Rugs add a sense of warmth and comfort to a space, which is exactly the type of ambiance you want to establish in a bedroom. No matter the size of your bedroom, you’ve got some options for where to lay a rug, and you might even be able to fit multiple rugs in one room. Keep reading for the best practices for bedroom rug placement to help get you started.

Where to Put a Rug in a Bedroom

Under the Bed

Under your bed is an obvious but classic place for a rug. Nothing beats the cozy feeling of a soft rug under your feet when you go to bed and again when you wake up. If you have a bench at the foot of your bed and a rug under your bed, consider sliding the rug down to where all four legs of the bench can rest on the rug. It is okay if the rug is only large enough to accommodate the bottom two legs of the bed.

Choose a rug that extends anywhere from 18 to 24 inches beyond the left and right sides of your bed. For a typical queen-sized bed, a five-by-eight-foot rug or a six-by-nine-foot rug would work well. However, if the main rug you want to use under the bed is too small, you can always layer a larger neutral-toned rug under it. Additionally, you can opt for a much larger size if you want to put all four legs of your bedside tables on the rug.

At the Foot of Your Bed

You can also put a small runner at the foot of your bed under a bench. At the foot of your bed is the perfect spot to put a runner that’s a little shorter in length, such as a four-by-two-foot runner. Just make sure it is wide enough to fit the bench at the foot of your bed on it.

On the Sides of Your Bed

The side of your bed is the perfect spot to place a long and narrow rug, like a sheepskin rug or a vintage Persian runner. You can place it on the side you usually get in bed, or put one on each sides.

Most runners are two to three feet wide, which should be an ideal size for most bedrooms. In terms of the length, try to find one that is almost as long as your bed itself. A five-foot or six-foot-long runner should do the trick.

Under Your Dresser

If you have a stand-alone dresser in your bedroom, sliding a small rug underneath it can create a lovely vignette. This is an especially good design choice if you are placing a wood dresser on top of wood floors and the different wood tones clash next to one another.

We suggest choosing a rug that’s big enough to fit your entire dresser. The exact size will vary depending on the size of your dresser. Alternatively, you can choose a small rug that allows for two to three inches of floor to show between the edge of your dresser and the edge of the rug.

Near Entrances and Exits

When trying to determine where to place runners, consider the walking paths you typically take in your room. For example, if you have a primary bath suite in your bedroom, place a runner vertically leading into the bathroom.

The best size for the runner will vary depending on your exact bedroom layout. However, it’s better to err on the side of a runner that is a bit too long than too small.

Under a Seating Area

Having room for a seating area in your bedroom is a luxury that you should fully embrace. If you want to create the illusion of a room-within-a-room, you can opt for placing a separate area rug that fits under just the seating area itself. Or you can opt for one extra-large area rug that encompᴀsses most of the room.

If you choose an oversized rug for your seating area and bed, just make sure it doesn’t go directly to the edges of your baseboards. You want at least a foot of space on either side so the rug doesn’t overwhelm the room.

General Tips for Rug Placement in the Bedroom

Area rugs are great for anchoring your bedroom furniture. As long as at least two of the furniture piece’s legs fit on the rug with about a foot and a half of breathing room on either side, you’ve probably picked a good size.

However, there are always exceptions to this rule. When you break the rules with intention, you’re left with a room that feels custom to you and your personal taste. Additionally, don’t forget that you don’t even need a rug in your bedroom for it to feel complete. You might want to go this route if you’re going for a more minimalist look.