How to choose the best rug for your dining room: sizes, shapes, colors, patterns, and materials

hackrea / July 5, 2021

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Setting up a dining room is an enjoyable process. Indeed, the place where the whole family will gather for dinner or breakfast, and friends for festive lunches, should be cozy, stylish, and comfortable at the same time. And therefore, in the dining area, neglect of any detail is unacceptable – from the color and texture of the walls to textiles. It is about the rug that is worth talking in more detail.

Dining room rug: pros

If no one questions the need to buy curtains, napkins, and tablecloths, there are usually many disagreements and doubts about the area rug. Indeed, on the one hand, one cannot deny the aesthetics of such an accessory, but on the other hand, many still consider it not a very practical solution. Still, a carpet in a dining room is necessary in most cases – and we are ready to present compelling arguments in this regard:

Harmonious and balanced interior. Balance is essential in everything, including the textiles of the dining room, and the rug will be the finishing touch to the perfect dining area design.
Comfort. Chair legs rubbing against hard flooring can sometimes be one of the most annoying sounds in your home. The carpet allows the chairs to move silently, making the dining area even more pleasant. Besides, thanks to the rug, you can even sit barefoot at the table – and for many, this is absolute bliss.
Rationality. Most modern floorings are subject to varying degrees of mechanical and chemical stress. Thus, tiles and laminate flooring can be scratched, and ugly stains from accidentally dropped food and spilled drinks can remain on the hardwood. The rug acts as a kind of protective barrier, keeping your floor safe and sound – after all, replacing or washing it is much easier than replacing a whole tile or wood board.

As you can see, there are enough reasons for buying floor textiles for the dining room – which means it’s time to act. We are ready to tell you in detail about the secrets of designers and the features of choosing a rug for the dining room, which will definitely help you achieve perfection.

Choosing a rug for the dining area: basic rules

Do not think that choosing floor textiles will put you in the position of a wanderer in distress in the endless ocean of carpets. Designers say: in fact, there is nothing complicated about it. It is enough to know what to do and what not to do – and the ideal solution for you will catch your eye much faster than you think. And for this, there are several rules, each of which we will talk about in more detail a little later, but for now – we will give you food for thought.

Take dining room size as seriously as possible

As you gather for your dining room rug, keep in mind that size is significant in this case! If these words don’t mean too much to you, let’s try to turn on imagination.

Suppose you bought a massive carpet for the dining area – so large that it almost covers the floor. Then now – it’s time to go to the store for detergents and cleaning products, because from now on your life will be devoted to maintaining the accessory, if not in perfect, then at least decent condition. Scattered and spread on the floor crumbs, drops of drinks, and accidentally spilled soups and sauces – all this will have to be removed all over the surface.

Now imagine that you bought a small rug that barely shows up from under the dining table. At first glance, this is not a big problem, but we will continue to fantasize. Here you come to a table with a tray lined with plates and … stumble over the edge of the carpet! But your guests pull back the chairs to sit down, and it turns out that they are wobbling – because the front legs are on the rug, and the back ones are on the floor.

However, we drew these depressing pictures not at all to spoil your mood – but to make you understand how important the size of the rug is for the dining area, where there are many mobile objects, and there is always a risk of staining the flooring. Below we will talk about making the correct measurements to buy a carpet with the suitable parameters. For now, start memorizing the key value – 24 inches.

Avoid long pile and overly expressive texture

Even if you prefer a luxurious design, if you choose a rug for the dining room, you will have to moderate your ardor. And we are more than sure that you understand why: cleaning spilled liquids and crumbs from the fluffy pile or embossed surfaces promise to be quite a quest. That’s why your choice is the sleekest, flat-weave accessories. As for shaggy and thick carpets, you can realize your sympathy for them where will be safer – for example, in the living room or bedroom.

Use your rug as a starting point for the decor

If you are not sure that you can find a rug that can organically fit into the interior of the dining room, make it easier – start decorating the room with it! Match its color to the shade of the walls or, in contrast to the flooring, find a consonant pattern with the curtains that you have already looked after – the search and placement of other decor items will be much easier, and the result will really please.

Consider practicality when choosing materials

Natural is always better than artificial – this stereotype has been developing for decades, but this does not mean that it is valid for absolutely everything. And if we are talking about a rug for the dining room, then we should not be so straightforward, even in this case.

The fact is that when choosing a rug for the dining area, you will have to take into account not only the beauty but also the ease of maintenance since the floor textiles in the dining room have to be cleaned much more often. That is why you should not mindlessly buy an accessory simply because it is made from natural fibers. Be sure to study their properties – we will talk about them in more detail later.

Also, do not deny yourself the pleasure of trying trendy alternatives – especially if these options make it easier for you to care for your decor. One of these solutions can be carpet tiles. Elements of various shapes can be fastened together in the required quantity, choosing not only the color but also the pattern and texture. If you plant a stain on one of these tiles, you can easily remove them for washing or replacing.

Think carefully about the shape

Interior rhythm and regular repetition of forms are the keys to the harmony of any interior, and the dining room is no exception. By choosing a rug that exactly matches the configuration of the dining room, you will create a sense of balance and order – and, therefore, comfort.

Another option is to choose an accessory that matches the shape of the table. And you don’t have to look for the perfect match in form. So, designers recommend using round and square rugs for round dining tables, rectangular – for oval and rectangular. As for the square tabletop, you can choose either a carpet of the same shape or a round model for more variety.

