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Whenever choosing an area rug, select one that fits the seating area in a shape that suits the room design. Rug retailers provide charts that show recommended sizes for various rooms and uses.
Room Size
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The larger the rug, the larger the room appears. Measure your room. For 2 feet of hardwood floor showing in a 20-by-20-foot room, the maximum rug size would be 18-by-18. If you'd like a border of floor around the rug, subtract that from the measurement.
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Small Rooms
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For a small room, select the largest rug that will fit. Smaller rugs tend to cut up the space, and can define living areas in large rooms.
Seating Area
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With a 48-inch table, add at least 40 inches to the rug size to accommodate the chairs in the pulled-out position. Select an 8-foot round, 8-by-8 square, or 8-by-10 or larger rectangle.
Placement
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For a round rug under a round table, place the table in the center. With a square or rectangular rug in a large room, center or off-set the table to fit the room.
Wear Patterns
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Prevent undue wear by placing the rug so it's not in the kitchen path. Otherwise, rotate the rug to prevent excessive wear.