Simply put, selecting the right carpet is as much about aesthetics as it is practicality. The size of a room, the furniture elements within it, and the design or mood desired (e.g. formal, funky, modern, rustic or classic), are all important considerations. But it is also imperative to consider how the space will be used. Are children or pets going to be on the carpet? What level of foot traffic moves through the room? Will shoes be worn or not? By understanding your lifestyle we can help you make the right choice so that your carpet is not only beautiful, but also long lasting and easy-maintenance.
The adage that every rule is made to be broken could not be truer than when selecting a carpet. Nonetheless, we have provided some general guidelines for selecting a correctly sized carpet in average sized rooms. Large rooms or spaces with high ceilings can often hold a larger piece. And ultimately, the size and style of the carpet and how it is placed on the wall or floor is limited only by your imagination.
For a Bedroom the carpet should be about as long as whatever furniture piece it is placed near. For instance, at the foot of a queen-sized bed, you would ideally place a carpet that has a 5’ side, either a 5’x3’ or 5’ x 7’ or 8’, depending on the room size. In many instances, runners can be used to great effect in bedrooms, placed along the side or foot of the bed, or in front of a dresser or armoire.
For a Living Room you generally have two options. Either the carpet fills the floor space left by the seating arrangement, but doesn’t go under the furniture, or the carpet defines the conversation area and all of the furniture sits on it. Unless you are working with very airy furniture that allows you to see the floor beneath it, the former is generally a better option. This enables you to enjoy the full beauty of the carpet, reduces the risk of moth damage (moths like dark places), avoids crushing the carpet fibers, and allows the carpet to wear more evenly. Generally having the carpet against, but not underneath all of the seating elements, means using a carpet that is 5’x7’ or 8’ or 6’x9’.
For a Dining Room it is best that the chairs sit on the carpet even when pulled out. This means that for most rectangular tables seating 6-8 an 8’x10’ carpet will work. For tables seating 10-12 an 8’x11’ or 9’x12’ carpet is necessary. Circular tables can sit on rectangular, circular, octagonal, or square carpets. The main consideration being that the carpet should be at least 3½’-4’ wider than the table.
For a Hallway there is great flexibility in sizing. If choosing a runner it is generally a good idea to take the width of the room and save one-quarter to one-third of this for flooring boarder. For instance, in a 3’ wide hall, saving one-quarter for the boarder would mean selecting a carpet that is 27” wide, and saving one-third would mean a carpet that is 2’ wide.