One of the rooms in your house where you can dress to the nines is the dining room. Even though it may not always be the busiest spot, this special room is most frequently used for events like fancier meals with distinguished guests or holidays when visiting family is in town.
You likely already have your dining room centerpiece – the dining table – and your functional accent chairs to complement. You might be missing something, though, that elevates the dining room’s design. The dining room rug.
It can be a little intimidating to try to match the rug to the dining area because rugs come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, patterns, and details. Do not worry; this guide will assist you in making the best choice. While you should always choose a rug that you love and makes you happy, there are certain rules and tips that can help you to select a rug that really suits the shape, size, and style of your space.
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The Standard Size Rug for a Dining Room
Your dining room rug gives the area a frame and makes it feel inviting for company and family dinners. The typical dining room is 14′ x 16′ in size, and the standard dining room rug is 9′ x 12′.
Your dining room’s dimensions, your dining table’s shape, and other factors may, however, dictate a different approach. A square rug is typically the best choice for a square table, while a round rug is appropriate for a dining room table that is round.
The dimensions of your furniture also affect how big of a rug you need for a dining table and chair set. When visitors push their chairs back to stand up, you should ideally prevent the chair legs from slipping off the rug.
Size Guide: The Best Rug Sizes for Different Size Dining Tables
Rug Size for Dining Table With 2 Chairs
You may have limited space for your dining room table, and you may not even have a dining room at all. However, you can still place a smaller rug beneath a small dining or bistro table that is located in a comfier room of your house or that is shared with the kitchen. To create a dining area in these areas, a 2-seater dining table works well. You can also add a dining rug that is approximately 4′ x 6′ in size.
Rug Size for Dining Table With 4 Chairs
A dining table that seats four people is still quite small, but it typically measures about 3’x3′ or 3′ in diameter for a round table. At this size, Emanuel suggests choosing an 8’x10′ rectangular rug, or an 8’x8′ square rug. If you do opt for a rectangular rug with a square table, you can fill some of the additional space with a credenza or buffet console.
Rug Size for Dining Table With 6 Chairs
A six-person dining room table can be as small as 5′ by 3′. At that minimum size, Emanuel recommends a 6’x9′ or 8’x10′ rectangle rug. These two measurements will provide enough space for all sizes so that the dining chairs can be repositioned and still fit completely on the rug.
Rug Size for Dining Table With 8 Chairs
The most typical dining table found in homes seats eight people. Around 3’x6′ or 4’x6′ in size, these larger tables.’ Emanuel advises settling on a 9′ x 12′ rectangle rug for rooms of this shape.
Rug Size for Dining Table With 10 Chairs
If you have the space for a more elaborate dining room, you might be able to fit a 10-seater dining table, which measures 4′-6″x10′. For this size table, a rectangular rug measuring 10′ by 14′ is ideal. Large dining rooms that are ideal for hosting lavish luncheons and dinner parties are the ideal setting for this statement dining table and rug combination.
Rug Sizes for Round Dining Tables
Don’t worry if a round dining table is your preference! For measuring a rug, table, or room’s size, the same fundamental guidelines still hold true. Like rectangular dining tables, for example, you’ll still want to ensure that there is 18″ – 24″ of space between the chairs (tucked under the table) and the edges of the rug.
The most common sizes for round dining tables are 4-seater and 6-seater. If you choose a 4-seater, you should put a 6′ rug underneath it. Similarly, if you decide on the 6-seater, you should pick an 8′ round rug.
Don’t forget that you can choose a rectangular area rug as long as the table is centered on it if you like your round table but aren’t sure about pairing it with a round rug.
Why Size Matters When Picking Rugs for under the Dining Table?
It would be a shame to throw away a gorgeous oriental rug by placing it under the dining table if you pick a rug that is too small.
Measure the space taken up by the table and chairs when the chairs are pulled out to get the right-sized rug. The correct dimensions for this rug can be obtained by adding a few inches to this measurement.
The size of the rug is crucial in this situation because you need room to pull out the chairs comfortably while keeping their front and back legs on the rug.
As the chair is being pulled out, if the back legs leave the rug, when it is being pushed back in, the rug’s edge will be rubbed. As a result, the rug will eventually develop frayed edges and appear to have been used too soon.
Can You Put An Oversized Rug under a Dining Table?
Undoubtedly, you can place a large rug beneath a dining table. In fact, choosing a larger rug is preferable to one that is even slightly smaller.
The first rule of putting a rug under a dining table is to make sure all the chairs will fit comfortably and with space to spare on the rug. Additionally, an oversized rug will allow you to see even more of its design and colors, which is always a good thing.
Use a rug that is bigger than the optimal size that you calculated without being afraid. A larger rug is a safe bet, but you should never use one that is any smaller than the suggested size.
