What size rug for a living room?

The most common mistake in a living room, one that's seen everywhere yet costly to correct, is a rug that's too small. Not by much. Just enough for the sofa to float, the coffee table to seem isolated, and the whole arrangement to give the impression of an unfinished interior. A rug that's too small doesn't go unnoticed. It draws the eye precisely because it lacks surface area.

The basic rule is simple: the rug must create a territory. In a classic living room with a sofa, armchairs, and a coffee table, it should extend under the front legs of all seating. Not just under the coffee table – that's the "small decorative rug" trap that fragments the room instead of unifying it. Nor entirely under all furniture, except in very large spaces. Front legs on the rug, the rest slightly floating above: this configuration gives the composition its visual stability.

In terms of concrete dimensions, the benchmarks are as follows. For a living room of 15 to 20 m², no less than 160 x 230 cm. For a living room of 20 to 30 m², 200 x 300 cm is the format that works best in the vast majority of cases. Beyond 35 m², consider 250 x 350 cm or larger. When in doubt, go bigger. A slightly too large rug is embraced. A too small rug is endured.

Another overlooked point: the rug should not touch the walls. Leaving 20 to 40 cm of visible floor around it creates a frame, provides breathing room, and avoids a wall-to-wall carpet effect. In a Haussmannian apartment with herringbone parquet flooring, this breathing space also allows the floor to continue to exist around the rug, playing its own architectural role.

In terms of width, the rug should be aligned with the sofa's width or slightly wider. If it's narrower, the entire arrangement visually topples. The rug acts as a base: it should support what's placed on it, not disappear beneath it.

In an open-plan living and dining area, the rug becomes a demarcation tool. It defines the living room without compartmentalizing, structures circulation, and gives each zone its own identity. This is particularly effective in large contemporary spaces where nothing else marks the territories.

Size is technical. The rest is a matter of perspective.