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An area rug can completely transform the look and feel of your living room. But finding the perfect one can be overwhelming — from choosing the right size and shape to understanding placement and materials, there’s a lot to consider.
Area rugs offer design flexibility and warmth without the permanence of wall-to-wall carpeting. They protect hardwood floors, define spaces in open-concept layouts, and add personality to your décor. But where should you start?
Zeina Badawi, an interior designer at La-Z-Boy Kanata, shares her expert insights on how to select the perfect area rug. With years of experience helping clients in Ottawa, Gatineau and Kingston, Zeina highlights the key considerations that go beyond just colour and pattern.
Key Takeaways:
- Start with the rug when designing a room — it anchors your décor.
- Follow design rules like the 60-30-10 colour ratio for a cohesive look.
- Size matters: Ensure your rug fits the room and furniture layout.
- Texture and material impact durability and maintenance, especially in high-traffic areas.
- Layering and underpads can enhance both style and function.
- Round rugs are great for unique spaces or creating softer edges.
In this Article...
1. Choosing the Right Area Rug for Your Living Room
One of the most common mistakes people make when decorating a room is picking their wall colour first. According to Zeina, this can limit your design options later on.
“What if you fall in love with a sofa or rug that clashes with your wall colour?” she points out.
Instead, she advises starting your design journey with the rug. The rug serves as the foundation for the room's colour palette and style. While paint comes in endless shades and is easy to change, finding the perfect rug that matches your taste, needs, and budget is far more challenging.
When designing your space, select the rug first, then choose your main furniture pieces like sofas and chairs, and finally settle on the paint colour. This approach gives you more flexibility and ensures that all elements in your room work harmoniously together.
The 60-30-10 Design Rule
Zeina says interior designers often use the 60-30-10 rule to achieve balance:
- 60% – Dominant colour (rug, sofa, or wallpaper)
- 30% – Secondary colour (accent chairs, curtains, or an accent wall)
- 10% – Accent colour (throw pillows, décor pieces, or artwork)
This formula ensures your space feels harmonious and well thought out.
2. Get the Rug Size and Furniture Placement Right
When it comes to area rugs, size matters. A rug that’s too small can make a room feel disjointed, while one that’s too large might overwhelm the space. The goal is to select a rug that anchors your furniture while still allowing your beautiful flooring to shine.
Zeina’s golden rule that never fails is to match the rug’s shape to the room’s layout. So, in a rectangular room, opt for a rectangular rug and align it with the room’s longest wall. In smaller spaces, a slightly undersized rug can help make the room feel larger, while in bigger rooms, the rug should be large enough to ground the main seating area.
But rug size is only part of the equation—how you position your furniture on the rug plays a crucial role in how the space feels. Zeina breaks it down into three main approaches:
- No Furniture Legs on the Rug — Ideal for smaller rugs or rooms where you want the rug to act purely as an accent piece.
- Front Legs on the Rug — Zeina’s go-to for most homes. “This setup anchors the furniture without overwhelming the room,” she says.
- All Furniture Legs on the Rug — Best for larger rooms or open-concept spaces, where you want the rug to fully define the seating area.
Zeina notes that the “front legs on the rug” method is often the most practical. It frames the furniture beautifully, creates a conversation zone, and gives the illusion of a larger, more open room. However, in expansive living spaces, going with a rug large enough for all furniture legs can create an inviting, unified look.
3. Choose the Right Material and Texture
While the design and size of the rug are important, the material is what determines how well it functions in your space. Different rooms and lifestyles call for different rug materials.
For living rooms—especially high-traffic areas—wool rugs are a popular choice. They’re soft underfoot, durable, and naturally stain-resistant. For families with kids or pets, synthetic fibres like polypropylene offer a budget-friendly, easy-to-clean alternative. Cotton rugs, though less durable, provide a lightweight and casual option, perfect for more relaxed spaces.
When selecting a rug for a dining room, consider more than just aesthetics. Zeina highlights that texture plays a crucial role here. The rug needs to be low-pile and easy to clean to handle the inevitable spills that happen during mealtimes.
“If you have young kids or pets, materials like wool or cowhide are your best bet. Avoid silk or viscose, which don’t react well to liquids,” Zeina advises. Viscose, in particular, tends to stain easily and can be difficult to clean, making it less suitable for high-traffic or spill-prone areas.
In dining spaces, your rug should extend at least two feet beyond the edges of the table. This ensures that when chairs are pulled out, they remain on the rug, maintaining a balanced and functional layout.
To learn more about If Area Rugs Should be in a Dining Room, take a look at this article.
4. Explore Special Styles Like Round Rugs and Layering
Not every space is suited for a rectangular rug. Round rugs offer a great solution for certain room shapes and furniture layouts. They’re especially effective in spaces where you want to soften hard angles, like bay windows, entryways, or dining areas with round tables.
“A round rug beneath a round dining table creates visual harmony that a rectangular rug just can’t match,” Zeina notes.
Round rugs also work well in awkwardly shaped spaces, where too many straight edges can make a room feel cramped.
Another way to get creative with area rugs is through layering. If you have a smaller rug you love—maybe a family heirloom or a statement piece—but it’s too small for the room, layer it over a larger, neutral rug. This adds texture, defines the space, and lets you incorporate unique pieces that might not fit the standard size guidelines.
Layering also allows you to mix and match textures. A flat-woven jute rug can serve as the base, with a plush patterned rug layered on top for added comfort and style.
It might not be the most exciting purchase, but an underpad is essential.
An underpad prevents your rug from slipping, which is especially important in high-traffic areas or homes with kids and pets. It also protects your hardwood or tile floors from scratches and adds a layer of cushioning that makes the rug feel plusher underfoot.
Zeina highlights another benefit: “An underpad helps trap dirt and dust that would otherwise get ground into the rug or scratch your floors.” It also helps keep the rug’s edges from curling—a common issue that can become a tripping hazard over time.
Investing in a good underpad not only improves safety but also extends the life of your rug.
FAQS About Area Rugs
Should my area rug match my sofa?
Not exactly. The rug should complement the room’s overall colour scheme but doesn’t need to match your sofa directly. Think of it as part of the broader colour palette rather than a perfect match.
Can I layer a rug over the carpet?
Yes! Layering a rug over a low-pile carpet can add texture, define spaces, and introduce more colour and pattern to the room.
How do I clean my area rug?
Vacuum your rug regularly to prevent dust build-up. For deeper cleans, follow the manufacturer’s care instructions or schedule a professional cleaning every 12 to 18 months.
What's Next?
With Zeina’s expert advice, selecting the perfect area rug no longer feels overwhelming. Whether you’re looking for something plush and cozy or sleek and modern, the right rug can tie your space together and reflect your style.
At La-Z-Boy, we offer a wide range of area rugs, including high-quality options from Surya. Our expert designers can help you choose the perfect rug to complement your living room, dining space, or open-concept layout.
Visit one of our Ottawa, Gatineau or Kingston showrooms or schedule an appointment online for a personalized consultation. Plus, take advantage of our complimentary interior design services to bring your vision to life. To learn more about La-Z-Boy’s home decor, take a look at our complete Home Decor Buyer’s Guide.
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