Does Your Rug Have to Be Larger Than Your Dining Table?
In short, yes. A dining room rug should always be larger than your entire dining set because, in the end, a rug that is too small may actually interfere with your guests’ ability to enjoy their meals.
“Make sure it’s large enough that when guests pull out their chairs, the chairs remain on the rug,” says Ben Hyman. That should also account for any table extensions or leaves – make sure you measure around the maximum perimeter of your table. When a chair is being used, you should always try to have both the back and the front legs on the rug so it stays level and doesn’t wobble.
Wilfredo Emanuel suggests that your rug should be 18″ – 24″ larger on all sides than your table. Grace Hoffend, Design Advisor Maiden Home, agrees and notes that a good rule of thumb is about 36″ wider than the footprint of your entire set.” This will enable the best circulation both inside the dining room and around the table.
It’s also crucial to keep in mind to measure from the walls in addition to the dining room table. There should be 18″ – 24″ of space between the outermost edge of the rug to the wall on any side.
Tips for Sizing a Rug for a Dining Room
The two things you’ll need to consider when finding the proper rug size for dining room decor include the dimensions of the dining table and the dining room:
- TABLE SIZE: The area rug size under dining room tables should be at least 24″ larger on all sides. As a result, there is room for guests who are seated and the chairs can move back.
- ROOM SIZE: The best rug size for dining rooms (and any room) should keep at least 12″ of space between the rug’s edges and the walls.
Take your dining room table’s dimensions first, then add 4′ to each. For instance, increase the area rug’s diameter by 4′ if you need it to fit under round dining tables. Alternatively, if the table is rectangular, increase the width and length by 4′.
Then, check the results against the room size to ensure the rug is at least 2′ smaller on each dimension – this keeps the rug 12″ away from the wall at all points.
Another strategy is to choose the biggest rug you can fit in the space and adjust the table size to fit. For instance, you could fit an 8′ x 10′ rug in a room that is 10′ x 12′. Once you’ve subtracted 4′ from each measurement, you can choose what size dining table to use for an 8′ x 10′ rug by doing so. This results in a dining table that is 4′ x 6′ or smaller.
How to Pick a Shape for Your Dining Room Rug?
Rugs come in a variety of shapes in addition to sizes, which are important. Indeed, rugs can be almost any shape you can think of, especially when it comes to animal skin rugs. But generally speaking, they can be divided into three different shapes: rectangular, circular, and oval.
Again, your choice of shape is dependent on the size and shape of your room, the style and size of the dining table and the number of dining chairs you have. Here are a few more straightforward suggestions to aid in the selection of your preferred shape.
- Use an oval size rug to: Match with oval tables Mimic the rounded furniture for continuity
- Use a round size rug to: Pair with round tables
- Use a rectangular rug to: Pair with rectangular tables, ensuring the rug is larger than the table surface
You can certainly mix and match the shapes of a round rug and a rectangular table, despite the fact that the aforementioned guidelines are not absolutes. Your choice of rug shape may be affected further if your dining table is either round in a square room or square in a round room. Another crucial factor is the table’s size. For example:
- Use a larger 244x305cm size to: Match with oval tables Offset rounded edges of the dining table
FAQs
What is An Area Rug?
Area rugs are large rugs that generally cover a whole area of a room, without stretching wall to wall or being fixed to the floor like a carpet. In an open-plan living space, you can also use area rugs to define zones. The aforementioned rules regarding rug size may not apply, as one large rug may be used, for instance, to demarcate the dining area. If your home has wooden or laminate floors, you might also want to consider getting a larger area rug for a separate dining area. Read about to find how to choose the right area rug under your bed.
Should You Have a Rug under Your Dining Table?
If you have an open floor plan, you don’t necessarily need to put a rug under your dining room table, but doing so will help you designate your dining areas. Rug styling in your dining room can also aid in establishing a unified design theme, giving your dining table a more at-home appearance.
How Big Should a Rug Be under a Dining Table?
The aforementioned pointers are merely suggestions for a rough size range for your dining room rug in relation to the size and shape of your dining table. The room’s size and shape should be taken into account as well.
What Material Should a Dining Room Rug Be?
As dining rooms are high-traffic areas where “oops” situations such as spilling food and drinks may occur, it’s ideal to select hardwearing, durable rugs that are easy to clean.
Let’s Find the Perfect Dining Room Rug
The functionality of the room will be improved by finding a rug with less texture or a smoother finish. You also don’t want to detract from the style of your room by selecting a rug with a tone or color that is too similar to the heavy wood focal point in the room. To keep the focus on your dining set, I would suggest looking for something with sufficient contrast.
