Simple tips to help you find the right rug for the nursery.
Decorating a nursery is the perfect opportunity to create a comfortable, soothing space for your baby. Because you and your little one will be spending a lot of time in the nursery, a nursery rug should add comfort and softness to the space. We've gathered a few simple tips to help you choose the best rug for your nursery, including guidelines on picking the correct size and material. Keep reading to find tips on how to choose a nursery rug you can use to find the right one.
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Size is a key consideration when choosing a nursery area rug. The rug should be large enough to cover a majority of the open floor space. This will help cushion the sound of footsteps while the baby is sleeping, warm up the floor, and provide a comfortable place for the baby to play.
If you have wood floors, we recommend going for a larger size that covers a lot of floor space. The bit of overlap ensures that there is plenty of softness underfoot and that the legs of the furniture feel anchored. If your floors are carpeted, use the area rug to create a focal point that leaves a few inches of space between the edge of the rug and the furniture.
Though most nursery rugs are rectangular, round and novelty rugs are another great option for nursery area rug ideas, there are a great many other shapes to choose from too. Nursery rugs even come in fun novelty shapes, such as clouds or animals, for a piece that adds the right amount of character.
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Tip!
If you love a rug that isn't large enough for the room, try layering the smaller rug on top of a large area rug. Opt for a spacious area rug in a neutral color or with a simple pattern to really let the smaller rug shine.
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Material is another important factor. Considerations like the maintenance, durability, and comfort can help you decide which material is best suited for your nursery. We've outlined three of the most popular materials for nursery rugs to help you find one that works best for your needs.
Cotton: Cotton is a popular choice for nursery rugs because of its soft texture and organic fibers. Cotton rugs are versatile, low-maintenance, and come at an affordable price.
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Wool: Though wool isn't as soft as cotton, wool rugs are incredibly durable and easy to clean. These rugs are naturally stain- and water-resistant, and the antimicrobial properties make wool ideal for those who have allergies or asthma.
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Synthetic: Rugs made of synthetic materials, such as polypropylene or polyester, and nylon are soft, affordable, and durable. These high-performance rugs are designed to withstand plenty of wear and require little to no maintenance.
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Tip!
Want more information on rug materials? Check out our guide How to Choose the Best Rug Material for an in-depth guide that looks at each type.
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From stain-resistance to non-slip backing, there are some additional features that can make your life easier.
Machine-Washable: Messes are no match for machine-washable rugs. These rugs can be tossed into the washing machine to clean any spots or spills.
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Reversible: Reversible rugs are a great way to get the most out of one rug. The rug can be flipped over to reveal a different design for a fresh look. Plus, this reversing helps evenly distribute wear and lengthens the longevity of the rug.
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Stain-Resistant: These easy-to-clean rugs don't absorb spills, so you can quickly wipe up any messes before a stain can set in.
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Non-Slip Backing: This feature prevents the rug from sliding around and moving, which is important for safety.
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Tip!
It's possible to find reversible rugs that can be flipped over to reveal a different design for a fresh look and help to evenly distribute wear as well as lengthen the longevity of the rug.
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Nursery room rugs are an excellent way to introduce whimsical style and tie the space together. There are so many themes, patterns, and colors to choose from, so it's easy to find a nursery area rug idea that matches your aesthetic.
Nurseries are a great place to play with fun patterns and colors. Not only do patterned rugs add a bit of personality to the space, they can also conceal spills and messes. When choosing the right rug for your nursery, look at the other details throughout the space and pick a rug that complements those elements. Add an area rug in a bold hue to brighten up a neutral space, or opt for a rug with a subtle design to pair with patterned wallpaper.
Themes are another fun approach to decorating a nursery. They help showcase personality and create a cohesive design. Look for rugs with fun animal silhouettes for a serene nature-themed room, or go for a rug with boats and anchors for a nautical-themed nursery. It's even possible to find nursery rugs with educational content on them to help provide your little one with fundamentals like the alphabet and numbers as they play on the floor.
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If you have a little one on the way and are in search of more information on what to stock your nursery with, read our Nursery Essentials Checklist and 8 Simple Nursery Organization Ideas for some guidance before you move onto picking the best nursery area rug ideas for baby's space.
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FAQs
The rug should be large enough to cover a majority of the open floor space. This will help cushion the sound of footsteps while the baby is sleeping, warm up the floor, and provide a comfortable place for the baby to play. If you have wood floors, we recommend going for a larger size that covers a lot of floor space.
How should a rug fit in a nursery? ›
The standard for choosing a rug for those areas is to use one that's big enough for the entire piece to sit on the rug; this sizing is ideal when you allow the front half of your furniture to overlap with the rug. The same applies to cribs, though that will be covered more in depth in just a minute.
