The great RUG throwdown: From nailing the perfect size for your room to picking the right material, Nicole Gray lays out the ground rules

Published: 06:00 GMT, 29 October 2023 | Updated: 06:00 GMT, 29 October 2023

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Loop, flat-weave, pile, knotted… rug terminology could fill a book. While we shop for carpets and wooden flooring easily enough, as they will cover the whole floor, rugs often remain a conundrum.

To make choosing one for a specific room easier, the first thing to remember is that size matters. Apply the ‘Goldilocks’ rule to get it just right: ideally, the rug should be proportionate to both the furniture and space in the room. You want one that will fill the space but not be so big it covers the floor and looks like a carpet. Equally, the rug should leave a flooring gap between it and the wall for distinction, yet not be so small that it looks like a postage stamp under your coffee table.

Experts recommend leaving a 30cm to 45cm gap between the wall and rug. Emily Simmons, creative director at Ruggable, says: ‘One of the biggest mistakes people make with rugs is buying too small. In a living room, it’s best to choose a rug that runs under the front of furniture to help centre the seating area. Otherwise, things can end up looking like a doll’s house.’

Simmons advises a 275cm x 365cm rug for a generous-sized living room, as it’s large enough to accommodate your biggest pieces of furniture without dominating the room.

Smaller rugs work best in compact living rooms. ‘A 150cm x 215cm rug will fit neatly under a coffee table or in front of a fireplace with two comfy chairs sitting almost completely on it,’ she says. Circular rugs are also savvy space-savers as they draw the eye round the room in comparison to rectangular rugs that run parallel to the wall.

In large bedrooms select a rug that’s big enough to fit underneath the bed and any bedside tables to create a focal point. Placing smaller rugs or runners next to the bed work well as a textured accent in more bijou spaces and will feel soft under foot when getting out of bed. Komorebi rug, from £1,640, arumfellow.com. For similar bed linen try pigletinbed.com

The golden rule for the dining room is to opt for a rug that is approx 100cm to 120cm larger than the table, so that chairs don’t get caught on the edges. It will also frame the table nicely. Mohair Border Rose Quartz rug, £2,902, therugcompany.com

Rugs are a great way to add a soft touch to cold bathroom floors. Designs made from synthetic materials are best for such high-humidity areas as they are more water-resistant and easy to clean. When laying a rug in the bathroom it is also important to fit an underlay to prevent it slipping on hard floors. For a similar rug try ruggable.co.uk

When choosing a rug for a high-traffic area such as the kitchen, practicality is key. Designs made from hardwearing natural materials such as wool, jute and sisal are good choices Alternatively, opt for a synthetic fibre such as polypropylene which is easy to wipe clean. Whittington Hemp rug, £295, neptune.com

In an open-plan space, layer rugs to create visual ‘zones’ between the kitchen and living area. But try not to mix two rugs of the same material together as this will look too similar.

‘Layering different textures such as wool and sheepskin with flatweave will bring further depth and warmth to a scheme,’ says Punam Chada, carpet and rug buyer at Carpetright. ‘In the warmer months you can roll up the thicker pile rug and leave the flatweave for a change of look.’

YOU WANT A RUG THAT FILLS THE SPACE BUT ISN’T SO BIG IT LOOKS LIKE A CARPET

Tempting as it might be to buy a rug based on colour or pattern, it’s material that’s paramount as this affects the feel and durability as well as informing where best to place it. A constant flow of foot traffic isn’t going to be kind to a hand-tufted or damask silk rug, for example. Save these for the bedroom.

‘Always go for natural fibres, such as wool, cotton, jute and sisal,’ advises Simon Eugene, sales and marketing manager at Knots Rugs. ‘Natural-fibre rugs are more resilient in comparison to their synthetic counterparts – polyester, acrylic and polypropylene – and more likely to stand the test of time.’

Wool rugs, in particular, contain lanolin, which is a natural stain repellent, making them ideal for high-traffic areas such as hallways and kitchens.

Eugene recommends marking out your desired rug area with masking tape before you buy. Lay out your furniture within the tape to check the size and how it feels in the space.

Then buy, unroll and enjoy.

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