How to measure for a rug, room by room

Bedroom

Your feet should land on the rug when you get out of bed, so the rug needs to show on both sides and at the foot of the bed.

How to measure

1. Measure the width and length of the bed from the outer edge of the bed frame, not the mattress.
2. Decide how much rug you want to show beside the bed; measure out to where your feet land when you get up.
3. Measure how much rug you want to show at the foot of the bed.
4. Note where the bedside tables, wardrobe doors and the door open; the rug should not catch on the door.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• U shape around the bed· Often chosen

  The rug wraps around both sides and the foot of the bed and goes only a few centimetres under it. This is the cleanest look for platform beds and beds close to the floor.

• Lower two thirds of the bed on the rug

  The rug starts in front of the bedside tables, goes under the lower part of the bed and shows at the foot. The bedside tables stay on the floor.

• Whole bed on the rug

  A large rug goes under the whole bed and both bedside tables. In large rooms it pulls the space together.

• A runner on each side of the bed

  One runner is placed on each side of the bed and goes slightly under it. Comfortable in small rooms and where the side gaps are narrow.

Living room and lounge

The rug holds the seating area together: all legs on the rug, only the front legs on the rug, or the rug floating in the middle.

How to measure

1. Measure the width of the sofa including the armrests, and its depth from back to front.
2. Measure the distance between the front of the sofa and the opposite sofa or TV unit.
3. For an L-shaped sofa, measure the two sides separately from the corner.
4. Decide how much floor you want to show between the rug and the walls.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• Front legs on the rug· Often chosen

  The rug goes 15–20 cm under the front of the sofas; the back legs stay on the floor.

• All legs on the rug

  The sofas sit fully on the rug, so the seating area reads as one piece. For large living rooms.

• Rug in the middle, legs off the rug

  The rug sits under the coffee table and does not touch the sofas. Practical in small rooms and in areas that are cleaned often.

• Rug slightly under the L-shaped sofa

  The rug goes slightly under both sides of the L-shaped sofa, so the corner seating looks like a single area.

Dining room

When you pull a chair back, its back legs should still be on the rug.

How to measure

1. Measure the width and length of the table; for a round table, measure the diameter. For an extending table, measure it fully open.
2. Pull a chair back as if getting up; measure from the edge of the table to the back leg of the chair.
3. Measure the gap between the table and the wall or sideboard.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• Rectangular table, rectangular rug· Often chosen

  The rug extends beyond each edge of the table by the chair pull-back allowance.

• Round table, round rug

  The rug diameter is the table diameter plus the chair pull-back allowance on both sides.

• Oval table, oval rug

  An oval table takes an oval rug; the same margin is left in every direction.

Hallway

Some floor should show on both sides and at the ends of the runner; doors opening onto the hallway should not catch on the rug.

How to measure

1. Measure the width of the hallway from wall to wall at its narrowest point.
2. Measure the length of the hallway from end to end.
3. Open and close the doors that open onto the hallway; measure the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor.
4. If the hallway turns a corner (L-shaped), measure the second leg separately from the corner.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• Single runner in the centre· Often chosen

  The runner sits in the middle of the hallway, with floor showing on both sides and at the ends.

• L-shaped runner in an L-shaped hallway

  In a hallway that turns a corner, a single L-shaped runner in one piece; there is no seam at the corner.

Kitchen

A runner in front of the countertop sits under your feet while you work; cabinet and appliance doors should not catch on the rug.

How to measure

1. Measure the length of the countertop from end to end.
2. Measure from the front of the countertop to the opposite wall, the opposite countertop or the island.
3. For an L-shaped countertop, measure the two sides separately from the corner.
4. Open the dishwasher and oven doors; note where the doors come down.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• Runner in front of the countertop· Often chosen

  A runner along the countertop, in front of a single-run kitchen.

• Runner between parallel countertops

  Between two facing countertops, leaving clearance for the doors on both sides.

• L-shaped runner for an L-shaped countertop

  A single L-shaped runner covers the front of both sides of the corner countertop; there is no seam at the corner.

• Rug around the island in an island kitchen

  The rug extends in every direction from under the island; the area where you stand around the island stays on the rug.