Avoid light shades

Suppose you use the dining room exclusively for special events every few months. In that case, you can reluctantly give preference to white, beige or pale pastel carpet – however, prepare yourself to clean it every time after the event. If you plan a dining room interior for your daily pastime, think about more profound and more saturated colors. However, you have a chance to get around the recommendations against light carpets – a little later, we will tell you how.

And, finally, another recipe for success in the selection of floor textiles – a broader view of the interior. Think of the dining room carpet as part of a puzzle called the perfect dining room. Try to create a unified symphony that involves not only furniture and base surfaces but also fixtures and accessories and even window frames. You may have to spend time looking for combinations – but it’s worth it.

Rug size for dining table: we select the dimensions

Above, we have already talked about the role of the rug size for the dining room, so we will not repeat ourselves – we will move on to a more detailed guide on how to take measurements to buy an accessory.

Arrange the furniture as planned. This applies not only to the dining table and chairs but also to buffets, bars, display cabinets, bar carts, and floor lamps. Such an arrangement will immediately show whether the rug will intersect with any of the interior items and will help you find a way to beat all this – but more on that later.
Pull all chairs out from under the table. The distance, in this case, should correspond to the maximum length necessary for a person to sit and stand comfortably. You can even make a small margin if required – just don’t overdo it. Now mark a line along the back legs of the chairs with masking tape.
Measure the resulting perimeter. Remember that same number, 24? So, on average, the back of a chair should be 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) from the table, and the distance between the back of the chair and the wall in the dining room should be 8-12 inches (20-30 cm). Adjust the tape line according to these parameters.
Measure the resulting perimeter again. The resulting length and width will match the rug size for your dining table.

After that, you just have to study the arrangement of the remaining pieces of furniture to understand how the rug under the dining table will interact with them. If the edge of the accessory goes only under the front line of the sideboard or display case, you will have to adjust it to maintain balance – for example, support the back of the item with something.

Materials for the dining room carpet

When thinking about the material for the rug in your dining room, you need to consider that these textiles will have to endure heavy loads. The high permeability of the room, the friction of the legs of the chairs and, in some cases, the table, surface cleaning – all this requires increased strength from the accessory. Also, such a property of the product as ease of cleaning is no less critical: where something is regularly spilled and crumbled, its value cannot be belittled.

Still, let’s be more specific and go directly to the materials and their relevance for the dining room:

Natural wool. Carpets from it look spectacular and, at the same time, cozy. Another indisputable advantage of wool is also relatively easy cleaning – including with the help of professional products. These rugs look great in classic and loft-style interiors, but experts recommend choosing models with a low pile for easier maintenance. Plus, wool is quite expensive, so make sure you can actually afford it before buying.
Natural cotton. Natural, smooth, easy to wash and clean, a variety of colors and patterns – cotton rugs have many advantages that make them the optimal solution for the dining room. The only drawback can be called its thinness, so try to move chairs on it as little as possible; otherwise, scuffs will appear quite quickly.
Sisal, jute, seagrass. Rugs made from these natural fibers look incredibly natural and delight at an attractive price. However, if you decide to add such an accessory to the interior of the dining room, be prepared to spend many hours cleaning it. The fact is that all these fibers give a relatively coarse weave. If any liquid or something sticky like jam or sauce gets on them, then the rug absorbs everything very quickly – not to mention the crumbs that are successfully hammered into the braid and require constant shaking out. That is why such carpets are not the best choice for a dining room, but if the style of the room requires only such an accessory, you will have to take a chance – however, you will have to handle it extremely carefully.
Synthetic fibers. At first glance, it may seem that rugs made of artificial materials are the most practical. True, according to the designers, it all depends on the composition of the fibers, so such an accessory for the dining room is a real lottery. You may come across both an absolutely unpretentious model, which you can easily clean yourself, and an extremely erratic one, which only dry cleaning will help. In any case, having bought such a rug for the dining area, treat it with care.

The area rug as a valuable accessory: colors and patterns

Having discussed the material, size, and shape, it’s time to move on to another fascinating aspect – selecting colors and patterns for the dining room rug. Choosing it as an autonomous interior detail is a dangerous undertaking and fraught with imbalance. That is why if you manage to select floor textiles to match curtains, upholstery, and tablecloths, then we can say with confidence that you are close to perfection. However, minor deviations are also acceptable.

We have already mentioned above that the optimal solution for the dining room will be a carpet of deep and rich color, on which small dirt is less noticeable. However, in some cases, a composition with a light rug is also possible – and an ornament will help protect it from the rapid loss of its impeccable appearance.

Depending on the style of the interior you have chosen, you can give preference to any of the following drawings that are relevant today:

medallions and oriental patterns – incredibly harmonious in styles such as English, classic, and loft;
stripes – a laconic and demanded pattern that can visually increase the space of a room;
geometric ornament – a popular option for modern and neoclassical dining rooms;
imitation of scuffs, gradient – a classic solution for those who choose maximum practicality.
bright abstractions – typical for accessories in avant-garde, eclectic interiors.

Selection of rug for the dining room: Conclusions + Photo gallery

Obviously, choosing a rug for a dining room is no easier than selecting a carpet for a living room – and maybe even more difficult. However, do not despair in advance: following our advice, you will definitely find an accessory that can give the dining area in your home a finished look and turn its furnishings into a model of style and taste.