1. PLACE ALL FURNITURE ON THE RUG
One simple placement rule for living room rugs that designers often follow is to position them beneath all of the room's main furniture pieces. 'Ensure a cohesive and well-defined space by placing key living room furniture pieces, such as sofas and chairs, on the area rug,' suggests interior designer Marie Flanigan. 'This not only anchors the seating arrangement but also establishes a visual connection between the furniture and the floor covering, creating a harmonious balance in the living space.'
2. ENSURE THE FRONT LEGS OF CHAIRS AND SOFAS ARE ON THE RUG
While fully placing furniture on top of a large area rug may not be feasible in some spaces, especially in small living rooms, you should always aim for the front of sofas and chairs to be over the rug. Designers agree that this creates a cohesive look throughout the space.
3. USE ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS TO CENTER THE RUG
In addition to positioning your rug according to furniture placement, you should also consider how the rug aligns with the more permanent elements of a living room. Choosing to center your rug according to built-in architectural details is one rule designers often use.
4. PLACE THE RUG CENTRAL TO THE SOFA FOR A SYMMETRICAL LOOK
Another commonly used rule when deciding on the placement of living room rugs is to align it with the couch. This means that however large your rug is, the sofa should be placed centrally so there are equal amounts of rug on either side. The same rule applies to matching the negative space with a smaller rug too. 'Center the rug with the couch to define the seating area and create an intentional look,' advises Soledad Alzaga.
5. ALWAYS CONSIDER THE ROOM'S TRAFFIC FLOW
Lastly, it's important to consider how the placement of your living room rug either enhances or disrupts the existing traffic flow. While some placements may look good, they can negatively impact the flow of the space if they block any obvious walkways.