Does size really matter when choosing a carpet for your dining room?
Absolutely! A well dressed dining room has a carpet!
Adding a rug to any room can help tie a section of your living space together and make it feel more cozy, and purposeful.
In general, the rule of thumb is to allow approximately 18 inches of exposed floor space around the perimeter of an area rug, however the overall size and location of the room should be taken into consideration. The 18” rule works well in rooms that are enclosed and separate from surrounding areas while the look of smaller rooms may benefit from having less exposed floor space.
Shopping for a dining room rug can be a challenge. Ideally, the rug should be both functional and fashionable; the right rug will anchor your space, provide a well-balanced feel to the room, and still be practical enough to handle the occasional spill.
Don’t go too small or you’ll make the room look small and make the other furnishings around it feel uncoordinated. When it comes to area rugs, size really does matter.
You don’t want your rug to be too big or it will just look like wall-to-wall carpeting. Select a rug that's too large and the room may feel smaller than it is; too small and the rug may snag when you try to push the dining chairs in and out. Once you know the size you need, you can isolate color, pile length and patterns.
To determine the best rug size for your dining room, follow these guidelines:
In general, you want to pick a rug that is the same shape as your table to create symmetry.
Choose a rug that extends at least 2 feet (24 inches) on each side of your table, so there’s room to pull out chairs. Most tables need a rug that’s at least 8’ wide.
1 - Make sure all of the furniture that will live in the space is in the room. They don’t need to be in their final resting place, but you should already have an idea of where everything will go - especially the dining room table. Don’t forget to consider hutches, sideboards, display cabinets, bars, bar carts, wine towers, floor lamps, etc. Most importantly - if your dining table includes extenders you plan on using regularly for entertaining, put them in.
2 - Pull all the chairs out from around the table, as if you were to sitting down to dinner - far enough away that a person seated in the chair could comfortably stand up. Ideally, you want the back of the chair to sit 24–30 inches from the table, with at least 8–12 inches between the back of the chair and the wall.
4 - Use tape to mark the outer corners of this furniture arrangement - making sure to measure the length and width. This will be the approximate rug size you should consider for the table.
5 - Make sure your measurements don’t fall underneath any of the other furniture in the room - such as at the edge of a credenza or the bar cart. You don’t want the rug to make the other pieces of furniture sit unevenly or looked cramped.
Here are some great examples:
Your table seats 4 people use a 5’x 8’ rectangular rug. Table and all four chair legs on the rug.
Your table seats 6-8 people Use an 8’x 10’ or 9’ x 12’ rug. Remember to leave approximately 18’ between the perimeter of the rug and the walls.
Your table is round and seats 4 people Use a 7’ – 9’ round rug A round rug works nicely with a square table and 4 – 6 chairs around it. You can also use a rectangle shaped rug under a square table.
In the end - think bigger is better.
Because spills are inevitable, and the ease with which you can pull a chair back is important, a flat-weave or low-pile rug is generally the most practical choice in the dining room. Avoid a pure white or you’ll be steam cleaning every weekend.
Should I go natural fiber in the dining room?
Natural fiber like sisal, jute and seagrass can be great, and long wearing. These rugs generally come in a light natural fiber color and not colors like grey or black. Be prepared to have some fading or discoloration with anything other than a true natural fibre. It can also be nearly impossible to remove ground-in food from really looped natural fiber rugs. But - it can be less forgiving due to the loop or texture.
Other natural fibers like cotton and wool tend to be easy to clean, but can prove to be trickier. You’ll want to place an underpad to avoid stretching.
The key lies in the texture of the rug — the finer and smoother it is, the easier it will be to clean.
I’ll end with this - smell your rug before you buy it if possible. If you smell a chemical smell, put it back. Many inexpensive rugs are made with polyester fibers that can emit gases in the home. Not only can this be harmful for your health, but can also take months to eliminate.
A beautiful rug doesn’t need to break the bank - it just takes a little bit of patience.
