A beautiful area rug is a horizontal work of art, and the cost can reflect the quality and distinctiveness of the design. In any case, it should not be completely covered by furniture. Many people use area rugs and have absolutely no idea how to display them with furnishings. Use ordinary lower-quality carpets to hide ugly flooring. Eye-catching designs are meant to be exposed like a gorgeous painting. Use my ideas on ways to arrange furniture on a large area rug, and display it as a floor-mounted work of textile art.
Arrange Two Chairs, a Sofa and a Coffee Table on a Large Area Rug
I helped a good friend select a large area rug to use in her living room. It was purchased to protect the hardwood floor while adding color and style to the room. She did not like the way it looked after delivery and placement, and she called for a little help.
Upon arrival to her home I immediately figured out the problem. She had placed two chairs, a sofa and a coffee table on the rug, and it was hardly visible beneath the furniture. I pulled each of the pieces back to the edge of her large area rug, and it made a tremendous difference. She thought the furniture was too far from the coffee table, but on the contrary it had been too close.
When trying to arrange furniture on a large area rug, place it four to six inches in from the edges to avoid covering the design. If necessary, use furniture sliders to raise the level of the back legs to bring it up to the same height as the area rug. Keep in mind that at least eighteen inches of open space should separate seating from a coffee table or a center furnishing of any variety. Furniture spaced too close together does not look or feel comfortable, especially when carrying on conversations or tying to make your way through the arrangement.
Arrange Furniture on the Corners of a Large Area Rug
It is not imperative to arrange and square your furniture along the lines and edges of a large area rug. I am not partial to square corners. When looking for ways to arrange my basement family room furniture along with a large area rug, I placed a chair on each corner and a large round upholstered ottoman in the center. To protect my makeshift coffee table from stains and spills, I topped it with a pretty one-piece serving tray. It would hold any accidental spills that might occur. The arrangement looked fantastic.
Shop around before buying a large area rug to arrange furniture on or around. High-quality area rugs are expensive, and they are a major part of a decorating scheme. Select something with tightly woven fibers for long wear and best results. Quality matters as much as style, and you should never cheapen the appearance of your furniture with a cut-rate area rug, no matter how you choose to arrange your furnishings.
