Dear Friends,
One of the first things on our list to purchase for our new home is a rug for the family room. We had carpet in the old house so this hardwood floor is taking some getting used to. I think it is beautiful but we are ready to cozy it up a bit. For now, we have an old wool rug (5 x8) under the coffee table but we definitely need something bigger.
The question is how big? My ideal is to have it under all of the furniture, like in this picture.
The above swoon-worthy space is very similar to our new arrangement in the family room. Right now with the little rug under the coffee table it feels like we are a tiny island in the great big ocean. I’d rather there be more land and less sea if you get my analogy.
I looked in my design books to see if there were any rug rules. I’m a rule follower by nature so I can’t help but seek a little guidance. According to various sources, if furniture is floating in the room, than the rug should go under all of it. If it is not floating (against a wall) than it is okay meeting the furniture or under the first two legs.
So according to that rule, the above picture from Pottery Barn breaks the rules. I know I just said that I’m a rule follower by nature but I don’t typically follow many design rules. With all the window mistreatments, beadboard wallpaper, and faux moulding in blogland I’m thinking that skirting the rules is okay when it comes to design.
Either way I like both pics! I’d really like a big rug but the tough part is going to be finding one to fit our budget. Geez Louise are rugs expensive. Sorry, Lacey, but you can’t go to college because we wanted a rug for the family room. I am on the hunt & I usually find what I’m looking for but this time may be an exception. We’ll see. I do like a challenge. I can be patient if I need to be.
What do you think of rug rules? Are you by the book or do you make your own rules?
I’m not much of a rule follower, I think it’s best to go with what you like, and what feels best to you. Have you thought about checking out end of the roll sales and seeing if the carpet store can bind your selection for you? Peel and stick carpet square are another way to get a custom look rug for less than purchasing a large one. We used the carpet squares to add a border around our area rug to make it bigger, and it’s worked pretty good. The best part is that they come up easily and can be replaced if they get stained.
Hey Erin!
I’m on the lookout for a rug for our living room, too. I think I’m going to try and get one that fits under the legs of all couches and chairs BUT my furniture is up against the wall.
While Pottery Barn pictures are always pretty, I think I like top rug scenario the best.
Good luck!
Getting carpet and having the carpet store bind it for us has been great. You have so many choices and it wears much better than a rug. We love it!!!
I’m glad you posted this because I’m considering the same thing. Our living room sofa currently “floats,” but only about a foot from the wall. The rug in front of it isn’t as wide as the sofa (but it’s the short side of a rectangular rug).
I had thought it looked okay, but I’m starting to be a little unhappy about it. Or maybe I’m just being influenced by the “rules.”
I think the Pottery Barn one looks great, personally. Seems like with very neutral, understated rugs the rules may be less important because the rug doesn’t jump out at you.
I am a rule follower. And a rule breaker. I haven’t ever figured out if there’s any rhyme or reason to the way I do things. But I do have an idea for you.
How about getting a piece of carpet of the size that keeps the rules and having it bound? Your space will be soft and cushy. Then, at your leisure, you can look for a rug you love and not worry about whether it’s big enough–you can lay it right on top of the bound carpet. In fact, that’s what the PB picture looks like to me–a rug on top of a rug.
BTW, Tuesday Morning is starting a new sale next Tuesday–and rugs were on front of the flyer.
Good luck!
Love the second pic.
I had luck going to a local carpet store and scored an 8 x 10 shaggish (more like Pottery Barn than Austin Powers)remnant, cut and bound for under $300. It’s good quality. They may not have as many patterned rugs, which I prefer, but with little guys, durable and dirt-hiding won out. Good luck. I’m sure whatever you find will look fabulous, rules or no rules.
this is a good link posted on ModernRugs.com it is all about decorating with
http://www.modernrugs.com/decorating_with_rugs.htm