Children's room

A rug with soft corners that covers the play area and the side of the bed is comfortable for a child.

How to measure

1. Measure the width and length of the area where the child plays.
2. Measure the width and length of the bed, and the space left beside it.
3. Note where the wardrobe doors and the door open.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• Round rug in the play area· Often chosen

  A round rug in the middle of the play area; it has no corners.

• Rectangular rug beside the bed

  A rectangular rug beside the bed, going slightly under it.

• Rug with rounded corners

  All four corners of a rectangular rug are rounded; a running child does not catch on a corner.

Entrance hall

The rug should not catch when the front door opens; it either stays outside the area the door sweeps or is thin enough to pass under the door.

How to measure

1. Measure the width and length of the entrance hall.
2. Measure the width of the door leaf; open the door and mark the area the leaf sweeps across the floor.
3. With the door closed, measure the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor.
4. Note the position of the shoe cabinet or the coat rack.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• Outside the area the door opens into· Often chosen

  The rug starts where the area swept by the door ends; the door never catches.

• Thin rug passing under the door

  A thin rug starts right in front of the door; the door passes over the rug.

• Rug with a cut corner

  The rug starts closer to the door; the corner swept by the door leaf is cut away.

Bathroom

A small rug where your feet land in front of the sink and the shower, or a runner that joins the two.

How to measure

1. Measure the width of the sink or the vanity unit.
2. Measure the width of the shower tray or the bathtub.
3. Measure the distance between the sink and the shower.
4. Note the area the bathroom door opens into.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• In front of the shower or bathtub· Often chosen

  A small rug where you step out of the shower.

• In front of the sink

  A small rug in front of the sink, slightly wider than the sink.

• Runner along the sink and the shower

  A single runner covers the area in front of the sink and the shower.

Toilet

A small rug covers the area in front of or around the toilet; the door should not catch on the rug.

How to measure

1. Measure the width of the toilet base where it meets the floor.
2. Measure the depth of the toilet base from front to back.
3. Measure the space between the front of the toilet and the door; if the door opens inwards, note the area it swings across.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• U shape around the toilet· Often chosen

  The cut-out of the rug fits around the toilet base; the rug reaches right up to the toilet.

• Small rug in front of the toilet

  A small rectangular rug right in front of the toilet.

Conservatory

With seating arranged in a U shape, the rug can sit in the middle, reach the front legs of the sofas or go fully under them.

How to measure

1. Measure the width and depth of the three-seat sofa.
2. Measure the distance between the front edges of the two facing sofas.
3. Note the line along which the sliding glass door or the door travels; the rug should not enter that line.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• Half under the sofas· Often chosen

  The rug goes 20 cm under the front of the three sofas; the front legs are on the rug and the back legs on the floor.

• Rug in the middle

  The rug sits in the middle of the three sofas and stops 20 cm short of them. Easy to clean in areas with plants and watering.

• Fully under the sofas

  All three sofas sit fully on the rug; the rug extends slightly past the backs of the sofas.

Cinema room

The rug holds the rows of seats together and softens sound.

How to measure

1. Measure the width of one row of seats from end to end.
2. Count the rows and measure the depth of one row with the seats extended.
3. Measure the distance between the screen and the front row.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• Rug covering all rows· Often chosen

  All rows of seats sit on the rug; the rug also shows in front of the front row.

• Between the front row and the screen

  The rug starts in front of the screen and goes slightly under the front row; the back rows stay on the floor.

Study and other spaces

In a study, dressing room, hobby room and similar spaces, the rug is placed according to how the space is used.

How to measure

1. Measure the width and length of the room from wall to wall.
2. If there is a desk, measure its width and depth.
3. Measure from the front of the desk to the furthest point you pull the chair back.
4. Note the area the wardrobe doors open into.

Suggested sizes

How the rug can sit

• Under the desk· Often chosen

  The rug starts under the desk; when the chair is pulled all the way back, its wheels still stay on the rug.

• In the middle of the room, with a margin from the walls

  A large rectangular rug for a dressing room or hobby room, with a margin left in front of the wardrobes.