Room Rug Size: Under Legs of Furniture

Another size rug that will likely fit well in your living room is placing the rug only underneath the legs of the furniture. Whether you have a sectional with chairs, two couches, or just two chairs, this can be an excellent way to warm up the space without allowing the rug to define the room. In some cases, this style of area rug setup can also make a room look and feel more formal. Also, choosing an area rug that only allows the furniture’s legs to sit on the rug can often be less costly, especially if your furniture is sitting up against a wall where the extra area rug will not be seen anyways.

What Size Entryway Rug is Best?

While entryways come in all shapes and sizes, not all entryway rugs are created equal. But choosing the right size entryway rug isn’t difficult, especially when you know what to look for. One of the most important things about an entryway rug is getting the size right, so it’s best to measure your space first. Once you have measured, you’ll know whether a runner or rectangular rug will fit better in the space. Is the space narrow or wide? Do you need space for shoes and other items? If you have a narrow mudroom or a hallway that leads to another room, a runner will fit perfectly. If you have a wider space rather than a narrow space, a small rectangular rug in a 3x5 size will likely be the best option. 

Area Rugs for Living Rooms Inspiration 

A small sectional is the furniture of choice in this living room where natural light and shades of blue make for a simple but stylish space. The area rug sits underneath the entirety of the couch, designating the space as a living room. Clean and uncluttered, the area rug brings together the room but also leaves enough space for the doors to the outside to be opened and closed easily.

Interior design: Rebecca Hay  Photography: Stephani Buchman

In this modern living room with a fireplace, the two couches are setup to face each other with a rectangular coffee table in between. The rug is placed underneath just the front legs of each couch, while one side table sits on top of the rug, and the other does not. Giving dimension to this living room, the area rug serves as a soft space to land and also allows for the beautiful hard-surface floors to shine. 

Interior design: Cynthia Soda  Photography: Stephani Buchman

Entryways Area Rug Inspiration 

This entryway is unlike other entryways thanks to its unique shape. While the hall tree makes for a great place for shoes and other items that need to be stored, the hallway serves as a space that takes on the perfect area rug. Because the area is much wider than it is long, Rebecca Hay opted for a rectangular jute rug rather than a runner. This is just one of the many ways a rectangular rug can be styled in an entryway. 

Entryway Runner Ideas

Interior design: Rebecca Hay  Photography: Jason Hartog Photography 

The door to this home leads into a hallway where shoes and coats can be left right inside. A long entryway area rug is placed just inside the front door to not only complete the well-designed space, but also to ensure that dirt and debris are not tracked inside. 

Interior design: Sara Bederman  Photography: Stephani Buchman

Want more area rug and decor inspiration? Find more like this along with designer tips, home décor ideas, and more on our blog! Or, check out our beautiful selection of carpet here.