We finished the makeover of our dining room months ago, but I realized I’ve never taken you on a tour to show you its new look! Given that it will soon be a cluttered mess, serving as our temporary kitchen during our kitchen remodel (demo starts tomorrow!), now’s the time to come on in and take a look around!
Also, at the end of today’s post, I’m adding to my series of sizing guides, with everything you need to know to choose the perfect dining room area rug size. Let’s get to it… (post includes commissionable links; for information, see my full disclosure statement {here})
Haven’t seen my past sizing guides? Check out some of my most popular guides including my coffee table size guide, light fixture sizing tips, must-have bathroom measurements, and how to measure for curtains.
Take My Dining Room Tour
When we bought our house, our dining room looked like this:
We did several renovations before moving in, the most significant of which was removing these dated columns and the arched divider between the dining and family rooms:
We also painted the walls, trim, and ceiling Simply White, had our hardwood floors refinished (see my post on hardwood floor refinishing for those details), and removed the drapes, blinds, chandelier, and decorative ceiling medallion.
After starting with a completely clean slate, I added new lighting, furniture, art and accessories. Fast forward to today, and here’s that same view:
Our dining room is on the smaller side, so it took me a while to find furniture and accessories that maximized the space. I ended up going with {this minimalistic wood dining room table} with {this blue and white flatweave rug} that I adore:
For dining chairs, I bought these upholstered beauties that are super comfy and on casters, so they’re easy to move back and forth from the table.
My exact chairs were discontinued, but I found almost identical versions of our side chairs {here} and {here} and our arm chairs {here} and {here}.
We swapped out the dated brass light fixture for {this large beaded light fixture} above our dining table:
It’s my favorite light fixture in the house! I actually think I might take it with us when we move because I love the look so much (and because its price has skyrocketed since the time we bought it!).
I framed out the wall of windows looking out to our back patio with {these white drapes} hung on {these curtain rods} with {these rings}:
Raising the height of the curtain rod and extending it on both ends from where it was positioned previously,
helped open up the window and flood the room with light.
On the wall opposite our large window, I added {this console with woven doors} that anchors the space and has a ton of great storage space inside:
I love the brass hardware, but it also comes in a nickel hardware option:
Above it, I hung {this canvas print} that I stretched on {these stretcher bars} and framed in {this floating frame}:
My console table accessories include {this blue gourd lamp} and a round woven tray similar to {this one}:
The tray contains a faux fern like {this one}, a pair of white floral candlesticks, {this smoke gray matches cloche}, and {this candle wick trimmer and snuffer set} resting on one of {these scalloped marble coasters}.
On the other side of the console is {this handled ceramic vase} filled with two stems of {these faux branches} (which were finally restocked!),
Our dining table has {this scalloped table runner} running down the middle and {this round concrete vase} filled with two sets of {these faux cherry blossoms}:
That wraps up our tour, so let’s move on to dining room rug sizing tips…
Consider The Size Of Your Dining Table
The most common size area rug for a dining room is 9′ x 12′. However, it’s important to consider the size and shape of your dining table in order to choose the right size rug for your particular space.
A good rule of thumb is to have your rug extend at least 24″ beyond each side of your dining table. So adding 4 feet to both the length and width of your table measurement will give you the minimum size for your dining room rug.
The right size rug allows your chairs to stay on the rug, even when they’re pushed back from the table, instead of catching on the edges of it.
Using my own dining room as an example, our dining table measures 36″ x 71″ (3′ x 5’11”). Adding 4 feet to those measurements means that my rug should be at least 7′ x 9’11. We went with {this 8′ x 10′ rug}:
Tip: When buying an area rug, be sure to look at the product details for the exact dimensions. For example, a rug that’s listed as 8′ x 10′ may actually be several inches longer/wider or shorter/narrower.
Also Consider Your Room Size & Other Furniture
So now that you know the minimum size dining room area rug you should choose for your space, but what about the maximum size? Often it’s simply the size of your room itself that will determine the maximum size. It looks best to have several inches of exposed floor between the ends of your rug and the walls of your room.
So even if a 9′ x 12′ rug would fit in your dining room, if the rug would extend all the way to the wall or within just an inch or two of it, it may be best to go with a smaller size as long as it meets the minimum size standards
Also, consider your other furniture in your dining room. You don’t want the legs of any furniture pieces to be close to the edge of your rug. Ideally, your rug would end several inches in front of or several inches behind the front legs of your other dining room furniture.
Tip: If you’re debating between two different rug sizes, consider outlining the dimensions of each rug on the floor with painter’s tape. It will give you a good sense of how the rug will fit in your space and with your furniture.
Choose The Weave & Material Of Your Rug Wisely
A flatweave or low-pile rug are typically the best choices for a dining room because you can more easily move your dining chairs back and forth from the table. Our dining room chairs are on casters, so a flatweave construction was one of my must-haves:
If you have kids (or just messy eaters!), you’ll also want to consider the material of your rug. Wool or synthetic fibers are great choices for durability and stain-resistance that can withstand spills, foot traffic, and frequent cleaning.
Looking for a great rug and carpet cleaner? I swear by Folex (found {here}) for cleaning rugs, carpet, and upholstery!
Don’t Forget the Rug Pad
Now that you’ve found the perfect rug, be sure to order a rug pad too! Rug pads extend the life of your rug and also keep it from shifting, sliding, and bunching up. They also provide a barrier against spills, preventing damage to your floors. See my post on the best rug pad for every floor type to help find the best one for your space. I have {this Gorilla Grip rug pad} under mine:
And with that, this post is a wrap! Be sure to stay tuned on Instagram Stories {here} for the daily progress on our kitchen reno!
XO,
