Malene barnett principal of malene b a custom design carpet company based out of brooklyn n y says the area rug should be used as the focal point in a room.
Should i get a rug.
To expand the space select a larger size that outlines the perimeter of the area.
For example the perfect rug pad for a 5 x 8 rug is 4 10 x 7 10.
Rugs with a longer pile are softer and more luxurious underfoot and can help make rooms look cozier and more inviting.
Depending on your preference she suggests a rug that will provide space enough for the furniture to sit on top.
A 5 x 8 or 6 x 9 rug is a good size to cluster furniture around for an intimate area.
As a general rule a room that gets a lot of foot traffic will benefit from a low pile rug such as a dhurrie or kilim rug while a thicker rug will last longer in a room that doesn t get a lot of traffic.
In the dining room a rug should be large enough to allow space for chairs even when pulled away from the table.
For instance a 40 by 60 inch table should be paired with at least an 8 by 10 foot rug but would work best with a 9 by 12 foot rug.
Give yourself anywhere from about eight to 24 inches on all sides.
Ideally you should leave the same amount of floor space on all sides of your rug.
A good rule of thumb for choosing the right size rug pad is to leave 1 of rug overhang on all sides of the rug pad.
If you want to be confident that you re choosing the right area rug size for your dining room table simply add at least 60 inches to the length and the width of your table to get your ideal rug size.