When you choose to decorate with room size rugs, a good rule of thumb is to measure the size of the room, and make sure that there is about 18-24 inches between the rug and wall on both sides. This will help you achieve a balanced style that is not crowded or overbearing. If you use the rug to cover hardwood floors, this allows for some of the beauty and luster of the floor below to add elegance to the room, giving your guests a glimpse of the wood around the border area.
You may find that the availability of room-size rugs decreases as the size of the room becomes larger. There may not be enough demand for certain materials or colors in larger rugs, so that could mean a little more shopping to see if what you want is available.
Whatever the size of the carpet you intend to obtain, it is best to make sure it fits the space. This can be done with a tape measure and four sheets of plain paper. As you measure the size of your floor to match the size of the rug, place a sheet of paper on the floor to indicate each corner. Tape the paper in place with masking tape. Imagine the carpet there and see how it fits the space. You can even do it for different sizes of rugs to see if a better size than another. Do this before getting a carpet that helps avoid unwanted surprises.
When you think about the location of your rug, consider things like floor vents and doors. Some doors may not have enough space to allow a rug underneath them. Also, note that some rooms have electrical sockets on the floor, usually in a large room with a sofa and end table away from the wall. This is most often in larger homes or hotel lobbies, but it is a good example of what you have to think in terms of floor coverage.
On hardwood floors, a large room-size rug should allow at least 8 inches of exposed flooring to show around the outer edges of the rug. The distance from the wall on both sides should be the same, and the distance from the wall and the ends should be the same.
For example: In a room that measures 10′X14,’ a room-size rug can be 8′x10′. This would give a distance of one foot between the wall and each end (10 minus 8, divided by 2), and two feet between the wall and each side (14 minus 10, divided by 2).
The general guideline of equal spacing of equality applies to room size rugs even if the room is an odd shape or if you have a closet or a fireplace that juts out into the room. Wherever the room size carpet is placed, try to avoid having the corner of the carpet in the middle of an opening in another room or on the edge of a pathway. This could be a tripping hazard. It is okay to use carpet in high-traffic areas, as it is a bigger part of the rug, and not just the corner.