If you live in an apartment, you know space is limited. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a stylish living room. The key is choosing the right size rug to make the room feel pulled together.
I recently helped my friend Amanda with this exact issue. She just moved into a small Brooklyn studio and needed advice on what size rug to get.
In this post, as a professional custom rugs manufacturer, I’ll share everything I told Amanda about measuring for and selecting apartment living room rugs. You’ll learn insider tips on common rug sizes that work for small spaces. Plus mistakes to avoid and examples of how to arrange furniture.
So if you’re struggling to find the perfect area rug for your apartment’s living room, read on!
How Big Should an Apartment Living Room Rug Be?
The most popular rug sizes for apartment living rooms tend to be:
- 5’ x 8’ – Best for rooms around 8’ x 11’
- 6’ x 9’ – Ideal for spaces approximately 10’ x 12’
- 8′ x 10’ – Works for larger apartments, 12’ x 15’ rooms
As you measure your living room and shop for rugs, keep this general size guidance in mind. But you’ll still want to account for your room layout, furniture dimensions, and style preferences.
Tips for Measuring Apartment Living Room Rugs
Accurately measuring your available floor space is crucial for finding a properly-sized living room rug. As you measure, consider these quick tips:
- Focus on the main sitting area only
- Note obstacles like radiators or air vents
- Account for traffic zones to avoid tripping hazards
- Include furnishings in your mental layout
- Photograph and sketch your room to visualize options
Doing upfront homework sets you up for rug shopping success. You’ll be able to instantly gauge whether a certain size works instead of guessing.
Common Apartment Living Room Rug Size Mistakes to Avoid
It’s easy to pick the wrong area rug size for a small living room. Steer clear of these all-too-common mistakes as you shop:
Going Too Small
Undersized rugs make apartment living rooms appear even tighter. A 5’ x 8’ rug might cover the space under a coffee table. But it likely won’t extend to anchor a loveseat or accent chairs.
The room will look disjointed or awkward instead of pulled-together.
Getting a Slightly Large Rug
You might think bigger is better when shopping for apartment rugs. But a too-large rug brings its own set of issues.
If a rug touches the walls or extends into doorways, the living room will seem crowded. Limited bare floor space around the edges also traps dirt and makes vacuuming tricky.
Stick to a size where you have 10-12 inches of visible flooring bordering all sides of the rug.
Ideal Rug Placement for Apartment Living Room Layouts
Now that you know what to watch out for, let’s explore a few recommended furniture arrangements. These layouts help create an inviting, spacious feel in tight apartment living quarters:
Sectional Sofa + Accent Chair/s
For a living room with an L-shaped sectional, angle the sofa toward the TV. Then float one or two chairs on the adjoining area rug to form a cozy conversation zone.
- Rug Size: 6’ x 9’ or 8’ x 10’
- Layout: Sectional sofa along one wall, chair/s floated diagonally across rug
This makes smart use of the available space for seating and traffic flow. The rug beautifully defines the main sitting area without impeding practical needs.
Loveseat + Lounge Chair/s
If your living room includes a traditional loveseat, pull it slightly off the wall. Then add one or more accent chairs on the rug across from the sofa.
- Rug Size: 5’ x 8’ or 6’ x 9’
- Layout: Loveseat positioned away from wall, lounge chair/s floated on area rug
A 5’ x 8’ rug leaves ample walking room around the edges. While a 6’ x 9’ size invites you to sink your toes into plush comfort underfoot.
Either rug dimensions work nicely here by fully framing the furniture. The rug establishes a welcoming spot to unwind alone or chat with company.
Sofa + Coffee Table
If your living room contains just a sofa and coffee table, no problem! Center the seating on a wall with a console table positioned behind it. Then float a square or rectangular coffee table on a suitably-sized rug a few feet opposite the sofa.
- Rug Size: 4’ x 6’, 5’ x 7’ or 5’ x 8’
- Layout: Sofa centered on wall with console table, square coffee table on area rug opposite sofa
A rug big enough to hold all coffee table legs keeps this paired-down layout feeling polished. While ample visible floor space retains an airy, open ambiance suited to studio living.
Finding the Perfect Small Space Rug Has Never Been Easier!
If you’re struggling over what size rug to buy for your apartment’s living room, I hope this post helped simplify things!
Now that you know suitable rug dimensions for studio and small multi-room apartments, focus on your room’s footprint. Measure carefully and account for furniture sizes as you shop.
And keep possible layouts based on what you already own in mind. This allows you to instantly recognize whether a specific rug size harmonizes with your existing pieces. Or helps make the room appear more expansive and put-together.
With the right insider knowledge, discovering an area rug ideal for an apartment living room has never been easier. So take your time, pay attention to detail, and soon you’ll be kicking your feet up in affordable comfort and style.