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Design Dilemma living room Home Decorating

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

2 months ago

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.

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Comments (5)

Susie .
2 months ago
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.)
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BeverlyFLADeziner
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago

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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Oooooh, I like that!! We had window benches in our last home and that was a favorite spot for the kids. This one won't have the lovely window light, but I could see it being a good use of space! The only tricky thing is that I had tentatively planned to put 2 barn doors here... my thinking is if the room happens to be a little messy or we need quiet from the rest of the house we could close it off. (Please ignore the mess that is there at the moment!!) But if we did the built in, obviously we couldn't do barn doors. That might be fine though. I really like that bench you posted! But how would we recess the shelves? I guess you just build out and it creates the recess? I need to show my husband that picture. Do you think there's enough room for it? The wall that you see there to the right of the opening is 42" from the back wall to where the trim begins. And the length of the wall is 76". A chaise was one of my choices... this one that I like is out of stock, and I'm debating how useful it would be for more than one person. Whereas the built-in you showed could easily fit both my younger. Thanks so much for your ideas!! Do you think there's space for the built in nook idea? I really love that!
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BeverlyFLADeziner
2 months ago
Slide the furnishings into the suggested arrangement and see how you like it.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 months ago
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
2 months ago
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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