7 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Dining Room Rug

Easy suggestions to pick the right dining room rug for your room.

Creating the perfect dining space requires more than just selecting the right dining room furniture. With adequate preparation and research, it can be easy and fun to find the right rug for your room.

This guide will help you to select the best rug for your dining room, taking into account your style, size and color scheme. There is something for every taste and budget, so don’t be afraid to take the plunge. With this simple guide, you’ll be able to pick the right area rug that will bring out the full potential of your dining room!

Why Add a Dining Room Rug?

It was an internal battle on deciding to put a rug under the dining room table. I really like the look of my pine plank flooring against my cream table. After a lot of deliberation, I am mad that I didn't do it sooner. Let's take a peek at the pros and cons for adding a rug to your dining area.

• A rug is a great choice for bringing style and color to a room
• Helps to create a focal point
• Protects the floor underneath, especially if it is wood - but also inconveniently hides the flooring
• Messes are more contained and easy to vacuum up on a rug, though some may prefer the convenience of wiping up a hard floor
• Cheaper to replace a rug versus damaged flooring

7 Tips to Help Choose a Dining Room Rug for Your Space

Allow me to share a few pointers on picking out the proper rug for your space!

Pick the Right Size Rug

Let's begin by discussing the size of the rug. Picking the best size of rug is a great way to impact the rest of your design. Make sure to consider the table size as well as the size of your dining room. A rug should be larger than your furniture area, but not so big that it spreads to opposite ends of the room.

According to experts, the general rule of thumb is that an area rug should be large enough to cover the space beneath all the chair legs when they are pushed back from the table. When in doubt or deciding between two sizes, always go larger. It is best to have a slightly large rug rather than something too small.

Shape

Choosing the proper rug shape is pretty important for a design concept. Avoid an awkwardly styled room by making sure to pick the perfect rug shape.

Just like the size of a rug is based off your room space and furniture, so is the shape.

• Rectangular rug - Ideal for rectangular sized rooms, under rectangular dining room table, great for defining a space, most common rug shape
• Round rug - Best for round dining tables, great for making a small room seem larger, also fun to use as an accent space in a playroom
• Oval rug - Can also be used under a rectangular dining table
• Square rug - Best for a square dining table or square room

Choose Neutral Patterns

It is generally best to opt for a neutral pattern in a dining room. As a space that can get a lot of traffic, it's easier on the eye if you keep patterns to a minimum instead of flashy designs and busy patterns. Not to mention, most of your patterned rug will be hidden by chairs and people.

If you really want to include a bold and busy pattern, a great way to balance out your space is by layering your rugs. Choose a neutral rug to go under your patterned one, and that way you can have a fun pattern balanced with a neutral style that won't be too heavy.

I prefer my dining area to blend into my kitchen space, rather than be a prominent focal point. Instead, I like to throw in fun decor accents on top of my table. For this space I didn't want to go too traditional or floral. This rug under our table is from Rugs USA. It is the perfect compromise with neutrality and style. And since we are moving, it is neutral enough it will fit into our new home perfectly.

Color Scheme

Picking a rug that has a neutral color palette is always a good choice. It can benefit your room to bring a bit more vibrancy into your space, making it easier to incorporate your home decor. Blues, grays, and browns are all excellent choices for a dining space, but if a bold color is your preference, that's okay too!

Keep in mind that medium to darker colors are better at hiding food and less likely to appear dirty.

A medium color range is ideal for me, not too dark and not too light. A light colored rug tends to show stains quite well. If you choose a lighter rug, make sure to choose one with some type of a neutral pattern to hide food.

Tassels or No Tassels

A lot of stylish Boho rugs have tassels on the edge of the rug and they are absolutely beautiful. There is definitely a place for tassels in the rug world, however, a kitchen area is not one of them. Cleaning up mashed food out of tassels can be a huge and unnecessary headache. Avoid this mess by using a tasseled rug in another room.

Tassels for bedrooms? Yes! Tassels for kitchen? Definitely not for me.

Foot Traffic

This may not be a high consideration for some, but when picking out the proper dining room rug you should always think about your high-traffic areas. Dining rooms, kitchens and living rooms see some of the most floor wear. Pick the best rug for this.

For example, you wouldn't want to put a shag carpet under your table because it will easily get matted down with a lot of foot traffic. The legs of the chair are harder to move around and food can easily get stuck down in there. Likewise, you do not want a rug that will slide around every time it is walked on or chairs are moved over it.

Flat rugs are preferred for high-traffic areas. We will discuss this more in the next section.

Pile/Weave

When choosing the correct pile height for your desired rug, you want it to be just right. The pile is essentially the height and thickness of the natural fibers in a rug. A high pile rug is usually long, shaggy and plush, while a low pile rug is essentially flat and thin.

Keep the type of pile and weave you want in mind. A flat weave rug is great for high-traffic areas like a kitchen or entryway, sometimes even a heavily used living room or keeping room. Tufted rugs with a medium to higher pile are generally the best choice for family rooms and bedrooms.

A flat weave rug is commonly easier to clean and durable, but perhaps not quite as cushy. This can be solved by adding a rug pad underneath if needed. I have found a lower pile to be the best dining room rug.

Shop this dining room and my rug in our new home here.

Shop my favorite low pile rugs on Amazon here!

Choosing the perfect rug for your dining room should be fun and exciting! With just a few simple tips, you can find the perfect centerpiece to complete the look of your space and make it inviting. It is important to pay attention to the size and shape of your room, the colors and materials that will be featured in the rug, and how the rug will compliment the rest of the room.

Make sure to choose a rug that is durable and will hold up to foot traffic, as it is a staple of the room and needs to last. With the right rug, you can create an inviting and stylish dining experience for you and your guests. So go ahead, take the plunge and make your dining room look amazing!

Happy Decorating!

Brooke