How to put a carpet in a living room so the place looks fantastic

A good carpet can tie a living room together really well. It gives the place warmth and character and sets the tone of the whole place. However, choosing the right carpet for your living room can be an intimidating prospect, especially if you choose between carpets that are relatively expensive.

Another aspect of successfully integrating a carpet into a room is its placement. How do I place a carpet in a living room to make it look more natural?

The role of a carpet could be more important than you might think. It gives the living room warmth and coziness and makes even the most sterile environment a bit friendlier. In addition, a carpet can add color to the room, weaken the room and subdivide larger rooms. That is why the placement of a carpet plays an important role.

Whether you want to make a statement or make your living room a little warmer, knowing how to put a rug in a living room can be difficult. We will deal with this in this article.

Carpet placement: the rules

Image source: J. Stephens Interiors

There are a few basic rules you should always follow when it comes to carpets. You can often make the difference between a layout that feels good and a layout that feels slightly different. In some cases, just something is wrong and you cannot explicitly put a finger on it.

It turns out that designing a living room can be as important as design. A carpet should be the link between the decor and the design of the living room. It makes the decor make sense.

So it all starts with choosing the right carpet. Color and materials play a role, but we too often forget the size and shape of the carpet. A good carpet enlivens the entire living room and can show its own beauty at the same time.

Where to start

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The first and most obvious step is to measure the space. This way you can decide what type of carpet you can choose.

Then you want to make some style choices. Would you like a patterned carpet or a solid color carpet? The material of the carpet and its properties are also questionable. Do you want to sit on it or do you want it to be covered by a table?

Finding balance is the first step, so placement is very important. The carpet size should complement the size of the facility, making the whole place more balanced.

Now to the rules …

Rule No. 1: front legs on the carpet, back legs off

Image source: Bruce Johnson & Associates interior design

This is the most popular type of setting when it comes to carpets in living rooms. We usually put two legs of the sofa on the carpet while the other two sit off the carpet. It completes the decor while giving it a sense of proportion.

This decor example works in most situations. It connects pieces of furniture with each other and gives the room a feeling of proportion.

Rule 2: Some front legs on the carpet

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This is a mix of both approaches: some of the legs of the sofas are on the carpet, while others are removed from the carpet. In this case, this approach works better than just having the front legs on the carpet because it is better connected to the room and creates a better sense of proportionality.

Rule 3: All legs on the carpet

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Now this type of design is made specifically for those who have larger carpets in their living rooms. All legs are placed on the carpet and there is a tighter feeling. You can accommodate a large carpet without losing the feeling of “togetherness” in a living room.

Rule 4: No legs on the carpet

Image source: kimberly peck architect

The opposite type of decor when it comes to living room rugs is to have no legs on the rug. We need to note that this arrangement is better for living rooms where there is a smaller carpet. It may also be the best arrangement for those who want to showcase their carpet a bit more and show their features and design.

Rule # 5: 18 inches of floor around the carpet

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You can go one step further and leave some bare floor around the carpet. Specifically, there are 18 inches between the carpet and the wall, creating the feeling of a closed living room that is separate from other rooms. If you have a smaller living room, you can easily reduce the space around the carpet – for example, 8 inches work best.

Tips and tricks for placing a carpet in a living room

Here are some tips and tricks for placing a rug in a living room that will make your decor decisions a lot easier.

Don’t go too small

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First of all, we need to talk about choosing the carpet for your living room. If you choose a small rug for your living room just because of the price, you will likely regret that decision later. If the carpet is too small, spend extra money on a larger carpet and may end up paying twice as much as the small carpet.

Instead, make a sensible decision and buy a slightly larger rug. This ensures that the carpet lasts longer and, for example, is still cheaper than carpet.

Leave space around the carpet

Image source: Decus Interiors

The main idea is to have the carpet in the middle of the living room. This means leaving some extra space around the carpet, which in most cases should be 24 inches or more. However, if you want to create a more closed environment, 18 inches is sufficient. In smaller rooms, you can get around the carpet at 8 inches.

About sectional sofas

Image source: Marie Burgos design

If you have a sectional sofa or more in your living room, you should carefully choose the right carpet for the sofa. This means that the carpet should fit easily under the front legs of the sofa and should protrude at least one meter above the coffee table. By choosing the right carpet for sectional sofas, you can avoid wrinkles and achieve a smoother, more satisfactory design.

If you have two sofas

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Having two sofas brings additional questions about carpet placement. For starters, you need to choose the right spot to position your carpet. This includes placing it evenly between the two sofas so that there is the same distance. In this case, symmetry is crucial.

Small places

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In the smaller rooms, you have significantly less scope to place your carpet. In this case, the carpet should leave some space between the carpet and the sofa. For a start, this highlights the carpet. In addition, you leave enough space between the sofa and the side tables and give the room a more spacious look without feeling too claustrophobic.

With a small living room there is significantly less room to manipulate, and with a smaller carpet you will probably do better here. Every decision counts here.

For large rooms

Image source: Catherine Wilman Interiors

On the other hand, it is also crucial to make the right decisions for open, large rooms. Leaving too much space can easily give the impression that the objects are floating in the air and it will feel much less homely.

Carpets can easily tie the room together. In this case, for example, designs are perfect that connect the dining room and living room. Open floor plans are difficult to grasp, especially because it is difficult to distinguish between the two in most cases.

First, the choice of carpet that complements the furniture is crucial. Achieving this coherent look should be your goal and make the entire room warmer and more homely.

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