The most preferred and cost-saving staging option places the two front legs of your sofa and chairs on top of the rug to frame an inviting seating area. This works well for medium and smaller sized rooms as well as seating areas in lobbies. Don't forget to leave 18"-24" in between coffee tables and furniture for ADA-compliant accessibility.

If you have a big living room or an open concept space, consider arranging all furniture—your sofa, chairs, coffee and side tables—on top of the rug. This creates a cohesive look that defines the space and makes it feel intentional and well-balanced. Opt for the largest rug size you can afford.

Give the rug at least another foot on either side of the longest piece of furniture. If you have side tables, factor their width into the calculations. You don't want half of the legs on the rug and the other half off the rug.

It’s a term used by designers for a small area rug placed in the center without any seating on it. It makes the furniture look like it is floating in space and does not convey the cohesion a living room or gathering space deserves (especially in open floor plans or lobbies). Not recommended!

If you want to avoid the "wall-to-wall carpet look," leave 12-18 inches of bare floor all the way around your area rug and the wall for large rooms and 6-8 inches for smaller spaces. This border frames the room and keeps the rug from overwhelming the space.

If the primary bedroom or hotel room is sizable, we recommend that all furniture is placed on a large area rug—queen or king size bed plus two nightstands.

If the room is smaller or the rug is not large enough to hold all furniture pieces, tuck the rug under the bed just up to the nightstands.

You either want the width of the rug to include the nightstands or extend at least beyond 18 inches on either side of the bed. This way, your feet have a soft landing whenever you step out of bed.

Wall-to-wall carpeting adds extra padding and absorbs sound, a perfect addition to bedrooms. If the room already has wall-to-wall carpeting, you can always add an area rug as a design element or focal point, either perpendicular to the bed or as a runner alongside the end.

The biggest mistake customers make is buying a standard-sized rug that doesn't fit the table with the chairs pushed out. There is nothing worse than sliding your chair in or out and getting stuck on the edge of a rug.

Add about 32 to 36 inches to each side of the table’s dimensions to comfortably move chairs in and out. Whether the table is rectangular, round, or oval, a custom-size rug with the right chair clearance creates a relaxed dining experience.

For galley kitchens, L-shaped kitchens, or kitchens with an island, place a decent-sized runner along the longest side of your cabinets. This way, you cushion most of your steps and protect your tiles or hardwood floors from being banged up by the occasional knife drop.

For a smaller kitchen, place a petite area rug where you spend the most time to protect the floors, cushion your feet and add a design element. Polypropylene rugs are a budget-friendly, easy to clean option for small spaces.

Leave at least 3 to 6 inches on each side in small areas and up to 24” in large kitchens for your tile or hardwood floor to remain visible. To help you determine how many inches to leave exposed, think about where you spend the most time standing—do you want your feet to straddle the edge of a rug or be fully on top of the rug?

Match your bathroom rug to the length of your single or double vanity. This approach is budget-friendly but still dresses up the space and provides a warm foundation. Don't forget a rug pad to prevent slipping!

A larger space allows for more flexibility. You can place two area rugs in front of your vanity or just one large bathroom rug. The rug shape is also up to you and the room's layout—from square to rectangular or oval to circular—a custom-sized rug is the perfect complement.

Large or small, when sizing your new bathroom rug, leave at least 3 to 6 inches of visible tile or hardwood flooring (especially if the flooring is beautiful!). This creates a tailored border for a finished look.

Larger is always better. Entryway rugs help trap dirt, moisture, and mud, and the longer the rug, the less chance debris will track onto floors or other rugs. Your rug or runner should be centered in front of the entrance and guide visitors from one zone to the next.

If your entryway is small or narrow and you only have room for a small rug, add a tough walk-off mat at your front door. This is an efficient way to trap gravel, sand, and mud before it enters your house.

Leave 4 to 8 inches on each side of the rug to create a frame. This helps makes the space feel balanced and polished. However, make sure that the height of the rug doesn't interfere with the opening and closing of the door.

Always measure door clearance and determine the pile height of your rug so the door can open freely over the rug. If opening the front door does not allow for a rug, center a rug in the space or lay it in front of a foyer bench or table.