How to place rug in bedroom?

If you have a large bedroom and want the rug to be big enough to fit the entire bed frame and the nightstands, then you should make sure to get the correct size rug. To do this with a queen-sized bed, your rug size should be 8 x 10 ft.; 9x12 ft. for a king-sized bed, considering these bed frames are larger.

Alternatively, you can also place the rug perpendicular to the bed frame for comfort when you step out at each side, or at the foot of the bed. Interior designer Amber Lewis recommends that you, “lay the rug perpendicular to the bed and pull it halfway under the bed frame, stopping before your side tables. This maximizes the amount of usable rug space and gives you a soft surface to step onto when getting out of bed [rather than bare floor].”

A good rule of thumb for this is to get a rug at least two-thirds the size of the bed. This would mean 6x9 ft. for a queen-size bed and 8x10 ft. for a king-size bed.

Placing bedroom rugs in the middle of the room draws the eye to the center of the room, making it a central focal point.

When doing this, you should ensure an equal distance between the rug and each of the walls. This creates symmetry and is appealing to the eye. This rug placement is best for smaller rooms, as it draws the eye to the center, and the exposed outer floor gives the appearance of a larger bedroom.

To make sure that the bedroom rug isn't too small and doesn't look awkward, there should be a minimum space of 10-20” between the base trim of your walls and the edge of the rug. Round rugs are a great option for the middle of the room.

Having your area rug at the foot end of your bed is also a great option for those with smaller bedrooms. This will make the room appear visually interesting and pull all the décor together in a sophisticated way.

If your rug has a smaller or the same width as your bed, then you should leave around 12”- 18" of space around the edge of the rug. If the width of your rug is larger than the bed, then only place the top of the rug underneath the footboard and leave the rest extending beyond it into the room.

This will help you get the maximum impact of your area rug in the room.

If you don't see the need to get a full area rug that will be mostly hidden beneath furniture, or you want a rug but have heavy furniture that is difficult to move, then you should consider choosing two runners to give the appearance of an area rug.

These runners can either be placed just underneath or parallel to your bedside tables. "If you select two runners, have them be shorter than your bed but wider than smaller-scale furniture like nightstands,” advises Justin Soleimani, Co-Founder of Tumble.

This placement isn't as common as the others we've gone through, but it looks very good and gives the bedroom a unique look. It works especially well for large bedrooms. You'll also still get the luxury of feeling soft fabric beneath your feet when you step into or out of bed.

If you have a big room, place small area rugs on either side of the bed.

Remember that rule about the 12" to 18" spacing? That's for good reason!

If your rug is too close to the edge it can be tripped over and if the gap is too huge then one section might get ruined before moving around in other areas.

Related: The Ultimate List of Essential Furniture in a Bedroom

Placing a rug at the foot of your bed makes a thematic central point within the room design. However, positioning matters depend on whether or not its width matches your bed size.

A bed that is narrow or flanked by bedside tables might work really well with a rug at the foot of it.

If your rug has the same width (or smaller) than that of your bed, add 12" to 18" of exposed floor around the edges. However, if it is wider then place at least one foot from under the bed.

However, you need to know the best placement hacks in order to get the best results. So below, we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know about furnishing area rugs in your bedrooms:

1. At the Foot of the Bed

2. Underneath the Bed

3. At the Side of the Bed

4. Layering Under the Bed

5.Accentuating Furniture Around the Bed

6. Understanding the Shape of Your Rug

The most common way to feature an area rug in a bedroom is by placing it at the foot of your bed. Here are two important considerations that you must know about:

While pushing the rug underneath the bed may be one of the most conventional techniques to feature an area rug in a bedroom, you also need to understand that there are several unique ways to do this. Let’s take a look at them:

Placing area rugs at the side of the bed is an unconventional technique, but it works quite well in bigger spaces. It also works well in bedroom furniture layouts where the bed itself has been pushed against the wall to free up space.

For bigger rooms, you can place small area rugs (mostly 3’x5 or 4’x6’ depending on the space you have) on either side of the bed with 12” to 18” of bare floor all around them. If you do not have the spare floor area for a full-sized rug, you can also choose runners to create a similar effect.

If your bed is pushed against the wall, then you can place a small or medium sized rug beside it. Chances are, that your room is already small, so this rug will take up all the central space and become the veritable focal point of the room.

If you’re unsure which rug size to get, see our rug size guide here. Also, HomelyRugs.com has a rug placement guide if you’re unsure where to put your rug.

Rug layering is the best-kept secret of bedroom interior designing. While a simple, solitary rug always emulates a contrasting flair within the ambiance, you can spice things up even more by choosing to layer with different, dissimilar area rugs. They can differ in shape, size, color, and texture.

The challenge lies in your matching prowess. Here’s a thumb rule to keep things simple: always choose colors that lie on the complete opposite end of the spectrum (e.g. red and white, blue and orange, green and burgundy, pink and khaki, etc.). Another thumb rule to help you out: always, always place the lighter-hued rug underneath the bolder one for maximum impact!

Just because you’re buying an area rug for your bedroom does not mean that you have to pair it with your bed. You can use the rug as a separate entity and match it with the surrounding accent furniture. This includes accent chairs, dressers, and any other freestanding furniture piece that you’ve got inside your bedroom.

