No bedroom is complete without the perfect rug. Beyond contributing a stylish look to your bedroom, rugs protect the flooring, add depth to furniture design and décor, and ultimately tie together a bedroom’s cozy atmosphere.
That said, the work isn’t done once you’ve discovered the ideal rug for your bedroom. Home decor philosophies emphasize the importance of not only choosing the right rug but also understanding where to place the rug in the bedroom.
Tips for Bedroom Rug Placement
Rugs have major design power, with the potential to enhance the look of furniture, flooring, and the room as a whole—so long as it’s placed thoughtfully. With the proper alignment, even a huge rug size set on a diagonal can look interesting, intentional, and marvelous.
#1 Considering The Purpose of Different Rug Sizes
Determining a pleasing bedroom rug placement means paying attention to not only the size of your space but also the size of your bed. Make sure your rug is proportional to your bed frame.
- King-Size Bed: When placing a rug in a room with a king-sized bed, selecting the right size is crucial for achieving a look of luxury and grandeur. A large rug, extending at least 18 inches beyond the bed’s sides and foot, is ideal. This not only complements the scale of a king-size bed but also ensures the rug reaches beyond a nightstand or bedside table, enveloping the entire sleeping area in comfort and style.
- Queen-Size Bed: For a queen-size bed, the key to bedroom rug size perfection lies in choosing a medium-sized rug. This rug should ideally extend around 12 to 18 inches past the bed’s sides, effectively anchoring the queen-sized bed within the space.
- Twin Bed: In a room with a twin bed, especially in a smaller room, opting for a small rug to maintain the right proportions is essential. Placing a runner rug alongside the bed or a small rug at the foot offers a cozy and inviting element, making the space feel more tailored and thoughtful.
#2 Deciding Between Rug Shapes
In bedroom interior design, the shape of your rug greatly influences the look and feel of the space. Rectangular rugs are a classic choice, providing a clean and sophisticated look that is ideal for larger bedrooms and optimizing floor space. Square rugs offer a balanced alternative, fitting well in various room sizes and layouts. For a unique touch in placing rugs, consider round rugs; they add an eclectic element and can complement any bedroom size, enhancing both small and larger bedroom spaces. The right rug shape, be it square, round, or rectangular, not only boosts the room’s aesthetic but also maximizes the use of floor space.
#3 A Larger Rug Should Complement
Large or oversized rugs do best when placed under all the bedroom furniture, from the bed to the nightstands to the surrounding dresser. We recommend keeping no more than two feet of exposed floor between the larger rug and the room’s edge. This will ensure that the large rug you choose complements all aspects of your room and doesn’t clash with the rest of your bedroom wall decor ideas.
#4 Smaller Rugs Should Accent
For a smaller space (or tighter budgets), rugs don’t have to catch all your bedroom furniture’s feet. There’s still a sleek and unifying effect when the rug doesn’t encompass the whole bed—just make sure the rug extends visibly beyond the foot of the bed.
In this case, a smaller rug or two should accent the room (as opposed to complementing the entirety of your smaller space).
Bedroom Rug Layout Ideas
Want to know how to decorate a bedroom like a pro? The secret lies in proper rug placement. No matter the type of rug you choose, the goal of placing it in your bedroom is always singular: to highlight the main feature of the room.1 In a bedroom’s case, the main feature is the bed. Try some of the bedroom rug placement ideas below for inspiration.
#1 Center the Bed with Area Rugs
If you have more space available to you, consider placing a large area rug centered beneath the bed and extending underneath adjacent bedside tables or floor lamps. Area rugs have a grounding effect upon the whole room.
#2 Go for Partial Bed Coverage
Though an all-encompassing bedroom area rug placement is an elegant go-to option, it’s not the only way to add cohesive visual interest to a bedroom. You could also opt for a medium-sized rug that takes up only half of your under-bed space but still extends at least a foot past the bottom of the bed.
#3 Border the Bed with Small Rugs
Two identical small rugs are perfect for placing on either side of a bed, especially if it’s already centered within your bedroom. They would enhance symmetry and provide a warm landing for getting out of bed—not to mention: a smaller rug saves a bit of your budget.
#4 Enhance an Individual Bedroom Nook
Much of the advice on placing and layering rugs in a bedroom relies on a symmetrical bedroom layout. However, some bedrooms naturally require asymmetrical set-ups, or maybe you have a little reading nook or small space seating arrangement in your bedroom.
Small or medium-sized rugs in these specialized bedroom spaces add color, comfort, and texture to that area. You can choose a contrasting rug color and let the area have its own style, or tie in a cohering accent color for overall synthesis.
#5 Fill Empty Space with Small Rugs
Smaller accent rugs are great opportunities to pad doorways or awkward empty crannies in your bedroom. You could try out more unique rug configurations in these placements, like animal skins or artistic punch needle rugs.
#6 Cover High-Traffic Spaces
When considering rug placement in your bedroom, it’s important to focus on covering high-traffic areas. This not only adds comfort underfoot but also helps protect your flooring from wear and tear. In a bedroom, these areas typically include the space on both sides of the bed and the area at the foot of the bed. Choose a rug that offers ample coverage in these spots, ensuring that you step onto a soft surface every time you get in and out of bed.
Bedroom Rug Placement: Frequently Asked Questions
Where Should a Rug Be Placed in a Bedroom?
A rug’s priority placement in a bedroom is always under and around the bed, as it grounds and centers the room’s key feature. While rug placement in bedroom spaces varies by rug size, style, and preference, it’s a good rule of thumb to ensure you have a couple feet of exposed flooring, no matter the rug.
How Far Should a Rug Stick Out From Under a Bed?
How far a rug extends beyond the perimeter of a bed depends on the size of the bed. To maintain aesthetically pleasing proportions, at least 12 inches of rug should show beyond the edges of a twin or full bed, whereas a queen or king bed necessitates at least 18 inches of exposed rug.2
Does an Area Rug Need To Be Centered in the Room?
No, an area rug doesn’t need to be perfectly centered within a space. A rug looks most stunning when it becomes a focal point to highlight a major element within the room: a fireplace, dining table, or couch, for example.
In the case of the bedroom, an area rug should highlight the bed.
Maximize Your Interior Space with Society6
The possibilities for rug placements are endless, which means the creative potential for your bedroom design is equally expansive. Whether you’re cultivating your own kingdom of comfort with a high-piled shag or introducing color with a zany-patterned rug assortment, your perfect rug is one step closer to making a bedroom feel like your room.
Society6 helps you achieve the room of your dreams through the power of artistic community.
Our collective of over 450,000 independent artists gives colorful life to a near-boundless collection of uniquely designed home décor—so you’re sure to find something to suit your room, no matter the arrangement.
Sources:
- True Design House. How to Properly Place an Area Rug. https://www.true-design-house.com/blog/how-to-properly-place-an-area-rug.
- Wild Creative Project. Where to Put the Rug When the Bed is Against the Wall? https://wildcreativeproject.com/small-space/bed-against-wall-rug-placement
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