How to choose a rug for the living room

We often put the whole living room together and things like the rug are an afterthought – after all, "it's just an extra". In reality, though, the living room rug is one of the most important things in the house (after the doormat). Rugs aren't just decorative. They're also functional, as they can help muffle footsteps and prevent heat loss.

In the living room, everything revolves around the sofa

A rug, as well as looking good, can help us to define different spaces, give a welcoming feel to the room, and provide excellent thermal and acoustic insulation.

When choosing a rug, you need to consider the size and style of the sofa, which is generally the main feature in the vital space that is the living room, the social area where people spend most of their time when they're at home.

Here are a few more things to take into consideration:

A lot of things go on in the living room, so it's important for rugs to be able to withstand daily use for a long time.
The rug should be the right size. Otherwise, it won't be able to do what it needs to. For example, if you choose a rug that isn't at least the length of the main sofa, it could look too small.
If the sofa is a bed, you should pick a flatweave (wool) or low-pile rug.
Shaped or circular rugs, when combined with the right armchair or lounge chair, are perfect for defining small spaces — such as a reading nook.

Rugs for two- and three-seat sofas

When you have a two- or three-seat sofa, you just have to make sure that the rug is wider than the sofa and that there's enough left over to go under a coffee table. It will also depend on the size of your living room. If you have space, you can choose a bigger rug. If not, it just needs to be big enough for the sofa and the coffee table.

Our selection

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A natural-colored jute rug named LOHALS, rectangular, with a simple flatweave design for easy cleaning.

Rugs for two- and three-seat sofas with a chaise longue

Things are a little different if your sofa has a chaise longue. Although the principle is the same – the rug should be wider than the sofa and the coffee table should fit fully on the rug, etc. – you also need to remember that the measurements won't be the same. In this case, you'll need to choose a bigger rug, one that is around 60–70 cm longer than the chaise longue. That way you'll make sure that the area is perfectly covered.

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A beige ikea STOENSE area rug with a soft, thick pile, providing comfort and warmth. It has a light sheen, rectangular shape, and a smooth edge.

STOENSE Rug, low pile, 200x300 cm

Price 129€

(4501)

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A neutral-colored, flat-woven jute rug named LOHALS, ideal for living or dining spaces.

LOHALS Rug, flatwoven, 200x300 cm

Price 99,99€

(2231)

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ONSEVIG Rug, low pile, 160x235 cm

Rugs for corner sofas

These sofas have more specific characteristics when it comes to choosing a rug. They are usually bigger than others, meaning that the principle of covering the whole width of the sofa isn't usually possible. In this case, you should ensure that the rug extends across the whole of the inner area of the sofa, including the coffee table. Because of these characteristics, we can also choose another kind of rug, including circular, as long as it extends across the whole inner area of the sofa.