Savannah - Interior Designer
See the proper rug placement under a living room sectional including how to place rugs, layout ideas for L shaped sofas, sectionals with chaise, and coffee table with sectional and rug.
A rug is absolutely necessary to completing the look of a room. There are many different ways to style a rug and can look better in certain sizes or shapes based on the type of furniture in the space.
Sectionals are typically pretty large and can take up a lot of space; you want to coordinate the size of the rug with the size of the sectional. From there you will want to determine the size of the coffee table and end table that you want to incorporate into the space.
Some recommendations as to the size and styling of rugs and sectionals are described below.
How to Place a Rug Under a Sectional Sofa
The first consideration rug placement under living room sectional is the size of the sectional compared to the size of the rug. If the rug is larger than the entire sectional sofa legs, it should be placed on the rug.
Medium sized types of rugs typically can have part of the sectional on the rug and half of it off. When considering a smaller rug they should be offset a little from the sectional to only have the coffee table placed on them.
Having a rug under as many legs of the sectional as possible can save the flooring below and even make the sectional easier to move if needed.
Adding an end table can help open up the space by creating the attention outwards instead of all the focus being inside of the sectional and coffee table area.
Sectional Placement Ideas
Placing a sectional can be a big task, but there are plenty of options for placement. As a rule to follow a sectional should always be placed with a 36” clear space to move around the sectional.
This is actually the minimum, if you can get 42” to 48” that is going to feel quite a bit more comfortable. If you follow that rule the rest of the choices are pretty subjective to each personals styles.
Considering the layout of the room can be important. For example if there is more of an open floor plan living room, the sectional can be used to separate the spaces. On the contrary it could also be used to connect multiple spaces depending on the layout of the sectional sofa and the focal point of the room.
L Shaped Sectional Rug Placement
There are a few good ways to place a rug under an L shaped sectional. First with a larger rug, which is typically the more expensive option, you can place it under the inside corners of the sectional.
The rug should be about 18” longer than each side of the sectional. When placed, the rug should be about halfway under the sectional based on the depth.
Another option is to center the rug on the L of the sectional. This requires a smaller rug as none of it is underneath the sectional itself. The rug comes about 6” off the interior edge of the sectional and measures about the length and width of the sectional.
Another option for size on a rug like this is to square it off with the sectional so that it does not hang farther than the edges of the sectional. Either of these sizes are a great solution as all the edges of the sectional are on the same level, and they do not require too large of a rug.
Sectional Couch and Rug Placement
A great way to place a rug under a standard sectional is with an oversized rug . Get a rug that is about 48” longer and wider than the overall sectional.
If you put the sectional on one corner leaving about 24” on the ends it will give the room a solid boundary .This is great when there is an open floor plan and there needs to be distinctions between the living room and dining room, or kitchen.
There are many other ways to place a rug with a sectional including partially under the sectional, or not under it at all.
Rug placement for Sectional with Chaise
A sectional with a chaise is just a little different than the L shaped sectional mentioned above. The difference is that it turns almost into a U shape without having a solid back piece on the added section.
To place these types of sectional sofas it’s better to have the chaise on the side that is more open to the adjoining space as it gives a more open and welcoming feel to the room. To play with the difference the best rug placement is partially under the sectional.
This can be located under the chaise end and the L part leaving a gap between the perpendicular end of the sectional and the edge of the rug. This gives the feeling that the rug is larger than it is without overspending.
A chaise can also be used on a linear sofa instead of an L shaped with chaise. This type of piece of furniture can help to cut off a space as all the users will be facing the same way. This can be used with a small or medium sized rug to help keep the attention forward with the sofa and chaise.
Coffee Table Placement with Sectional and Rug
When adding a coffee table to the mix with a sectional and a rug there are a few things you should keep in mind.
A coffee table should have roughly 18 to 24 inches between it and the sectional itself. This gives room to move freely in between it while still being able to reach any items that are placed on the coffee table.
The coffee table should be placed fully on the rug to keep it level. Coffee table sizes can come in a wide variety of shapes, and the one you select can depend on the layout of your rug and sectional.
A round coffee table may not be the best with An L shaped sectional, instead trying an oval shape should give a filler, longer look to the space. Round coffee tables can find a better home centered with a U shaped sectional.
Coffee tables are usually best fit in the corner of the L of a sectional, or centered on a U shaped sectional.
Which Way Should a Sectional Face
An important part of a living room is the focal point of the space. This is often the fireplace or TV if there is one in the room. If these items are present the focal point may be an outdoor view. This gives something for the seated person to give their attention to.
The sectional should be facing the focal point of the space, making it so the individual or individuals using the sectional can easily view the focal point without any strain.
If the focal point is not yet determined it can be a best to consider how much light is coming from any windows in the space so they do not interfere with any electronics or shine too bright in anyone’s eye when the sectional is in use.
The way a sectional is facing can either close off or open up a room, using this to your advantage can make or break a space. Facing a sectional inward can close the room up and create a cozy space. Placing a sectional I the corner of a room can open up the space as it is taking the attention outwards.
Are there any rug placement under living room sectional we missed? Let us know in the comment section below. For more related content visit our guide on how to pick rug sizes here.
