How to choose the best rug for your dining room: sizes, shapes, colors, patterns, and materials
Setting up a dining room is an enjoyable process. Indeed, the place where the whole family will gather for dinner or breakfast, and friends for festive lunches, should be cozy, stylish, and comfortable at the same time. And therefore, in the dining area, neglect of any detail is unacceptable – from the color and texture of the walls to textiles. It is about the rug that is worth talking in more detail.
Dining room rug: pros
If no one questions the need to buy curtains, napkins, and tablecloths, there are usually many disagreements and doubts about the area rug. Indeed, on the one hand, one cannot deny the aesthetics of such an accessory, but on the other hand, many still consider it not a very practical solution. Still, a carpet in a dining room is necessary in most cases – and we are ready to present compelling arguments in this regard:
As you can see, there are enough reasons for buying floor textiles for the dining room – which means it’s time to act. We are ready to tell you in detail about the secrets of designers and the features of choosing a rug for the dining room, which will definitely help you achieve perfection.
You can apply wallpapers, paints, etc. on walls and see how they look in various interiors.
Choosing a rug for the dining area: basic rules
Do not think that choosing floor textiles will put you in the position of a wanderer in distress in the endless ocean of carpets. Designers say: in fact, there is nothing complicated about it. It is enough to know what to do and what not to do – and the ideal solution for you will catch your eye much faster than you think. And for this, there are several rules, each of which we will talk about in more detail a little later, but for now – we will give you food for thought.
Take dining room size as seriously as possible
As you gather for your dining room rug, keep in mind that size is significant in this case! If these words don’t mean too much to you, let’s try to turn on imagination.
Suppose you bought a massive carpet for the dining area – so large that it almost covers the floor. Then now – it’s time to go to the store for detergents and cleaning products, because from now on your life will be devoted to maintaining the accessory, if not in perfect, then at least decent condition. Scattered and spread on the floor crumbs, drops of drinks, and accidentally spilled soups and sauces – all this will have to be removed all over the surface.
Now imagine that you bought a small rug that barely shows up from under the dining table. At first glance, this is not a big problem, but we will continue to fantasize. Here you come to a table with a tray lined with plates and … stumble over the edge of the carpet! But your guests pull back the chairs to sit down, and it turns out that they are wobbling – because the front legs are on the rug, and the back ones are on the floor.
However, we drew these depressing pictures not at all to spoil your mood – but to make you understand how important the size of the rug is for the dining area, where there are many mobile objects, and there is always a risk of staining the flooring. Below we will talk about making the correct measurements to buy a carpet with the suitable parameters. For now, start memorizing the key value – 24 inches.
Avoid long pile and overly expressive texture
Even if you prefer a luxurious design, if you choose a rug for the dining room, you will have to moderate your ardor. And we are more than sure that you understand why: cleaning spilled liquids and crumbs from the fluffy pile or embossed surfaces promise to be quite a quest. That’s why your choice is the sleekest, flat-weave accessories. As for shaggy and thick carpets, you can realize your sympathy for them where will be safer – for example, in the living room or bedroom.
Use your rug as a starting point for the decor
If you are not sure that you can find a rug that can organically fit into the interior of the dining room, make it easier – start decorating the room with it! Match its color to the shade of the walls or, in contrast to the flooring, find a consonant pattern with the curtains that you have already looked after – the search and placement of other decor items will be much easier, and the result will really please.
Consider practicality when choosing materials
Natural is always better than artificial – this stereotype has been developing for decades, but this does not mean that it is valid for absolutely everything. And if we are talking about a rug for the dining room, then we should not be so straightforward, even in this case.
The fact is that when choosing a rug for the dining area, you will have to take into account not only the beauty but also the ease of maintenance since the floor textiles in the dining room have to be cleaned much more often. That is why you should not mindlessly buy an accessory simply because it is made from natural fibers. Be sure to study their properties – we will talk about them in more detail later.
Also, do not deny yourself the pleasure of trying trendy alternatives – especially if these options make it easier for you to care for your decor. One of these solutions can be carpet tiles. Elements of various shapes can be fastened together in the required quantity, choosing not only the color but also the pattern and texture. If you plant a stain on one of these tiles, you can easily remove them for washing or replacing.
Think carefully about the shape
Interior rhythm and regular repetition of forms are the keys to the harmony of any interior, and the dining room is no exception. By choosing a rug that exactly matches the configuration of the dining room, you will create a sense of balance and order – and, therefore, comfort.
Another option is to choose an accessory that matches the shape of the table. And you don’t have to look for the perfect match in form. So, designers recommend using round and square rugs for round dining tables, rectangular – for oval and rectangular. As for the square tabletop, you can choose either a carpet of the same shape or a round model for more variety.
Avoid light shades
Suppose you use the dining room exclusively for special events every few months. In that case, you can reluctantly give preference to white, beige or pale pastel carpet – however, prepare yourself to clean it every time after the event. If you plan a dining room interior for your daily pastime, think about more profound and more saturated colors. However, you have a chance to get around the recommendations against light carpets – a little later, we will tell you how.
And, finally, another recipe for success in the selection of floor textiles – a broader view of the interior. Think of the dining room carpet as part of a puzzle called the perfect dining room. Try to create a unified symphony that involves not only furniture and base surfaces but also fixtures and accessories and even window frames. You may have to spend time looking for combinations – but it’s worth it.
Rug size for dining table: we select the dimensions
Above, we have already talked about the role of the rug size for the dining room, so we will not repeat ourselves – we will move on to a more detailed guide on how to take measurements to buy an accessory.
After that, you just have to study the arrangement of the remaining pieces of furniture to understand how the rug under the dining table will interact with them. If the edge of the accessory goes only under the front line of the sideboard or display case, you will have to adjust it to maintain balance – for example, support the back of the item with something.
Materials for the dining room carpet
When thinking about the material for the rug in your dining room, you need to consider that these textiles will have to endure heavy loads. The high permeability of the room, the friction of the legs of the chairs and, in some cases, the table, surface cleaning – all this requires increased strength from the accessory. Also, such a property of the product as ease of cleaning is no less critical: where something is regularly spilled and crumbled, its value cannot be belittled.
Still, let’s be more specific and go directly to the materials and their relevance for the dining room:
The area rug as a valuable accessory: colors and patterns
Having discussed the material, size, and shape, it’s time to move on to another fascinating aspect – selecting colors and patterns for the dining room rug. Choosing it as an autonomous interior detail is a dangerous undertaking and fraught with imbalance. That is why if you manage to select floor textiles to match curtains, upholstery, and tablecloths, then we can say with confidence that you are close to perfection. However, minor deviations are also acceptable.
We have already mentioned above that the optimal solution for the dining room will be a carpet of deep and rich color, on which small dirt is less noticeable. However, in some cases, a composition with a light rug is also possible – and an ornament will help protect it from the rapid loss of its impeccable appearance.
Depending on the style of the interior you have chosen, you can give preference to any of the following drawings that are relevant today:
Selection of rug for the dining room: Conclusions + Photo gallery
Obviously, choosing a rug for a dining room is no easier than selecting a carpet for a living room – and maybe even more difficult. However, do not despair in advance: following our advice, you will definitely find an accessory that can give the dining area in your home a finished look and turn its furnishings into a model of style and taste.