How do I choose a room rug? ›
If you want a cohesive, unified look in your space, then having the rug match either the sofa or walls can help create that effect. However, if you're looking for contrast and visual interest, pairing a rug with different colours than your furniture or walls may be more effective.
How to determine the best rug size? ›
“When selecting a rug that will cover most of the room, measure the perimeter of the space and subtract around [five] inches from each side to determine the rug size,” Phillips says. Watts recommends leaving a bit more space, if possible, around eight to 12 inches around the rug and perimeter.
What size rug for a 12x12 nursery? ›
We recommend the following: Best 12x12 Room Rugs: Accent: 5x8, 6x9 are excellent options. Round/Square: 9' and 10' will ground the room well.
What type of rug is best for nursery? ›
“When shopping for the right rug, consider fabrications that will make the nursery soft, liveable, and playful." Natural fibers such as 100% wool, cotton, or hemp, are prime picks when vetting area rugs for quality materials.
What is the rule for rug placement? ›
The Living Room
As a standard but not as rule, the rug should be at least 10cm under the feet of the furniture. The rug does not need to go wall to wall, try to leave a gap of about 30cm between the wall and the rug.
How do you match a rug to a room? ›
First, take a quick inventory of your color scheme. To tie the look of the room together, you'll want to select a rug that complements the two or three main colors in the room. If you go to a store, we suggest you take a throw pillow and a color swatch of your drapes, furniture or wall colors with you.
How can you tell a good rug? ›
GOOD = natural fibers (wool, silk, cotton). These are the strongest, best to dye, and best to walk on fibers. They will also be what is used in hand woven rugs, which will tend to be your more valuable rugs to own. You will also see wool used in the higher quality machine woven rugs like Karastan.
How to choose the shape of an area rug? ›
You need to know the size of your furniture so you can find the correct rug shape that is big enough for the furniture to fit comfortably onto. If you have a rectangular table, choosing a rectangular area rug is going to be best for the space. Alternatively, if you have a circular table, invest in a circular rug!
A rug that is too small for your space can cause the room to feel uninviting. A rug that is too large for the room can, paradoxically, make the room feel smaller. The right-sized area rug will bring warmth and balance to the room, creating the perfect finishing touch.
How do you tell if a rug is too big for a room? ›
With few exceptions, the rug should be big enough that at least two legs of all other furniture in the room are on the rug. If all the furniture in the room is entirely on the rug, the rug is probably too big.
Does a larger or smaller rug make room look bigger? ›
Use 1 Large Area Rug
Some people try to use multiple small rugs to cover more area, but that will only make the room feel both smaller and more divided. Instead, you should opt for a larger rug that brings the room together and creates a unified space.
How should a rug fit in nursery? ›
The rug should be large enough to cover a majority of the open floor space. This will help cushion the sound of footsteps while the baby is sleeping, warm up the floor, and provide a comfortable place for the baby to play. If you have wood floors, we recommend going for a larger size that covers a lot of floor space.
Should I put a rug in baby nursery? ›
Textured Nursery Rugs
Not only does texture create a sensory experience for your little one as they grow and start to explore their space, but these rugs also tend to hide stains well. A rug with texture is also an easy way to bring visual interest into the room, even if your design choices are neutral and/or subdued.
What size rug is good for kids room? ›
Mohawk recommends a 6' x 9' to 7' x 10' rug underneath a twin sized bed, and a 7' x 10' to 8' x 10' for a full size. (Tip: Take a look at our area rug sizing guide to make sure you select the right size for your space and furniture in each room of your home.)
Should you put a rug in a nursery? ›
Pro: It can help protect your baby once he or she starts crawling around. On the other hand, rugs can actually enhance safety in some ways if you add them to nursery room decor. For instance, rugs provide an added cushion for your baby once you start taking him out of the crib to toddle or crawl around.
How big should a rug be in a kids room? ›
Mohawk recommends a 6' x 9' to 7' x 10' rug underneath a twin sized bed, and a 7' x 10' to 8' x 10' for a full size. (Tip: Take a look at our area rug sizing guide to make sure you select the right size for your space and furniture in each room of your home.)
How do you know if a rug is too small? ›
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Ideally you want a rug big enough to allow at least the front feet of the room's main furniture to sit on it, if not all the legs. If you put only the front legs on, the rug should extend several inches underneath. If you can't get all the front legs on, it's better to have no legs on than some legs on and some off.
How much of the room should an area rug take up? ›
Regardless of which room you're working with, you should leave the same amount of floor space on all sides of your rug. For example, the sofa should be centered on the rug. Give yourself anywhere from about eight to 24 inches of clearance on all sides.
