There are plenty of factors to consider when buying a rug and it can become overwhelming. Knowing how to choose the right rug size for your space is one of the most significant details. In general people buy rugs that are too small because 5×7 and 6x9s are so much cheaper than 8x10s or 9x12s. However, it is often going to make the whole space look chopped up and accidental looking so in a way you’ve just wasted that money. Measure the size of your SEATING AREA before shopping and get the closest size up from that. If your budget is tight and your room is small you can have a smaller rug that floats in front of the furniture. (This is especially ok if your sofa is backed up against the wall.) You don’t need to waste the rug real estate under the sofa if you can’t even see that it’s there. But if your furniture is floating (furniture with legs) or if the room is big, get a larger rug or it will make the room look smaller and totally out of proportion. One of the principal functions of a rug is to pull the room together. We hope these tips will help with navigating through the various sizes of area rugs for your seating area.