Rugs: an underrated yet crucial element of interior design. While furniture, art and decor may get more buzz, rugs are just as important when it comes to achieving design goals — so much so that they can make or break the entire look of a room. 

When choosing a rug, there are many things to consider before buying: In which room will you place the rug? What are the measurements of said room, and how much of the room should the rug cover? What furniture will be in the room, and how will it affect the placement of the rug? To determine your answers to these questions —and a few others — check out our simple guide below.

Which rooms need a rug?

Start by going through each room in your home and deciding which of those rooms would benefit most from the addition of a rug. Since rugs serve as a natural floor protectant, they're most commonly found in high-traffic areas like hallways, kitchens, entryways and living rooms. Along with their functional purpose, rugs also help divide a room into sections, making it easier to arrange groups of furniture in a visually appealing way. Whether you're wanting to define a seating area, position a dining table or simply add a pop of color, a rug is one of the easiest ways to make a room feel pulled together. 

What size rug will work best for the space?

Once you've identified where in your home you'll be adding the rug, you need to determine the best size to buy for that space. As a general rule, rug size should always be proportional to the size of the space — therefore, the bigger the room, the bigger the rug. If you're unsure about which size you need, opt for the largest size that fits in the allotted space. But, remember to leave the same amount of space on all sides of the rug — ideally at least eight inches but no more than two feet. 

Where in the room should the rug be placed? 

Now that you've decided where the rug will go and selected the appropriate size for that space, it's time to start laying things out. The placement of your rug — and subsequent arrangement of your furniture — depends on the size and shape of the room, as well as the type of room. For example, a rule that applies to rug and furniture placement in the living room may not apply to the bedroom or dining room. 

For the living room, there are three schools of thought when it comes to layout. The first method involves placing all furniture entirely on the rug, with at least six inches of space between the furniture and the edge of the rug. The second option calls for just the front legs of the furniture to be on the rug, which is especially sensible when the layout of the room doesn't allow for the furniture to fit entirely on the rug. The third approach is to place all furniture off the rug, with the exception of the coffee table — this typically works only in smaller rooms, with the rug acting as more of an accent piece.

With bedrooms, it's generally best to place your bed entirely on the rug. Alternatively, you can leave some empty floor space at the head of the bed so the rug extends farther past the foot of the bed. Placing two small runners on either side of the bed is a practical option for small bedrooms, so as to leave more room for under-the-bed storage. Unlike living rooms and bedrooms, dining rooms work best when you follow one tried-and-true method: All furniture should fit entirely on the rug, even when the dining chairs are pulled out.