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Design Dilemma living room Home Decorating

I’m unsure what size area rug to put in my long living room

last year

I have a slightly long living room (about 13’ by 20’) and I need to replace the current area rug. The rug there right now is 7’6” by 9’6”. I think it’s too small for the space; only the front two legs of the couch are resting on it right now, but if we pull it further under the couch, that leaves a weird strip of flooring exposed over by the window.

The fourth photo has the measuring tape extended to 14’. That seems like it would extend an awkward distance behind the chairs, though they could be pulled back a bit I guess. I also didn’t want the rug to end in the middle of that door away by the couch, so that corner of it didn’t create a tripping hazard in that walking path.

I’m thinking around a 9 x 12 might be the sweet spot. Right now we have some unused space behind the two chairs, but plan on filling with a credenza opposite the bookshelf. I was thinking of putting a second rug over there down the road, something that complements whatever what I’m about to buy. But maybe that would create a weird strip of flooring between the two rugs behind the chairs? I’m not committed to anything specific at this point, but looking for advice! Thank you very much.

Comments (5)

Susie .
last year
My favorite layout with a rug is to have the at least the front legs of all the seats on the rug. It helps define a conversation area. However, since you have swivel chairs it would be best to have all of the base on the rug. You do want to leave some wood flooring showing around the edges.

It seems to me that 9 x 12 would work fine. Measure it out and even tape it off with blue painters tape if that helps you visualize it better. I don't think the back legs of your sofa need to be on the rug, but it's ok if they are. If you have room for a narrow table behind the sofa it may be nice. Only if it wouldn't take up too much space (hard to tell from the photo). (I like to not have seating pushed against the wall.)
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
last modified: last year

IMO your furnishings could be better positioned to advantage of the scale of your room. Walking into a room and seeing the back of two recliners is just not attractive or welcoming.

You can still take advantage of the view out of your windows, but your living room would look less like a fishbowl from the outside. Get some drapes on the windows even just to soften the appearance of the room.
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I love the clean, uncluttered look of your home and you've made some great furniture choices. My first thought, though, is that I would try to rework the sofa/sectional placement. It really is unwelcoming looking to me to have the back where it is facing a wall, when it could be oriented to look into the room and out the windows. It seems like if it were placed in the corner under the stairs that it would feel open and invite you to come in and sit. I'd hate to be cooking in the kitchen and have the family or guests with their backs to me. If you are having a TV in another room close by, do you need one in that room, too? If, so placing a 70" unit will probably only work as you have it. But, to me, it's not going to look like a living room but more like a movie theater, which is fine if that's what you're going for. It seems like it won't be a cozy conversation area, though. I might actually flip the rooms and put the dining room where you have the sofa now. I was looking at lights used with dining rooms and ghost chairs and saw this, maybe would work in the living room? Kind of fun. don't know if it would look as good without the colored walls though. And I thought something like these were interesting to consider for over your table:
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PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
Slide the furnishings into the suggested arrangement and see how you like it.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I do not agree that the furniture even needs to sit on the rug and for sure not on a really nicely patterened rug . None of mine sits on this rug and we still have avery nice conversation layout . Sometimes the best is something not a rug per se at all maybe really large cowhide woulld work
Cheryl Smith
last year
I usually center a rug in a room as a first step. center using your windows. so a rug a lot bigger than what you currently have. then pull your furniture around it. I'm not crazy about corner tv placement either. I would place your tv where your couch is now with your swival recliners across from it at the front window but get a larger more useful table between them for lighting, drinks and reading material. the sofa in front of the side window. that gives another comfortable place to watch tv laying down faceing it. glare shouldn't be too bad that far from the windows but if it is blackout curtains help while their fabric ads color and softness to the room. moving things around is the only way you'll know if it works. tape off the rug size unless you fall in love with one first. larger rugs larger cost you dont want to make a mistake

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