Bedroom Rug Placement: Under the Bed, Around the Bed, or Custom?
How big a bedroom rug should be and where it goes, with measurements for full, queen and king beds, runner layouts, and when a custom size helps.
For a queen bed, an 8 x 10 rug turned so the 10 foot side runs across the bed is the size we specify most. It leaves roughly 30 inches of rug on each side of a 60 inch wide mattress, so your feet land on something soft when you get up. For a king, a 9 x 12 placed the same way gives about 34 inches on each side.
Those numbers come from one working rule: the rug should extend at least 18 to 24 inches past the sides of the bed. More is fine if the room allows it.
Where the rug starts and stops
Most bedroom rugs sit under the lower two thirds of the bed. The headboard end and the nightstands stay on the bare floor, and the rug begins a few inches in front of the nightstands. This keeps the tables level and saves you paying for rug you would never see.
At the foot of the bed, aim for at least 18 inches of rug beyond the mattress. If there is a bench, either all four of its legs sit on the rug or the bench sits fully off it. Two legs on and two off makes it rock, and it looks like a mistake.
Leave a band of floor between the rug and the walls. In most bedrooms, 12 to 18 inches feels right. With less than that, the rug starts to read as wall-to-wall carpet that did not quite fit.
Quick sizes by bed
- Full, about 54 inches wide: a 6 x 9 with the 9 foot side across the bed gives about 27 inches on each side.
- Queen, about 60 inches wide: an 8 x 10 is the comfortable choice. A 6 x 9 works in a tight room and gives 24 inches on each side.
- King, about 76 inches wide: a 9 x 12, or a custom size if the room is generous.
Measure your own bed before ordering. Upholstered frames and wide side rails can add several inches to the width, and that comes straight out of the rug you see.
Runners and other layouts
One large rug is the usual answer, though not the only one. In a narrow room, or where the bed sits against a window wall, a runner along each side can work better. We usually make these 30 to 36 inches wide and long enough to reach from the nightstand to just past the foot of the bed. A third piece across the foot is possible, though three rugs around one bed can start to look busy.
Some rooms have a reading chair or a dressing area that a standard rectangle does not reach. That is where a custom size earns its cost. You can draw the exact footprint in the MAJLIS Studio, including rounded corners or an oval, and see the price as you go.
Pile and color for a bedroom
A bedroom is the one room where we often suggest a deeper pile. Shoes are rarely on it, traffic is light and the first step of the morning is barefoot. Our standard pile is 14 mm (0.55 in), and custom heights go up to 70 mm. A modest step up feels noticeably softer without making the bed look like it is floating on a shag.
For color, softer tones suit a room that is used mostly at night. Periwinkle and Horizon from our Air family are gentle without going pale. Moss and Oud read deeper and warmer, which suits dark walls and wood furniture. If you lean toward a neutral, Oyster and Cashmere sit easily with linen bedding. Look at samples by lamplight, since that is how you will see the rug most evenings.
Tape it out before you order
Mark the rug outline on the floor with painter's tape and leave it for a day or two. Walk around the bed, open the closet, pull out the nightstand drawers and check where your feet land in the morning. Small adjustments are easy at this stage and impossible after the rug is woven.
Our rug size guide covers the other rooms in the house. If you would like a second pair of eyes on a floor plan, send it to us and we will suggest a size.
