How to Integrate a Round Rug into Your Home Decor

These days, area rugs come in all sort of styles, shapes and sizes. From the more traditional rectangular shape to square, oval and round. And let's not forget the long and lean trusty runner. Some of the most interesting contemporary rugs move away from the standard shapes altogether and are more organic or geometric instead.

In this blog post, however, we will take a deep dive into round rugs. We'll look at the circumstances in which round rugs works best and what should you look out for when selecting the best round rug for your home...

How do I choose a rug shape?

A well chosen rug acts as an anchor for your room, pulling everything together. With so many beautiful rugs to choose from it can be a little daunting to make a decision about which one is best for your lounge, dining room or bedroom.

Ultimately, it all comes down to what you love. But there are a few rules of thumb that can help you long the way.

In the interior design world, for example, it is said that you should try to match the shape of your rug to the shape of the room it is being placed in. The rationale behind this, is that similar shapes promote visual symmetry, which is more pleasing to the eye, and the end result will be a space that feels cohesive, spacious and well balanced.

There is one exception to this rule. When it comes to your dining table, you should your reference point should be the shape of your table, as opposed to the room.

This is because your eye reads the table and the rug together and if they are different, your dining space will feel disjointed and busy.

Where do round rugs look best?

Most of the time when we think of rugs, your standard rectangular or runner springs to mind. But round rugs definitely have their place too. They are especially great for creating more personal areas within larger settings.

Say you have a large airy open plan living space, a luxurious round rug placed under an L shaped sofa can be used to define and create an intimate conversation zone. Similarly in a sunny corner window seat, round rugs can soften the angles and edges. Add in a few cushions and throws and cosy up in the sun with a good book.

Round rugs also look best under round dining tables, providing the perfect platform for your everyday or formal dining experience. When placing anything under your dining table you do of course have to consider how how easy it will be to maintain and keep clean.

Short pile woven wool rugs do well in this instance. Thanks to wool's natural stain resistance and hypoallergenic properties they are hard wearing, durable and relatively easy to maintain.

How big should a round rug be?

Getting the size just right is key. It might seem counter intuitive, but if your rug's too small in relation to your room it will actually make your space look more busy and crowded. For a spacious and relaxed vibe, bigger is better. And that's true whatever shape your rug may be.

When choosing round rugs you also need to consider how it sits in relation to your furniture. Again, if your rug is too small in comparison to your dining table or your sofa the entire space will feel out of balance.

A handy tip when it comes to determining the right size for your room, is to grab some masking tape and physically mark out on the floor where you think the rug should go. Then use a measuring tape to measure and take a note of those dimensions.

You can then refer back to those dimensions when you are looking a rugs in online or in retail stores. You might not end up matching those measurements exactly, but they are the best place to start.

What shape rug looks best under a round table?

Round rugs belong under a round table. There are no ifs or buts about it! You want to ensure your rug matches the shape of your dining table, so that it anchors your dining space and pulls the room together.

When looking at round rugs to place under your round dining table, make sure you choose one that stretches at least 60 centimetres beyond the edge of your table. This will allow enough room for your guests - and their chairs - to comfortably remain on the rug, even when they are pulled back and everyone is sitting down. 

Should you put a round rug under a round coffee table?

In this instance, worry less about the coffee table being round, and focus more on the orientation of the room and the placement of your furniture. A coffee table is only a small part of the room and usually not the point of reference or the place you want to draw people's eye towards.

Generally when placing rugs in living rooms, aim for something that can comfortably accomodate all of your furniture. Not just your coffee table, but your sofa and chairs too. On the whole, given that most of our homes are rectangular or square-ish, rectangular rugs work best for this.

So even if you have a round coffee table, don't limit yourself - go larger and more expansive with your rug. Choose something that is large enough to anchor the room and create a spacious and inviting place to relax with family and friends.

Can you put a round rug under a bed?

Yes! In the master bedroom, try placing a large round rug off-centre to your bed for a contemporary, unexpected and almost playful vibe. This looks great in a large airy bedroom with lots of floor space, especially if you choose something textured and modern in a solid colour.

If you have a family, you can use round rugs in your children's bedrooms. Placed off to one side of a single or king single bed, they provide a soft landing for little feet early in the morning. You'll find your little ones and their friends will use them as a play space too.

Do round rugs make a room look bigger?

Say your living area is on the smaller side, round rugs can be used to soften the edges and draw the eye into a defined, central space. In that situation the round shape will definitely help your living room look bigger and it's a great way to go.

Remember, spaciousness is all about proportion. So no matter the style or shape - whether it is round, square or otherwise - the most important aspect to get right is the size of your rug in relation to your room and your furniture. Too small for the room and your furniture and you run the risk of your living room feeling busy and cluttered.

There's an old saying which goes something like "measure it. Then measure it again." This certainly holds true when choosing an area rug!

Conclusion

Round rugs are an excellent choice for certain spaces in your home. If you are wanting to create more intimate spaces in larger open plan settings for example or under round shaped dining tables.

The same principals about space and proportion apply to round rugs as they do to rectangular, square or any other shape or style. Measure, measure and measure to get a good sense of the dimensions you are after before you start to shop.

That way you can focus more on the fun bits like colours and patterns with the confidence of knowing you are looking at rugs that are in proportion to your room and furniture, and will sit comfortably anchoring your space and pulling it all together.