How to Choose a Rug for a Dining Room

Go Low

Save the shag rugs for the living room. Your dining room rug should be a low pile or flatweave. This makes clean-up much easier and allows you to easily slide chairs under your kitchen table.

When In Doubt, Go Big

An easy way to know how big your dining room rug should be is to measure your dining table and then add 24” to each side. This ensures that your dining chairs can move easily over the rug without catching.

Color + Pattern

Consider a darker color or patterned rug for your dining room. These rugs will hide spills and crumbs better than light or solid colored rugs.

Durable + Easy To Clean

Pick a rug that’s made of durable and easy-to-clean materials such as wool or cotton that offer softness without giving up durability. Indoor/outdoor rugs are also a popular choice as they're made to hold up to regular wear and tear and can easily be cleaned with a hose. Jute and sisal materials can be easy to clean, however, they do absorb liquid so grape juice or red wine can be nearly impossible to remove.

What about shape?

As for the shape of the rug, typically it will be the same shape as the table. For a rectangular table, choose a rectangular rug. Round table? Round rug and so on. If you are going for an offbeat look, you can add an accent to your dining room by choosing a rug that's a different shape than your table. For example, a square rug under a round table adds flair in a contemporary space. If your table is oval shaped, a rectangular rug works well in a traditional space.

The Importance of Spacing

First, be sure your dining table is set up and positioned in your space the way it will be used most of the time. This includes extra leaves and chairs that will be left in the dining table a majority of the year. Dining rooms and spaces shouldn’t have a lot of excess furniture; the focus should be on the gathering spot...the dining table.

Pull each chair or bench out from the table like you’re going to sit down. You’ll want your dining room rug to be big enough that when chairs are scooted out from the table they don’t catch on the edge of the rug.

Using a tape measure, measure the space just beyond the back of the chairs. This will give you the approximate minimum size for your dining room rug. You can also give our handy room visualizer tool a try to see the rug in your space to make sure it's the perfect fit.

farmhouse

The farmhouse look is super in right now, and it’s not hard to understand why. Farmhouse style has an easy authentic feel that is simple and inviting. For a farmhouse style dining room rug, think nostalgic but clean.

• Vintage style oriental rugs in blues or grays look great under a natural wood dining table.
• A simple jute woven rug gives an organic feel when placed under a white farmhouse table.
• If you’re going for a modern farmhouse vibe, try a neutral colored tribal style rug in a hand knotted wool or cotton.

Dining Room Rug Style

Now that you know how to size your dining room rug, let’s take a look at some of the top trending dining room rug ideas.

Glam

Glam style is an elegant play between under and overstated. It combines chic neutrals with polished accents. To choose a dining room rug for your glam space, look for something with a luxurious feel (while still avoiding longer piles) in neutral gray, off-whites or a bold color like the red rug shown here. A patterned rug will help to hide crumbs and spills.

SOUTHWESTERN

If you crave a more eclectic or rustic vibe, try a flatwoven wool rug in a tribal or southwestern pattern.

• Don’t be afraid to add some vivid colors (think sandstone, rust, deep blue, and gold). These rich colors will help giving your dining room a definite rustic vibe.
• For something a little more unexpected, try layering a cowhide rug (natural or synthetic) over a neutral jute or sisal rug.