Leave room to pull out the chairs when you lay a rug under your dining table.

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What’s the rule for the size of a new rug? Too large and it may it seem as if you’re trying to hide the floor. Too small and it may seem as if you’re trying to hide a stain. Choosing an appropriate rug size is not an exact science, but it’s not complete guesswork, either. While you may be able to get away with non-traditional choices in other rooms, it’s best to follow the general rules of decorating when it comes to your dining room rug. Here are a few guidelines to help you make a smart design statement in your dining room:

• When your dining room table sits on a wood floor, a rug underneath can save your floors from unsightly scratches made by pulling chairs in and out. A rug also protects your floors from spills.
• A rug can muffle the noise in the room, easing conversation.
• Aesthetically, a dining room rug provides a frame for the table, adding to the overall décor of the room. You can even place a rug over carpeting to bring style into your eating space.

Make sure the rug is sufficiently big enough.

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While your table size and space limitations may actually dictate the size of the rug your dining room can accommodate, here are a few rules of thumb to remember when making your purchase:

• Ideally, your dining room rug should be about four feet longer and wider than your table. You need 18 to 24 inches on each side so you and your guests can slide chairs out without worrying about falling off the edge of the rug. If your rug is too small, chairs can still scratch the floor, get tangled in the edge of the rug, and cause discomfort, embarrassment, and frustration when trying to slide the chair back in place.

• To determine the size of rug you need, first measure your table. Then add 36 to 48 inches to each measurement. Be sure to include any extra table leaves in your figure because you want your new rug to accommodate the entire length of your table. In most cases, an 8x10 or 9x12 rug will fit your area and leave plenty of room for your chairs.
• Most rugs are rectangular, perfect for standard dining room tables. At Rug & Home, though, you can find an 8-foot or 10-foot square rug, which fits most small square tables. An 8-foot or 10-foot round rug can set off a circular table and complement the style in your room.

As you consider your options and the best measurements for your space, take into account any sideboards or china cabinets in the room. Your new rug should not extend beneath those dining room pieces. Keeping coming back to our blog, and we promise to share more ideas for dining room rugs that are durable and attractive. We’ll also continue to keep you up to date on trends in dining room furniture and accessories. It’s your home; your style should extend into every room.

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