Antique rugs are a great alternative to wall-to-wall carpets for many reasons; they are easier to clean, they are available in lots of gorgeous designs, and they are less of a commitment because it is easy to remove them or switch to a different design when you want to redecorate.

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For these reasons, they make the perfect accent pieces for when you need to add some character to your space while also holding your furniture pieces in place. 

That said, having your antique rug in the wrong place can completely throw off the entire flow of your room. When you know exactly where to place your rug, you will be able to elevate the look of your space. If this is the challenge you have been dealing with, this post will give you some ideas on where to place your rug. 

Here are some tips and tricks to help you place your antique rug perfectly in any room:

1. Get a rug that extends under furniture

The key to having a room that looks cohesive is tying all the pieces of furniture in the space together. A rug is a great way to do this. Therefore, when choosing an antique rug, get one that extends under all your key furniture pieces. 

For example, if you want your living room to feel bigger, get a large rug that extends under all the furniture in the room. Of course, this may not always be possible, and most living rooms have a lot of furniture pieces. Therefore, if it is not possible to achieve this, getting the front legs of the major upholstered furniture pieces on the rug while the back legs remain off will achieve the same results. 

For a dining room, you want the center of the rug to be under your dining table. The rug should also be able to accommodate all the chairs so that all the chairs are on the rug even when pulled away from the table. 

2. Leave an equal amount of floor space around the rug

When you place your antique rug on any floor, ensure that you leave an equal amount of floor space around it on all sides. Leave about 8 to 24 inches of floor space around it to create a sense of uniformity and order.

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Of course, this means you will need to measure your space first before buying the rug. Doing this will also center the rug in the room, making it feel like the missing piece that the room needed. 

3. Be generous in the bedroom

The size of the antique rug you go for in your bedroom will depend on the size of your bed and, to some extent, the type of flooring that you have in place. There are many different techniques for placing a rug in the bedroom: 

• Partially under the bed: Do this by laying the rug perpendicular to the bed, then dragging it slightly under the bed before stopping when part of the rug is under the bed and the rest of it is outside with the bed centered on top of it. This will give you a comfortable surface to step on when you get out of bed while also maximizing the amount of usable rug space.
• Next to the bed: This is a great idea if you do not want to invest in a large rug. To do it, get two smaller antique runner rugs that you’ll then place on each side of the bed. This will elevate the look of your room while also giving you a comfortable surface to step on when you get out of bed. The length of the runners is entirely up to you, but longer runners that line the full length of your bed look great! Alternatively, you can place a single antique rug at the foot of your bed or in the middle of the room to help pull the decor together.
• Throughout the room: For this idea, you want to get a large rug that will fill up almost your entire bedroom, with the bed being smack in the middle of it. Any dressers or seating areas can have the rug going halfway through them, or you could also choose to define these spaces with their own identity by getting them separate rugs.

4. Play around with colors and patterns

The beauty of antique rugs comes from the fact that a lot of them have playful colors and interesting patterns. This is a great way to add lots of character to your spaces. It makes the room feel livelier and more welcoming.

If this is the effect you want to go for, do not be afraid to play around with various colors and patterns as you shop for your next antique rug. 

5. Cleaning your antique rugs

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Always check the cleaning instructions for your antique rugs before buying them. Most antique rugs are made using natural fibers like sisal and jute. Sometimes, these materials can be difficult to clean, which means in case of a big spill, you may have to replace the entire rug.

This is why it is also important to ensure that you choose the right vacuum cleaner for your rugs. For more carpet and rug cleaning tips, here is a guide on how to clean them and keep them looking as good as new for longer. 

• Protect your best rugs

It is often tempting to make your best, most expensive rugs the focal point of your home. However, try to resist this temptation. When you make your most expensive rugs your focal point, although they will elevate the look of your home, it also puts them at risk of spills and accidents. Additionally, with more foot traffic comes a higher chance of them getting damaged, which is exactly what you don’t want. Protect them at all costs! 

• Don’t get a modest size

Getting a modestly-sized antique rug is a common mistake that a lot of people make when decorating their rooms. When a rug is too small, it will not have the effect you want in your space. 

It is true that larger antique rugs will be more expensive. However, when you get a smaller rug, you likely have to replace it before too long because it will not have the desired effect in your room. This would mean buying multiple small rugs, which could end up being more expensive than buying a large antique rug from the beginning. 

• High-traffic areas should be covered

If there are certain areas in your room or around the house that get more foot traffic, cover them fully with your antique rug. Doing this will ensure that anyone who walks in those areas has both feet on the rug at all times. There is nothing as uncomfortable as having one foot on the cold floor and another on a warm rug! 

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it! With the tips and tricks outlined above, finding the right antique rugs for your spaces should be super easy. Plus, you now have a better idea of how to go about placing your rug in any room in your home.