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A dining room, especially a formal one, can be an underutilized part of the home, used only for a large family gathering or holiday celebration. One way to make the room more inviting and functional? The right rug.
But, how, exactly do you go about picking the proper rug for your dining room? First, you have to determine the size of your dining room table, including when it’s fully extended or the times all the chairs are pushed out. (Trust us, there’s nothing worse than laying out a rug that’s too small or an unsecured option that ends up becoming a tripping hazard). Furthermore, consider the shape of the room and the scale of your dining room furniture to create a harmonious flow within the space. Don’t forget about the pile height and fabric either. Sound like a lot to consider? Don’t worry—below, we break down how to find the perfect dining room rug size to make your dining room a feast for the eyes.
According to Rugs Direct, a dining room rug should be at least 24 inches longer than your table’s perimeter on all sides. These elongated dimensions will allow the rug to accommodate dining chairs while they’re completely pushed out with people sitting in them. Plus, you don’t want any chairs getting caught at the edge, which could ruin the material and end up in unfortunate tripping accidents.
How about for those with dining table leaves? Before you add a larger rug to your cart, think about how often you use the extenders. If they’re not part of your consistent routine, then stick to the dimensions you use most and don’t let the leaves dictate your rug size.
If you have a small space, measure the room size and adjust your dining table and rug accordingly. There’s no rule that you must have six or more chairs in a dining room, or that your table has to be a rectangle. Avoid things feeling cramped and cluttered by being open to a round or square table with fewer chairs and a rug in a matching shape. Standard rug sizes for smaller areas include 5' x 8' or 6' x 9' rugs with a four-person dining set. If you go with a round or square silhouette, the same rules apply to how far the rug should extend past your dining room table as with rectangular rugs.
The biggest thing to remember is that the rug is there to support your table. It shouldn’t be anywhere beyond your dining table and chairs. If your china cabinet or sideboard is on top of the rug, it’s too big. A rug that’s beneath multiple pieces of dining furniture or decor not only overwhelms the room, but also results in imbalances that could result in larger, heavier options toppling over.
As far as where the rug should go, it’s best to center your dining table on top of it. There should be an equal distance from the edge of the table to the end of the rug on all sides. For accurate placement, measure everything and let the rug act as a frame for your table.
“What’s most important is ensuring the pile is low enough so that the chairs scoot in and out with ease,” advises ELLE DECOR A-List designer Nicholas Obeid. You may love sinking your feet into a thick, high-pile rug, but it’s not the most suitable for a high-traffic dining room prone to crumbs and spills. Snag a durable, flatweave rug with an extra low, 0.5" pile that’s a breeze to slide chairs around on and is even easier to clean. In fact, Pottery Barn went as far as to suggest that heavy-duty outdoor rugs are an excellent choice for your dining room.
