A sofa and rug provide a foundation for other elements in a room. Whether the room is modern or traditional, these two elements define the feel and look of your space. It is visually grounding to group a sofa and rug so that they make the best use of the floor area. A sectional sofa often covers more square footage and should be partnered with a rug that maintains that proportion. With various rug sizes to choose from, you can create a personalized look that coordinates with your style.

How to Arrange Sofas and Rugs

Rug Size

Your furniture may dictate the size of your rug, but the room size and shape are also important factors. The rug should be at least the length of the sofa. An 8- by 10-foot rug works well in many settings. If the room is quite large or is a great room, use a larger rug that suits those proportions and float the furniture arrangement and rug in the room, allowing a traffic pattern from all sides. The rug should extend a minimum of about a foot around the furniture.

Furniture

Arrange your sofa and rug to maximize how you envision using the space. Two sofas facing each other with a rug in between them is a comfortable and inviting layout. For a large furniture grouping, create the illusion of a larger rug by using two of the same rugs with a pattern that will repeat. Extend the visual size of a small rug and bring character to a plain room by layering it on top of a large rug.

Pattern and Texture

If your furniture has a pattern, select a rug that does not compete with the furniture fabric, but rather one that complements the textures or colors in the room. Layer a rug over neutral wall-to-wall carpeting to define a furniture grouping. An oddly shaped rug, such as an animal skin, should be placed so that it is centered in between the furniture grouping, with uneven edges naturally falling within open spaces on the floor.

Sofa Position

Place an 8- by 10-foot rug in front of a sofa, allowing a few inches of open floor space in front. A 9- by 12-foot or larger rug can go underneath the front legs of a sofa. In an oddly shaped room, a sofa and rug placed on a diagonal visually expands the space. Use the proper rug pad for your rug to avoid slippage on a wood floor or carpet.

source: SFgate