The most common mistake we see is a rug that is too small. A rug that floats in the middle of the floor with the furniture around it makes a room look unfinished; a rug that reaches under the furniture pulls everything together. After sixty years of selling rugs from the same showroom, the size advice below is what we give nearly every customer who walks in.
The one rule that matters
In a sitting room, the rug should reach under the front legs of the sofa and chairs. It does not need to go all the way under them — just far enough that the seating group sits on the rug rather than beside it. If you remember nothing else from this guide, remember that.
Living room
For a standard three-seat sofa and two chairs, 160 x 230 cm is the size that works in most British sitting rooms, and it is the size we sell most of. If the sofa is a large corner unit, or the room is knocked through to the dining area, go up to 200 x 290 cm. In a genuinely big open-plan space, 240 x 340 cm or 300 x 400 cm lets the whole seating area sit on the rug, which is how designers get that "finished" look. Our extra large rugs collection gathers everything from 240 x 340 upwards.
If in doubt between two sizes, buy the larger one. A rug that is slightly too big for a room looks generous; one that is slightly too small looks like a mistake.
Bedroom
There are two approaches. The first is a large rug under the bed, leaving around 60 cm showing on each side and at the foot — that usually means 200 x 290 cm for a double or king. The second, and the cheaper option, is a pair of 80 x 150 cm rugs either side of the bed, or a single 120 x 170 cm at the foot. Both give you something soft to step onto first thing in the morning, which is really all a bedroom rug is for.
Dining room
Under a dining table the rug needs to be big enough that the chairs stay on it when they are pulled out. Add at least 60 cm to each side of the table top. For a six-seat table that means 200 x 290 cm as a minimum; for an eight-seater, 240 x 340 cm. Under a round table, a circular rug at least 60 cm wider than the table on all sides — usually 200 cm across for a four-seat round table.
Hallway
A runner should leave an even border of floor on each side, so measure the hall and come down from there rather than buying the widest one that fits. Most runners are 60 to 90 cm wide; lengths run from 150 cm to 300 cm. We have a separate guide to choosing a hallway runner.
Small rooms, snugs and box bedrooms
120 x 170 cm is the most useful small-room size we sell: big enough to sit under a coffee table, small enough for a snug or a home office. Our small rugs collection covers everything up to about 1.3 square metres.
How to check before you buy
Lay newspaper or masking tape on the floor in the size you are considering and live with it for a day. It sounds low-tech, and it is, but it is the single best way to avoid buying the wrong size. Then check that the rug you like is made in that size — most of our ranges come in five or six sizes, and the product page lists all of them.
Get the complete guide
This is one chapter. The full Preston Rugs Buying Guide covers sizes for every room, choosing between wool, polypropylene, polyester and viscose, colour and pattern, care, washable rugs and hallway runners — all in one place, written by the showroom team. It's free: join our email list using the sign-up box at the bottom of this page and we'll send it straight to you.
Prefer to talk it through? Call us on 0345 163 2015 or visit the showroom at 144–146 Brownedge Road, Lostock Hall, Monday to Saturday 10am–5pm. Every rug on prestonrugs.com comes with free UK mainland delivery.