Whether your dining room is a bustling hub of daily activity or a reserved space for special occasions, it's essential to create an atmosphere that exudes warmth, style, and hospitality. No matter the décor style, every dining area requires a generously sized table for gatherings, comfortable chairs, and ample storage. While not mandatory, an attractive area rug can significantly enhance the space. It introduces color, texture, pattern, and a layer of softness that contrasts with the often-solid surfaces of wood. Moreover, a rug helps absorb sound, reducing the noise from clinking cutlery and outside traffic, ensuring that the focus remains on the food and company.
Choosing the right rug can feel overwhelming. Rugs vary widely in cost and are available in an array of materials and manufacturing techniques, which can be confusing. There's also pressured to select one that complements the room's color scheme, layout, and overall design. Additionally, there's concern about how well it will perform in a dining room, where spills and messes are common. However, as Arrant Luxury explains, these floor coverings help protect floors from stains and scratches. To assist you in this decision, we've compiled a list of tips for choosing the perfect dining room rug, including guidance on selecting the right size and shape for your table, all from a panel of experts. Let's dive in!
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Choosing the Right Size Rug for Your Dining Room
Choosing the right size rug for your dining room is epic for achieving the desired look and functionality. According to Arrant Luxury, selecting a rug that's too large can make it resemble wall-to-wall carpeting rather than framing the space as an area rug should. We recommend leaving 18 inches of the floor exposed around the rug.
On the other hand, a rug that's too small will not only fail to provide the design impact you want but also won't offer the practical benefits you need. For instance, if the rug is too small, chair legs might get caught on the carpet edges, which is both unsafe and impractical.
Ideally, the perfect rug size falls somewhere in between. Arrant Luxury suggests adding about 4 feet to the dimensions of your dining table in both length and width. This extra room allows about 24 inches for chairs to comfortably pull away from the table on all sides. It's important to consider any extension leaves your table may have, ensuring the rug can accommodate the table when fully extended.
Additionally, furniture pieces like buffets or china cabinets should ideally sit entirely off the rug, as explained by the furnishings and home décor retailer.
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Choose the Right Style
Traditionally, we'd select a rug that matched our furnishings. Nowadays, however, eclectic decor is gaining popularity. It focuses on blending pieces that either complement or contrast each other to create unique and thoughtful spaces. The days of matching dining table and chair sets are gone. Instead, we suggest mixing materials, styles, and colors to achieve a fresh and modern look.
Some area rugs are timeless classics. These include traditional woven and knotted options with rich colors, intricate patterns, and natural plant fibers like sisal and jute. These rugs effortlessly enhance a room and work well with various aesthetics. For example, a boldly embellished rug can pair beautifully with minimal, clean-lined neutral upholstery. However, sisal provides a simple, textured backdrop for patterned chairs or a decorative table base. If your patterned rug looks too small for the room, you can layer it over a neutral base. Just be mindful of tripping hazards.
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Choose the Material
According to Arrant Luxury, a rug's material is its most significant characteristic. They categorize rugs into natural fibers like wool, silk, jute, hide, and sheepskin, and synthetic materials such as faux hide, faux fur, polyester, nylon, and polypropylene. Each material has its advantages and downsides, so it's essential to consider both your usage needs and lifestyle.
Wool is also sustainable and entirely biodegradable, resistant to abrasion, and non-flammable. Silk rugs, on the other hand, are luxurious with a lustrous pile and soft texture, but they require a substantial amount of material, skilled artisans, and specialized machinery, which can drive up costs. However, their durability and appearance justify the expense if the budget allows.
Jute and bamboo offer unique textures, but they can be challenging to keep clean. Synthetic rugs, like polyester and polypropylene, are known for their affordability, making it easy to switch out rugs regularly. Many synthetic options are also easy to maintain and resist fading.
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Choose the Right Color
The choice of rug can significantly influence the ambiance of your dining room. Do you prefer a serene, neutral environment, or are you drawn to vibrant colors? Consider a monochromatic approach to balance both desires. Picture walls in a calming sky-blue shade, paired with chairs and a rug in complementary tones. A monochromatic palette uses different shades of the same color, resulting in a soothing atmosphere that isn't dull. Alternatively, you can introduce a color that's close but not identical to your main hue.
For example, a cheerful yellow flat-weave rug can add energy to a neutral room. On the other hand, opting for contrast and bold patterns will create a lively, energetic space. A darker rug will make the room feel intimate and cozy, while a lighter one can give the illusion of more space. The beauty of all these options is that they can complement any style.
Since the rug supports the star of the room, that is, the dining set, pay attention to how it interacts with the tones in your table and storage pieces.
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Try Before You Buy
Buying a sofa without sitting on it first? Unthinkable. And who wants to commit to a five-gallon bucket of paint without swatching the color? The same goes for buying a rug—it's crucial to see a sample in your space before deciding. Unless you're buying a one-of-a-kind piece or need to make a quick decision (like at an online auction or estate sale), it's worth the time and minimal expense to order and review rug swatches. Returning a rug can be cumbersome and costly due to its size and weight, often requiring you to cover the shipping fee if not specified in the return policy.
FAQs
What size rug should I get for my dining room?
Choosing the right size rug for your dining room depends on the size of your table. Ideally, the rug should extend at least 24 inches beyond the edges of the table to accommodate chairs when they are pulled out.
Should I get a rug with or without a pattern?
It depends on your dining room decor. If your dining room has a lot of patterns, a solid-colored rug can balance it out. If your dining room is more neutral, a patterned rug can add interest.
How do I care for a dining room rug?
Regular vacuuming and spot cleaning are usually sufficient for dining room rugs. If there's a spill, blot it immediately with a clean cloth. Periodic professional cleaning can help maintain its appearance.