You’ll have a lot of opportunities to create unique styles and focused areas inside your bedroom by pairing accent furniture and area rugs. The most common example of this venture is a cozy reading nook that can be designed by placing a rug underneath an oversized accent chair and complementing both with an end table and a floor lamp.

Other examples might include placing a medium-sized area rug underneath your dressing table or a console.

One of the basics of rug placement in bedrooms is the shapely contrast. The shape of the area rug has to complement the layout, the size of the room, as well as the size of your furniture. For example, only medium and oversized rugs can complement a king-sized bed while small to medium-sized area rugs can be easily used to elevate a queen-sized bed.

This is also where the shape of the rug comes in. Note that round rugs are able to complement all sorts of bedroom layouts. You can choose them in all; small as well as medium and large sizes. They’ll bring a fun and eclectic vibe to your layout.

Rectangular rugs have a universally sophisticated and straight-laced effect, which is why you can choose them in many sizes to complement your bedroom interior.

Deciding how to place an area rug in your bedroom depends largely upon finding the appropriate sized option for your space. "The 'right' sized rug for your bedroom can really make or break the room, but there are no fixed rules when it comes to rug selection," says interior designer Kati Curtis of Kati Curtis Design. "Think of your rugs as a functional piece of art—something that you want to enjoy, but that also is comfortable and useful—and you can't go wrong."

Consider the size and layout of the rest of your room to narrow down the rug dimensions that will have the biggest impact. From there, you'll be able to figure out the best placement option for your piece.

The most common spot for an area rug in the bedroom is under the bed, where it anchors the room's largest piece of furniture. If you have nightstands flanking the bed, decide whether you want the rug to go underneath them—all the way to the headboard—or stop before the nightstands' front legs.

"Running the rug to the end of your headboard allows for the rug to be underfoot when you get out of bed, instantly creating a sense of coziness," says James Seuss, CEO of The Rug Company. On the other hand, stopping short of your bedside tables adds soft layering to any space. "With this layout, it's best to display the rug perpendicular to the bed frame so there is plenty of comfort on each side and foot of your bed," Seuss says.

For a king-size bed, your rug should be larger than 9 x 12 feet—anything smaller will be too narrow. "For under a queen-sized bed, I'd look for at least 9- to 10-feet wide so you have plenty of rug to step out of the bed onto," Curtis says.

If you don't want to invest in a rug that will be almost entirely hidden by your bed, choose runners, instead. "If you can't [buy] the right sized rug for your room, then opt for two smaller sized rugs on either side of the bed," says Curtis. "You'll get to enjoy [their beauty], and they will also be soft on your feet when you get out of bed."

The length and width of the rugs depend on how much space you have; opt for longer runners that line the full length of your bed, or smaller accent rugs that offer a warm landing spot for cold feet in the morning. "Often, it's best to order a custom-length runner so that it fits the space precisely and has natural starting and finishing points," says Seuss. "A bigger rug is always better!"

The other furniture in your room—including dressers and seating areas—can also influence the size and placement of your rug. As a general rule, any seating arrangement, such as a reading nook or desk, needs a rug to make it feel complete.

Deciding how to place an area rug in your bedroom depends largely upon finding the appropriate sized option for your space. "The 'right' sized rug for your bedroom can really make or break the room, but there are no fixed rules when it comes to rug selection," says interior designer Kati Curtis of Kati Curtis Design. "Think of your rugs as a functional piece of art—something that you want to enjoy, but that also is comfortable and useful—and you can't go wrong."

Consider the size and layout of the rest of your room to narrow down the rug dimensions that will have the biggest impact. From there, you'll be able to figure out the best placement option for your piece.

The most common spot for an area rug in the bedroom is under the bed, where it anchors the room's largest piece of furniture. If you have nightstands flanking the bed, decide whether you want the rug to go underneath them—all the way to the headboard—or stop before the nightstands' front legs.

"Running the rug to the end of your headboard allows for the rug to be underfoot when you get out of bed, instantly creating a sense of coziness," says James Seuss, CEO of The Rug Company. On the other hand, stopping short of your bedside tables adds soft layering to any space. "With this layout, it's best to display the rug perpendicular to the bed frame so there is plenty of comfort on each side and foot of your bed," Seuss says.

For a king-size bed, your rug should be larger than 9 x 12 feet—anything smaller will be too narrow. "For under a queen-sized bed, I'd look for at least 9- to 10-feet wide so you have plenty of rug to step out of the bed onto," Curtis says.

If you don't want to invest in a rug that will be almost entirely hidden by your bed, choose runners, instead. "If you can't [buy] the right sized rug for your room, then opt for two smaller sized rugs on either side of the bed," says Curtis. "You'll get to enjoy [their beauty], and they will also be soft on your feet when you get out of bed."

The length and width of the rugs depend on how much space you have; opt for longer runners that line the full length of your bed, or smaller accent rugs that offer a warm landing spot for cold feet in the morning. "Often, it's best to order a custom-length runner so that it fits the space precisely and has natural starting and finishing points," says Seuss. "A bigger rug is always better!"