How to Style Rugs to Make a Room Look Bigger

• 27 December 2019
• 4 Min Read
• By Jaipur Rugs

Carpets and rugs often come as an afterthought in many homeowner’s designing processes, typically resulting in two common interior decorating…

Where the chosen carpet is too small or too big for the intended room. While we’re not one to marry any decorating rules, trust us when we say that finding and selecting the right handmade rug can dramatically alter a room’s overall effect. To help you master carpet styling like a pro, here’s Jaipur Rugs’ breakdown on how to make a room look bigger with rugs and carpets.

How to make a small room look bigger?

Working with limited dimensions doesn’t automatically mean a limited selection of quality rugs. Today’s availability of area rugs online means that there’s always plenty of options to choose from even if it is for handmade carpets on the smaller side. A good rule of thumb to follow that can help alleviate the aesthetics of a smaller room without suffocating it is to choose a rug size scaled to the room and placed strategically to the arrangement of furniture.

One way to create the illusion of a bigger space in a smaller room is to allow a certain amount of the floor to be visible around the edge of the room. How? Line furniture proportionally along a wall and place the chosen handmade rug inches away from the same wall and under the front legs of the furniture. The subtle break in floor and wall space creates proportions and an illusion of depth.

For open-plan living spaces:

Open living spaces call for large quality carpets to adequately anchor a room. The trick to styling open-plan rooms is to strike a happy balance so that the rug is large enough to become the focal point of one area yet small enough that it doesn’t overwhelm the overall space.

The best approach to divide and compartmentalise the different rooms in an open-plan space is to choose a quality carpet with ample surface area for all your furniture to sit on. For instance, separate your living room from the rest of the space by placing a sizeable handmade rug like Jaipur Rugs’ wool and viscose hand-tufted rug in lotus bloom pattern from the Jaipur Wunderkammer collection to help define and ground the living area.

Bonus tip: maintain that spaciousness that you get in an open-plan room by steering clear of using and placing multiple smaller handmade rugs to avoid a crowded look and feel.

For hallways:

Rooms with little to no furniture like the hallways can be tricky to style, and there’s a common misconception that its long and narrow dimensions mean only smaller-sized carpets and rugs fit for purpose here – that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The trick to making tight spaces like hallways feel larger and bigger lies in finding the perfect long runner rugs as it can visually elongate the area. Just ensure that the chosen runner leaves enough floor space around the edges! We recommend ordering custom-made sizes for the best carpet option to suit the area.

Now go forth, use Jaipur Rugs’ tips and make your room feel bigger with just handmade carpets.

FAQs

What kind of rug makes room look bigger?

A light-colored, low-pile rug can make a room look bigger. Opt for a rug with a neutral color palette or light pastel shade to create an illusion of more space. Additionally, low-pile rugs have a shorter pile height, creating a smooth and seamless appearance that makes the room appear larger. A rug with a geometric or angular pattern can also help elongate a room, making it appear bigger. By choosing the right type of rug, you can create the illusion of more space and enhance the overall look of your room.

Do rugs make a room feel bigger?

Rugs may indeed give the impression that a space is larger. A low-pile rug may give the impression of being seamless and smooth, which enlarges the area. A rug in a light hue or neutral tone can also help a room feel brighter and more open. A space may also be lengthened and made to feel bigger by selecting a rug with a geometric or angular design. Adding a rug may improve the overall look and feel of your area and has several advantages.

Is it better to have a bigger or smaller rug?

Both bigger and smaller rugs have unique characteristics that make them ideal choices, depending on the space. Smaller rugs can make a room feel cozier and more intimate, while larger rugs can anchor a space and make it feel more spacious. In a small room, a smaller rug can help create a sense of balance and proportion, while in a large room, a bigger rug can help define the space and create a focal point. In a bedroom, a smaller rug can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere, while in a living room, a larger rug can provide a sense of comfort and warmth. Ultimately, the best choice will depend on the size of the room, the desired look and feel, and personal preference.