A patterned rug can hide stains better than a solid-colored rug.
Some people like to keep their dining room floors bare for ease of cleaning. Others, however, opt to put down a rug to define the area. An ornate or unusually decorated rug can serve as a focal point and conversation piece. It can also tie together the colors in your dining room. Finding a rug that's the right size is important, as you don't want your chairs to get caught on the edge, and you don't want the rug to overwhelm the room.
Instructions
1. Calculate the length and width of your dining room table, including the chairs with the chairs pulled out. Your rug needs to be long and wide enough so that the chairs remain on the rug when those seated at the table pull away. If you don't have a table yet, take these measurements in a furniture store showroom. Measure a table that's the size of the one you want to buy.
2. Measure the distance from the center of your table to the outside edge of the area you want to cover if you plan to purchase a round rug. Double this measurement, and you'll have the diameter you need. Stores list round rug sizes by diameter.
3. Place pieces of paper on the floor to indicate where each edge of the rug will rest, using the measurements you took. Then measure the distance from the edge of your paper to the wall. Ideally, you'll want at least 12 to 15 inches of bare floor all around the room.
4. Determine whether the proposed size of your new rug will interference with your other furniture. Try to make sure that the rug isn't partially under your buffet or china cabinet. This could cause your furniture to tilt and wobble.
5. Take your tape measure with you when you go shopping, and measure your selected rug before you purchase it. Rug sizes listed on store labels are often incorrect, according to the World Floor Covering Association.
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