A dining rug must be large enough to accommodate a dining table and all the chair used with that dining table. If a dining rug is too small, the chair legs will frequentely slide off the dining rug and onto a bare floor. When chair legs slide off the dining rug, the dining chairs will feel unsteadily and the dining chairs may wobble.
Therefore, you must select a dining rug that is large enough to support the dining chairs even when you pull the dining chairs away from the dining table. A person should use the 24-inch rule to determine the correct size for a dining rug. The 24-inch rule means that the edge of the dining rug must extend at least 24 inches beyond the outermost position of the dining chairs.
How to Choose the Right Dining Rug
When a person pulls a dining chair away from a dining table to sit down, the dining chair extend outward. Because the dining chair extends outward, the dining rug must extend outward to provide a buffer. If the dining rug does not provide this 24-inch buffer, the dining chairs will catch on the edge of the dining rug and the dining chairs will feel unstable.
The size of the dining rug depends on the shape and the size of the dining table. For a small round dining table that seat four people, a circular or square dining rug that is approximately six feet across is appropriate. For a standard rectangular dining table that seats six people, a dining rug that is at least eight feet by ten feet are necessary.
For larger dining tables that are used for larger gatherings, you should select dining rugs that is nine feet by twelve feet or ten feet by fourteen feet. Additionally, matching the shape of the dining rug to the shape of the dining table help to create a unified dining area. Rectangular dining rugs pair well with rectangular dining tables, and round dining rugs pairs well with round dining tables.
The material of the dining rug is important because dining rugs are subject to spill and crumbs. Polypropylene is a good material for a dining rug because polypropylene is easy to wipe clean and polypropylene is durable for daily use. Wool is another material that is useful for a dining rug because wool can naturaly repel stain if a person blots the stain quickly.
However, you should avoid using jute or sisal for a dining rug if spills occur frequent, because jute and sisal fibers absorb liquids like a sponge. You should also avoid high-pile rugs for a dining area because chair legs sink into high-pile rugs, and chair legs sinking into high-pile rugs makes it difficultly to move the dining chairs. A rug pad is a necessary item to use under a dining rug.
A rug pad keeps the dining rug from sliding on hard floor, and a rug pad prevents the dining rug from moving when a person moves the dining chair. If you use a thin, non-slip rug pad, the dining chairs will glide smoothly across the dining rug. If you use a dining rug without a rug pad, the dining rug may wander across the floor and the dining rug may cause scratch on the floor.
To avoid common mistake, you should measure your dining table and your dining chairs before you purchase a dining rug. Many people make the mistake of buying a dining rug that is too small, which creates a tripping hazard. Many people also make the mistake of buying a dining rug that is too large, which can make a room appear more smaller.
To ensure the dining rug is the correct size, you can use tape to outline the dimension of the dining rug on the floor before you buy the dining rug. If you follow these step, the dining rug will properly anchor the dining table and the dining chairs.
