How to Place a Rug in a Bedroom (Ideas with Pictures)

Hardwood and laminate floors are the dominant floorings of choice in home trends these days. While it looks great in a bedroom, it has one major drawback. It doesn’t feel great on your toes as the first thing they touch when getting out of bed in the morning or the last thing your feet touch when getting in bed at night. It feels hard and slightly cold, creating a jarring experience that isn’t conducive to creating a relaxing atmosphere. To fix this, you need a rug. However, you need the right size of rug to place it correctly in your room. This guide will show you how to place a rug in your bedroom.

The Size of Your Bed

master bedroom with large windows, rug under the bed

Where you place the area rug in your bedroom will depend greatly on the size of your bed. For example, an 8 x 10 rug will look nice under a queen sized bed but could get lost under a king if not placed correctly. If you have a king bed, then you’ll do better with a 9 x 12 rug. A full sized bed can work with a 5 x8 rug. Additionally, you will need a larger rug when you plan to place the rug underneath the bed. If you aren’t putting the rug completely under the bed, then you can get away with a smaller rug.

A queen mattress can work with a wide range of rug sizes, including 8 x10, 6 x 9, 5 x 8, or 3 x 5 rug. The size you use will depend on your chosen placement. A king mattress can work with a 9 x 12, 8 x10, 6 x 9, 5 x 8, or 3 x 5 rug.

The Size of the Room

bedroom interior with white walls, wooden floor, rug under the bed and armchair

The size and placement of your rug will also depend on the size and layout of your room. For example, a small room may look strange with an oversized area rug that extends out the end and sides of the bed, leaving an awkwardly large chunk of flooring in one spot. You would need to buy an even larger rug to cover the rest of the floor or a smaller rug that exposes more of the floor.

Placing a Rug in a Small Bedroom

If you have a small bedroom, then buy a larger rug that covers almost the entire floor, leaving only two to five inches of bare floor around it. A 4 x 6 or 5 x 8 rug will not be large enough for this. They only cover about two-thirds of the floor under the bed. If your small bedroom is also square-shaped, then consider placing a large round rug in the center of the room. That way, you could place at least one leg from each furniture piece in the room on the rug. This grounds the room and the furniture.

Placing a Rug in a Large Bedroom

The struggle with a large bedroom is that you need to consider proportions. The rug needs to be large enough to look balanced under the bed but also small enough to leave plenty of floor space around it. It is unlikely you will buy a rug large enough to cover the entire floor space. For example, if your bedroom is 12 x 18 feet, this would require a large rug that you will struggle to find and will be expensive.

Bed Placement

style bedroom with white and wooden walls, rug under the bed and large windows

Where your bed is placed in your bedroom will affect where you can place your rug. If your bed is pushed against the wall, then you may only need a rug next to the bed. A bed placed in the center of the room looks good with a rug that extends out from either side and the bottom. A bed in the middle of a square room could look balanced with a round rug that is positioned in the center of the room. Then a portion of the bed would be on the rug but not the entire thing.

How to Place a Rug Under Your Bed

master bedroom with large windows, rug under the bed and a bench, additional furniture

Let’s assume that your bed is placed in the typical position, with the head pushed against the wall with the foot of the bed extending out into the center of the room.

Under Everything

Your first option is to buy a large enough rug to go under the entire bed. Place the edge of the rug against the wall and place the bed and nightstands on the rug. The rug should be large enough to extend at least ten inches out the sides and foot.

In Front of the Nightstands

Your second option is to place the rug completely under the bed but in front of the nightstands. With this approach, the rug should be placed close to the front of the nightstand so that you will put your feet on it when getting in and out of bed. However, it should not be pushed right up against the nightstand, either. This would crowd the nightstands and make your bedroom feel cramped.

One Third of the Bed

If you have a small rug, turn it so that the long side of the rug is perpendicular to the bed. Then position the rug so that it is under at least one third of the bed. Finally, try to leave at least ten inches of rug overhang at the foot of the bed. This setup lets you save money on buying a smaller rug while also grounding the room.

One on Either Side

Instead of buying one large rug that goes under the entire rug, you can buy two smaller rugs. Place one on either side of the bed. Choose long rugs that are rectangle in shape. The position the rug so that it’s eight to ten inches from the nightstand. Do not push the rug too far down towards the foot of the bed. It should be positioned under your feet when getting in or out of bed.

At the Foot

Add an accent to the foot of the bed by placing a small rectangle rug at the foot of the bed. This is good if you have a bench or chest at the foot of your bed. It should be a small rug as you don’t want it extending too far under the bed.

Other Ways to Place a Rug in Your Bedroom

bedroom interior with large bed and a rug with armchair

If you want to define the space, you can place a rug under the other furniture in your bedroom. For example, you could have a reading nook in one corner. Placing a rug under the armchair, light, and side table defines this space and helps it to feel more intimate. If you have a vanity table or office desk, placing a small rug under these furniture pieces can help to visually define the spaces. If your bedroom is connected to your bathroom or walk-in closet, placing a long runner rug can connect these two spaces.