Skip to main content
EN BEEnglish

Rug guide: the perfect rug for every room

Looking to spruce up your home with something that's both a sight for sore eyes and a treat for your feet? Check out these tips to ensure you choose the rug that’s perfectly suited to you and your living room.

Living room | Dining room | Bedroom | For outdoors | Anti-slip | Children’s room | Materials, colours and patterns

LOHALS rug
LOHALS rug

Which rug in which room?

The structure and quality of the rug depends on where you use it and how you live. Choose the rug that best suits what you do in the room. Each type has different pros and cons and is suited to different rooms. It’s also important to take account of how you live (whether you have kids or pets, say). The size depends on where you want to put it. Large rugs are suited to the sitting area in a living room or under a dining table. Smaller rugs are suitable for bedrooms or a compact sitting area when space is tight. Runners look good in the bedroom, hall or kitchen. And rugs don’t always have to be rectangular. Round rugs also go well with a sofa or on their own as the centrepiece of your room. Most important is that everything goes well together.

See all rugs
See all rugs

Like an outsize rug for your living room? Not a problem!

A very large rug can cover the footprint of your whole sitting area, including sofa and armchair. Or you can go for a medium-sized rug that extends only under the front legs of seating. You can also combine two smaller rugs. This creates a larger zone. Like that warm feeling under your feet everywhere? You can place several different rugs next to each other.

View all large and medium-sized rugs
STOENSE rug in sitting area with STRANDMON and EKTORP
View all large and medium-sized rugs

The best sized rug for the living room

2-seater sofa

3-seater sofa

2- and 3-seater sofa with chaise longue

What size rug do you need in the dining room?

You can use rugs to split rooms into different zones – a TV or dining zone, say. The bigger the rug, the bigger the zone. The rug is good at marking off your dining area. For your dining room it’s advisable to choose a rug that’s big enough to accommodate all chairs, even when they are pulled out from under the table. Smart! If you have little ones, KOLON floor protectors are ideal for under highchairs. Spick and span in no time.

See all rugs
Two Havsta coffee tables ​​on a LOHALS rug in front of a Grönlid sofa, two bench pads in front, two rattan armchairs can be seen at the side.
See all rugs

The best sized rug for your dining room

2-seater dining table

4-seater dining table

6-seater dining table

High-pile or flatwoven rug in the bedroom?

A high-pile rug feels soft and cosy underfoot, it’s comfy and it absorbs noise. Flatwoven and low-pile rugs on the other hand are thin, easy to move and provide ventilation where needed. They are a cinch to clean with a vacuum.

See all small rugs
TOFTLUND rug by a bed, with a person who has both feet placed on it
See all small rugs

The best sized rug for your bedroom

Double bed

Single bed

How to find your new outdoor rug

Like your rug stylish or colourful? Or do you prefer a rug in subtle colours that complement the rest of your interior? You’ll find the rug that suits you in the IKEA range.

See all outdoor rugs
VIRKLUND rug on a timber deck with NÄMMARÖ outdoor table and barbecue in the background
See all outdoor rugs

The right sized rug for your garden and balcony

Outdoor dining table

Outdoor sofas

Outdoor corner sofas

Children’s rug: playful support

Children like playing on the floor. Make their playroom more comfy and cosy with a couple of rugs. Some rugs in the IKEA children’s rug range feature designs that can be incorporated into their game or role playing. But the children’s range includes plenty of other rugs of course.

See all rugs and playmats for children’s rooms
BLÅVINGAD rug with boy playing with BLÅVINGAD submarine playset
See all rugs and playmats for children’s rooms

Anti-slip underlays – extra peace of mind

An anti-slip underlay keeps your rug flat and firmly in place. An anti-slip underlay minimises the risk of someone slipping, but it’s also a huge help when vacuum cleaning. That’s because it prevents your rug from moving around. A thicker anti-slip underlay like STOPP FILT makes thinner rugs look thicker. It also protects rug and floor from wear and tear by absorbing the impact of shoe soles. This extends the life of your rug. It’s important that the anti-slip underlay is placed under the entire rug. That will ensure the corners don’t roll up.

See all anti-slip underlays
Two rugs lined up in a corridor. The edge of one rug is folded up to show the STOPP FILT underlay with anti-slip.
See all anti-slip underlays

What materials are used for rugs?

Synthetic rugs are hard-wearing and easy to clean. Synthetic fibres absorb little or no moisture. That means synthetic rugs dry faster after washing. Wear-resistant and durable, Jute is one of the softest vegetable fibres. Known for its silky lustre, it can be woven into smooth yarns.

Jute feels good against the skin and is highly reflective.

Coir is a strong natural fibre extracted from the outer husk of coconuts. Coir is rough, tough and water-resistant. That means coir is hardwearing, which makes it very good for doormats.

Sisal is a strong, durable material made from the leaves of the plant of the same name. Sisal is moisture-absorbent fibre that can contract. Rugs made from sisal must not be wet-cleaned. The best approach is regular brushing, drying and vacuuming.

Animal hides typically come from sheep or cows. As such, each one is unique. Sheep hides have the same fantastic qualities as wool. (IKEA has a strict animal welfare policy: all cow and sheep hides are waste from the food industry. IKEA does not use have any animals killed just for their hide).

Wool is a tough, stain-resistant material. Sheep wool is the most common sort. The sheared wool is washed before being spun into yarn. Wollen rugs are soft, warm and very comfortable to walk on.

Colour and design

You pick the colour and the design based on your taste and the look you want to create. The mood in your room depends on the colours of the rug.

Rugs in cool colours create a peaceful, relaxed mood: great for rooms where you sleep or chill. Rugs in darker tints give a room a cosier feel, while intense colours are playful. Light colours make your room look bigger. Dark, matt colours create a balanced, neutral look.

Designs and darker rugs are better suited to rooms that are used intensively. That’s because signs of wear are less easy to see. Designs add depth and perspective, creating a visual impact in the room. Rugs with a smart graphic design brighten up dark rooms. Be sure to take account of the floor, the colour of the walls and the furniture. Choose a colour that fits with the rest of the room. Or choose a rug in an entirely different colour to accentuate the surroundings.

The easy way to consume less energy

Rugs are a simple but effective way to lower your heating bill. Heat rises, which means that floors are often very cold in the winter. Extra rugs not only make your rooms warmer, they also keep your feet warmer. And, by the way, all IKEA rugs are suitable for use with underfloor heating.