Trust Us: How to Choose the Right Rug Size For All of Your Rooms

Whether your floors are hardwood or carpeted, a spacious area rug can protect them — and freshen up the look of the room at the same time. Here's where you want to go large, choosing an 8'x10' or 9'x12' size that can "hold" your furniture and anchor the room. This Safavieh Vintage Palace Area Rug ($560) is available in a wide range of sizes and shapes to suit different rooms, so you can easily find the right fit.

If you like the look of a rug in a formal dining room, opt for 6'x9' or larger with a pattern (to hide splatters!) and low pile (for easy cleanup). This 8'x10' Safavieh Vintage Olivia Area Rug ($561) fits the bill on both counts, and it's available in seven different colorways to match your decor. Plus, it's silky-soft yet low-maintenance — what's not to like?

Rugs smaller than 2'x3' can work as kitchen mats and bath mats, too. Officially, this small Wild Sage Mae Stripe Rug ($10, originally $20) isn't a bath mat — but wouldn't it look cute next to a tub? It's 100-percent cotton (i.e., washable and soaks up water), and the tassels add a little something extra. It's the affordable room accent you didn't know you needed.

The right size rug for the bedroom depends on the size of your bed and the space itself. If you have a king bed, an 8'x10' or 9'x12' (such as this Bee & Willow Bella 9'2"x12' Shag Area Rug ($480)) will give you plenty of foot padding around the bed.

If a large area rug isn't your bedroom style, look for a smaller option to place bedside — say, a 3'x5' rug that can be your morning landing pad. This Momeni Juliette Area Rug ($63, originally $90) works well with a variety of neutral colors, and it's on sale, too.

To liven up a ho-hum hallway, try a patterned runner such as this 2'x7' Bee & Willow Gibson Runner ($72). Typically, 2 to 2.5 feet will be just the right width.

An inexpensive 3'x5' area rug such as this Wild Sage Jessa Tassel Area Rug ($20, originally $40) can work as a backdoor entryway rug, but it's also perfect for the kitchen. Choose a rug pad ($36) to provide traction, then place the rug near the sink or stove to add some character to the room.

For laundry rooms, this Miami Sisal Indoor/Outdoor Rug ($140) is a durable, easy-care option. This rug is a roomy 5'3"x7' to fill a generously sized space, but it's also available in smaller and larger sizes — and since it's made of sisal, it can work on patios and other outdoor spaces as well.

Wherever kids romp, it's wise to give them a soft place to land. Here, the larger the rug, the better. This wool Safavieh Kids Cody Area Rug ($449) is 8'x10', so there's plenty of room for rolling and roughhousing. It's a good choice for a playroom — just don't forget the rug pad.

Before babies crawl, there's no real need for an enormous area rug. Instead, introduce a sense of whimsy with a smaller option such as this 4'-diameter Marmalade Biscuit Hand-Tufted Round Washable Area Rug ($200).