How to Pick the Perfect Rug

Our kitchen is nice and big, but the only place we have to eat is in there too so it doubles as a dining room. When we first moved in, I put the rug down from our old dining room and called it a day. Well, it’s always been too short and awkward under the table (half of the chair legs would sit off the rug)- it was time for a change!

But the room had all been designed! Now, adding in a new rug was tricky because it needed to match the rest of the components of the room. I thought I’d walk you through the process for how to pick the perfect rug in case you need a new one too!

how to pick the perfect rug

When picking out a rug, I always start with the color I want. Next, I move onto choosing the style, material, and finally I figure out the right size for the rug. All these things add up to the perfect rug! Let’s go through each step in detail-

how to pick the perfect rug color

1. Dover Rug / 2. Hyacinth Rug / 3. Mesa Rug / 4. Santiago Rug / 5. El Paso Rug / 6. Alexis Rug / 7. El Paso Rug II / 8. Mesa Rug II / 9. Delilah Rug /

how to pick the perfect rug style

Rugs come in a bunch of styles. By understanding them and knowing which ones you’re drawn to, it can make it easier to narrow down the right rug for you. Here’s a quick overview of the basic 6 rug styles- 

Ikat Rug / Traditional Rug / Moroccan Rug / Kilim Rug / Natural Fiber Rug / Overdyed Rug / 

Side note, when I was first choosing a rug for my house a few years ago, I looked everywhere for an infographic like this. I wanted a simple way to know what style I should search for. Honestly, I hope this is helpful to you to be able to place a name to the style you are drawn to! P.S. make sure to pin it if it’s helpful so you can find it later!

Deciding on a rug style is another way to say that you’re choosing the pattern for the rug that’ll go in the room. If you have bold patterns on your drapes or upholstery or wallpaper, make sure to pay attention to how the rug pattern will work with it. 

I personally am drawn to traditional and Moroccan rugs. Those work with my style and knowing that helps me narrow down the right rug for my space. Now that I’ve decided on a pink rug and then selected the style to be traditional or Moroccan, it has left me with 5 choices! We’re getting closer!

how to pick the perfect rug material

Next up- it’s time to figure out the right rug material. While this might not sound like fun, it’s super important. Make sure to consider what kind of traffic the rug will receive and how much coziness is needed. Below are the most commonly used materials for rugs with the pros and cons of each.

jute / sisal / wool / viscose / silk / polypropylene / polyester / cotton

how to pick the perfect rug size and placement

This blog post is getting dense, but the good news is that I have a full post on how to find the perfect rug size and placement here. The gist of it is that you want to make sure your rug is large enough for your space. But it shouldn’t completely cover the floor. Leave 12-18″ between the rug and the walls to help determine the correct size.

There’s always exceptions to the rule, but those are good starting points. For the exact size I suggest in each room, go here.

rug faq

Can I put a rug over carpet? Yes! Especially if you have a low pile carpet. I’ve but a rug over shag carpet that I didn’t like but didn’t have the budget to change. A rug covered most of it up and really transformed the room. 

Do I need a rug pad? I’d definitely suggest one. Every rug should probably use a rug pad. Why? A rug pad keeps the rug from moving and slipping. It also extends the life of a rug by providing a buffer between the floor’s surface and the rug. A rug pad adds cushioning and is softer underfoot. Last it actually makes the rug easier to vacuum. 

Rug pads are made for the flooring they’re going on top of. You can get a rug pad for carpet or hard wood flooring.

What are some tips for picking out a rug online? Follow the steps in this post for picking out a rug. Then go onto rug seller website and narrow down your choices. I like to add my favorites to my cart or to pin them to Pinterest so I can think about them for a few days (since a rug is a bigger commitment).

I also like to sign up for the mailing list of the sites where I’m liking rugs in case a coupon pops up. If there are reviews, I read them on my favorite rugs and have found that really helpful.

the rug I choose for my kitchen

I pulled up the old rug and cleaned really well. Ready to see the rug I selected?!

I ended up going up with the Alexis Rug in the 7×10 from Rugs.com! I really wanted a rug that’d go under the bench so the chairs could both sit nicely on the rug (unlike with our last rug). The rug might be a little big since it almost covers all the wood, but that was the compromise to have the full table and chairs on the rug. The wood in this room isn’t my favorite, so I’m fine covering them up.

Walking into the kitchen, you see the the rainbow stairs and the new rug. It’s a pastel colorful sight, and I love it!

It’s actually pretty hard to find a light pink rug (this one is a beautiful mauve color). I LOVE it in here! It is really, really soft and my dogs are big fans! They lay on it all day long.

I know that a rug in a kitchen or dining room can be a little scary, but we’ve found that it works for us. I LOVE the coziness and have a rug cleaner in case there are spills. To be honest, our dogs don’t usually get table scraps so any crumbs that do land on the rug get cleaned up VERY quickly by our pups.

I wouldn’t do a white or light rug, but having something that hides stains has worked well for me. It’s worth how comfy it is in here!

Alright, there you have it! How to pick out the perfect rug. And our new Alexis Rug! I am loving the change in the kitchen. It feels so nice to have the right size rug that really pulls all the colors of the room and my home together. Let me know if you have any rug questions and I’ll answer them in the comments!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

If you love it, pin it!