Have you ever felt overwhelmed when entering a large rug store and seeing the amazing number of rugs of all colors and sizes. It is almost impossible not to think:”where do I start?” Choosing perfect floor rugs is already hard enough, but then when you think about all the details like optimal size, it can be too much.

To help you make the process a little easier here are a few tips on how to select a floor rug size.

Generally the size of a rug depends on where you are going to use it. There some standards that should be respected for special areas.

Dining rooms present a different situation than other rooms, because not only should the rug extend on all sides of the table it should also be large enough to allow all feet of all chairs to be on the rug when the chairs are pulled out so a person can seat at the table comfortably. For this the rug should be larger than the table by 20 inches on all sides.

For example for a table measuring 42" x 64" your rug would have to be a minimum of 82” x 104”. This means that you would have to purchase a standard 6’ x 9’ rug at the very least. For greater comfort you might consider a large floor rug like a 7’ x 10’, as minimum sizes are just that.

The shapes of are no longer limited to rectangular or round as they used to be. You can buy square rugs and even octagonal ones. It is always better to use a round rug under a round table. The same rule applies as for space around the table.

You have a lot of leeway in a living room. You can even use two different rugs in two areas of a very large living room, to separate the areas and give them their own atmosphere.

If you are placing a coffee table on a rug ensure that it is large enough to extend way past the table. A small rug that barely extends under a coffee table is not esthetically pleasing and does not add any interest to the room. People should be able to move about the table and still be on the rug all around. It is better to leave the rug out completely than to have one that is too small. A rug that is too small will make the room look smaller.

Edged floor rugs look smaller than rugs that are not edged.

If you plan on placing furniture that will hide a large part of the rug don’t waste your money on a great design since nobody will see it. A beautiful contemporary floor rug should be seen.

Red rugs have been around for centuries. In fact, you are as likely to find a traditional red Persian rug as you are a modern version. Yet fashions do change in rugs as in anything else and the red rugs for contemporary living spaces look a lot different from the red rugs you might find in living rooms fifty years ago (although not always as we will see below).

1. Traditional Becomes Contemporary

There is really quite a trend to use genuine hand made ethnic items as a focal point in a contemporary room. This is probably something to do with our appreciation for craft work when so many things are machine made in the Far East. You feel that you are getting something unique (which you are as every hand crafted item is slightly different from any other). Sometimes hand crafted rugs add just the right touch of quirkiness that sets a room apart. So if you like native American rugs from the southwest, traditional Scandinavian rugs in red and white or rugs which have their roots in Ancient Persia you will be right on trend.

2. Grand Designs

If you want a modern design you will be in luck too as there are many contemporary rugs incorporating red in their design. You will find bold colors and curved large scale geometric patterns everywhere. Generally these rugs incorporate just a few colors so be sure to get the right combination of red and another shade or two to fit your color scheme.

3. Shag Pile

Although you might think of shag pile as something very seventies and retro, it is now back with a vengeance and you will also find shag rugs made in a number of new materials not seen thirty or forty years ago. For example, you will now come across a number of shag rugs made of red leather strips as well as rugs made using strips of stretchy cotton t-shirt fabric.