Placement

A rug should gather a seating group into one. The most versatile arrangement places the front legs of each piece on the rug. In open-plan spaces, a larger rug with all legs on it can define a room within a room.

Align the rug with the main axis of the furniture group or the room. In a dining room, align it with the table and the light above. Where a rug meets a fireplace, keep a sensible distance from the hearth.

Let sideboards, cabinets and bookcases sit either fully on or fully off the rug. A rug that disappears halfway under a heavy piece looks uncertain and is hard to clean.

Use a rug pad on hard floors to stop slipping and to cushion the rug. Keep edges flat, especially in hallways and on routes people use at night.