Standard Sizes

• Whether domestically made or imported, area rugs tend to be standardized to American feet-and-inches measurements. More than one decorator points out that American area rugs may be standard, although American rooms are not always so. Standard sizes run from 2 by 3 feet to 2.6 by 4 feet, 3 by 5 feet, 4 by 6 feet, 6 by 9 feet, 8 by 10 feet and 9 by 12 feet. Larger standard sizes and shapes, such as runners, ovals or circles, are often created in the same or a complementary pattern.
  
  

Rules of Thumb

• There are no absolute rules for the relationship between an area rug and the floor, although decorators suggest that area rugs should leave a border of clear floor amounting to 18 to 24 inches on each side to make the best visual impact. Small rugs, from 2 by 3 feet through 3 by 5 feet tend to work best as accents, providing a mat under bare feet on a bedroom floor or highlighting the color of curtains and throw pillows. They are not necessarily included in the category of area rugs. Runners, too, provide for hallways or stairs and therefore are not categorized as area rugs.
  
  

More Rules

• Rugs measuring 4 by 6 feet and 6 by 9 feet are the most popular sizes for area rugs, and these are often the sizes you will be shown when shopping for an area rug. These sizes are large enough to surround with furniture; a 6-by-9-foot rug under a coffee table provides a focus for grouping living room furniture. A large room could be divided into living and dining areas by adding an identically patterned 4-by-6-foot rug under the dining table. In a large open-plan apartment or loft, sizes of area rugs may increase to 8 by 10 feet and 6 by 9 feet. Again, rules for using area rugs are only suggestions based on what large numbers of people tend to think attractive.
  
  

Know Your Cut Size

• One factor to take into planning space and area rugs is the commercial practice of "cut size." Cut size and standard size may vary by as much as 6 inches for handwoven rugs, where tension on weaving threads cannot be maintained as easily as with a machine. It makes sense also that machine made rugs may not be perfectly standard if allowances must be made for the moisture content and tensile strength of natural materials. A "cut size" will be slightly smaller than standard, for example, a 9-by-12-foot rug might actually measure 8 feet 6 inches by 11 feet 6 inches. Cut size is often reflected in a slightly lower price.