Evening meals and long lunches at the table are some of our fondest memories. Families and friends gather together to share ideas, experiences and laughter. It’s not just about special occasions, like Christmas or birthdays, but also your normal weekday dinner, where the whole family gathers to reconnect and catch up at the end a long day.
What is the best type of rug to use under a table?
Rugs are not always found in dining rooms. A well-chosen rug can be a great way to create a welcoming and warm space where you and your family can enjoy food and conversations.
Here are some things to consider when choosing the right rug for your home:
Your dining room table’s measurements and shape. The general rule is to align your rug with the shape of the room. When it comes to dining area rugs, the shape of the table is what matters. By matching your rug with your tabletop, you create visual balance and symmetry.
What and how often do you use your dining area – is it a formal table that’s used only a few times per month, or a kitchen table that’s used every day? Do you have an enclosed dining area or a large open-plan space that has a ‘dining zone’?
Keep it clean. Will it be easy to vacuum over? Will it stain or mark easily if food is dropped? You will want to ensure that it’s easy to maintain, especially if you have young children.
You might not have thought of a sheepskin rug for your dining room. It might seem difficult to maintain. It’s actually easy to maintain a short-pile sheepskin carpet with weekly vacuuming and spot cleaning. Check out the pile length – they are all great.
The memory of the wool fibres is another advantage. If you decide to move your short pile woolen rug to another room in your home, you may find that the furniture has made dents in it.
The wool fibres of sheepskin will return to their original form and disappear over time. Two good vacuum cleaners can help.
rug under table
What size rug should I use under my dining table?
When it comes to rugs I swear by the rule ‘bigger’ is better. A rug too small can cause a room to feel crowded, out of balance and cluttered. The first thing to keep in mind is that you should choose a rug larger than the dining set.
How much bigger? Think about when we gather around to eat. We never sit still. We are always moving. We are pulling back chairs, we’re getting up to pour wine, clean plates, go to the bathroom, etc. There’s movement.
You want to make sure that your rug is large enough to accommodate all of this activity. Imagine it as a platform for your dining experience.
As a rule, your rug should extend at least 60 cm beyond the edge your dining table. It will give your guests and their chairs enough space to sit comfortably on the rug even when the chairs are pushed back.
Your dining area will be more spacious and comfortable, with ample room to move around.
How to choose the right size rug
The right rug can make a huge difference to the appearance and feel of a room. It acts as a frame for dining and entertaining. Your rug will define and anchor the dining area if you have an open-plan set up like ours. It will also draw everyone to that space.
Here are some tips to assist you in your decision-making process:
It’s true that bigger is better. This will make your dining area appear more spacious and inviting.
Keep some floor space between the wall and the rug to avoid the room looking crowded.
A rug that is too small will not look balanced.
If you can, try to match shapes. A round rug will look great with a dining table that is round. Squares go well with squares. Visual symmetry creates a feeling of balance and ease.
Tape measure is the most accurate method to determine your rug size. Add 60 centimetres to the top of your table. Mark the space on the floor using masking tape.
You can then see the effect of all the chairs being pushed in or all the seats being pulled out. You may decide to go larger than this but you don’t likely want to go smaller.
What size rug is needed for a four-seater table?
We don’t always know how big our dining table is in inches or centimeters. But we know what shape it has and how many people are seated. So we call them a “four-seater” or a “six-seater”.
Rugs are available in standard sizes. It is likely that if you buy from a retailer they will have rugs in these standard sizes.
It could be a round or square couch, rather than rectangular. Try matching shapes to complement each other if this is the situation. Here are some shapes to look at.
You can choose a square rug if you cannot find one that you like. Just make sure it is large enough to accommodate all your furniture so the rug will act as a “frame” or “platform” for dining.
What size rug is needed for a 6 seater table?
According to the above standard rug sizes, an 8′ x 10′ will typically be sufficient for a “six-seater”. Most rectangular dining tables will look great on this rug, which is the most popular.
What size rug is needed for a 8-person table?
The 9 x 12 foot rug is usually enough for an eight seater. If you are able to, keep the shapes consistent. If not, select a rug large enough to ‘frame’ your entire furniture.
Can you place a rug round under an oval-shaped table?
Round rug
A rug placed correctly will strike balance, symmetry and style. Dining room rugs are based on the shapes of tables and not rooms.
Finding an oval rug can be tricky when you have oval tables!
You could search for one, but you might also want to try a large rectangle-shaped rug. You want to choose a rug that will cover all your furniture, and create a framing look. You don’t have to go up the walls, just leave some floor space.
In this case, it’s best to avoid using a round carpet as the effect will be crowded.
How can I maintain my dining room rug?
They say that you can’t make a good omelette if you don’t break some eggs. You can’t enjoy a fun time with family and friends over dinner if you don’t spill some food!
Before you purchase a rug, it is important to consider how you will clean it. Cleaning your rug should be easy and simple, without fancy gadgets or cleaning products.
Vacuuming regularly will be your best friend. Remove crumbs from the floor as soon as possible so that they don’t ‘walk in’ and make it harder to remove them.
In the first instance, if you come across a stubborn stain, use a wet cloth to spot clean. Be careful not to rub your rug’s fibres too hard. Just dab it lightly.
As a lover of sheepskin, I must point out that if you select a short-pile sheepskin carpet you’ll have an advantage because wool has a built-in stain protection system.
The lanolin that is found on the outer layer of the fibres of wool inhibits the growth and spread of bacteria. It also resists soiling. Food or liquid spilled on the fibres of sheepskin should easily’slide off’.
Accidents happen, and you should act fast to contain the stain. To remove any excess liquid, use a dry towel. Use a commercial stain remover to remove the remaining stain (available at your local supermarket).
The majority of rugs have a recommended cleaning routine.
The conclusion of the article is:
We all think about our holiday lunches, dinners, guests, menus, and decorations as we approach the festive season. This is a time when we can reconnect with our loved ones and spend some time together.
It is worth the effort to create an elegant dining room, complete with a stunning rug. You will be able to entertain your family and friends in style, with confidence, and with ease. Enjoy!
