Sizing A Rug For Your Dining Room

Size is an important factor to consider when placing a rug in any room. A rug that is too large for the room can make the space looked cramped and overwhelming. On the other hand, a rug that is too small for the room may not create the kind of visual impact that you are aiming for. The key to using a rug to create that WOW factor is to get the size right. This is of course in addition to choosing the right rug style and color palette.

How Sizing A Rug For Your Dining Room Is Different From Sizing A Rug For Other Rooms

In most rooms, deciding on the right rug size can be relatively straightforward mainly because the furniture stays in one place, which means you can simply visualize how you want it to look, and measure the available space. That’s it! However, you cannot use the same technique when deciding on a rug size for the dining room.

In a dining room, in addition to measuring the available space, you also have to factor in the type of furniture in a dining room, and the way the furniture is used. Unlike other rooms where the furniture remains in one place, dining chairs tend to get pushed in and pulled out every time someone sits at the table or leaves the table. This means you have an additional factor to take into consideration when choosing the size of the dining room rug.

Can You Use A Rug In Any Size Dining Room?

Some home owners hesitate to place a rug in the dining room either because they feel the space is too small to accommodate a rug or too large to create an impact with a rug. The truth is you can use a rug in a dining room of any size as long as you choose the right size rug. Fortunately, you can find rugs in a wide range of shapes and sizes so you are sure to be able to find one to suit your space as well as your individual style.

Some Things To Consider When Choosing A Rug Size For Your Dining Room

Ideally, the rug should be large enough to accommodate the dining table and the chairs when they are pulled out. It’s worth emphasizing this point – the rug must accommodate the rear legs of the chairs when the chairs are pulled out, not when they are pushed in. This makes a huge difference. If the rear legs of the chair do not rest on the rug, the front and rear legs will be at different levels, causing the chair to be unsteady. This can make for a very uncomfortable dining experience.

Another downside of buying a rug that does not accommodate all four legs of the chair is that the hind legs will keep rubbing against the edge every time someone pushes the chair while sitting at the table. Eventually, the edges will get frayed and ruin the look of the entire rug.

A Large Rug Is Better Than A Small Rug

If you have to make a choice between buying a rug that is larger than the ideal dimensions and one that is smaller, lean towards the larger option. When it comes to dining room rugs, too big is better than too small, both for the sake of comfort and a way to keep your rug looking better longer.

This does not mean you should go all out and buy a rug that is over-sized just to be on the safe side. You have to remember to take into account the size of your room too. You should try and leave some blank floor space between the rug edges and the walls of the room to create a more open, balanced look.

Shape Matters Too

Before talking about how to go about determining the right dimensions for your rug, it’s important to discuss the shape of the rug. The shape of the rug will have a huge impact on how the entire space looks.

When deciding which shape rug to buy, you must consider the shape of your dining table. To achieve a harmonious look, the shape of the rug must complement the shape of your dining table.

Rectangle Dining Table

A rectangular rug will look best under a rectangular dining table. Avoid placing a square or round rug under a rectangular table.

Round Dining Table

For a round dining table, you can choose either a round or a square rug. Each shape will give the room a different look but both are great options. Oval or rectangular rugs can create a lopsided effect when used with a round table and should be avoided.

Square Dining Table

A square rug will create the most cohesive look when placed under a square dining table. You could also use a round rug with a square table for a slightly different look, though you should be extra careful about those measurements if you choose this option. As with round dining tables, you should avoid rectangular or oval rugs with a square table too.

Now for the most exciting part – taking the actual measurements.

Step-By-Step To Determining The Right Rug Size For Your Dining Room

There is a right way and a wrong way to do this. Follow these steps and you will end up with a rug that’s just the right size for your dining room.

Step 1: If your dining room is already furnished, place every item where you want it to go so you know exactly how much free space you have available.

Step 2: Pull all the dining chairs out as much as you need so that you can slide into the chairs comfortably.

Step 3: Mark the space that this arrangement takes up and measure it. Using a masking take to mark the area where the hind chair legs sit will make this step easier.

Step 4: Measure the length and breadth for a square or rectangular table and the diameter for a round table. This is the minimum rug size that you should consider for your dining room.

Step 5: To get the maximum rug size, consider how much space there will be between the rug edge and the other furniture placed along the walls. If you have a lot of space to play around with, you can consider buying a rug that’s a more than few inches larger than the measurements you’ve obtained. If you don’t have a lot of space to play around with, try and stay as close as possible to the measurements you’ve obtained.  

That’s it! You’ve now determined the right size of rug for your dining room and are all set to create a space that looks beautifully put together.

This table is a great reference to the best rug sizes for dining tables of different shapes and sizes. 

Table Size	Rug Size
42″ Round	8′ round (96″)
48″ Round	8′ round (96″)
60″ Round	9′ square (108″ x 108″)
42″ x 60″ oval	8′ x 10′ (96″ x 120″)
49″ x 97″ oval	9′ x 12′ (108″ x 144″)
36″ x 70″	8′ x 10′ (96″ x 120″)
32″ x 76″	8′ x 10′ (96″ x 120″)
36″ x 84″	9′ x 12′ (108″ x 144″)
39″ x 90″	9′ x 12′ (108″ x 144″)
41″ x 108″	10′ x 14′ (120″ x 168″)
30″ x 120″	10′ x 14′ (120″ x 168″)