The Rug-Size Mistake That Can Ruin The Functionality Of A Room

When looking for the right rug, you'll need to think about more than just design and color. Two important aspects to consider when finding the perfect rug for your space are size and use. Where will the rug be placed in relation to other furniture and fixtures of the house? Make sure the space is well equipped for a rug. For example, if you're planning to add a durable rug in your entryway or in front of any other door, there's an extra factor you'll need to think about: door clearance. 

Door clearance is all about the space a door takes up when it swings open or closed. This space needs to be practical, clear, and easy to pass through. Every home needs to be walkable so people can move through it freely without difficulty or safety hazards. With this in mind, don't make the mistake of choosing a rug that's too big or fluffy, as this can make it difficult to open and close the door. You'll want to choose a rug that functions well alongside your door and will not make the process of entering your home or room a stressful one.

The purpose of rugs is to enhance your space and improve upon it, but the selection of the wrong rug could have the opposite effect. If the rug does not reside in the right place or is too big, you could be adding a barrier to your door space. Your entryway to the home or another room is likely to see a lot of foot traffic, so make sure your rug does not create a barricade for the door, making it hard to open and the space around it difficult to maneuver.

Therefore, there should be some space between the door and the rug — not only to make the room layout feel plentiful, but also so your rug can be fully spread out and shown off in full. An entryway rug should ideally be 12 to 18 inches away from the front door, or you can move it up to 36 inches away if needed. With this in mind, consider the ideal size rug for the space while still allowing for this clearance.

To keep your space functional, use your existing door as an indicator for how tall your rug should be. A properly installed door should have a gap that's about ½ to ¾-inch between the bottom of the door and the floor. And if you have a door sweep or draft block that is often kept on your floor, it is likely you will need a rug with a low pile height. 

Pile height refers to the rug's thickness, and low pile rugs have the shortest fibers while still bringing stylish patterns and bold colors to floors. A rug with too much thickness could get caught in the door and damaged or could create a tripping hazard, so if there is not much room between the door and the floor, you will need a rug that is very thin so your door doesn't move the rug every time it opens. This creates a calming flow and functionality for both the door and the rug below it. 

If your space can accommodate a large rug without obstructing the door, consider a bigger size to make the room appear larger and more spacious. Plus, a longer rug can provide hard surface floors with more protection from dirt and debris, keeping your floors cleaner especially in the winter.