How to Style Large Rugs For Expansive, Comforting Spaces
Extra large wool rugs are perfect for expansive spaces — but if you go too large, you risk an overwhelming, cluttered result.
Our rug experts offer their guidance on how to perfectly strike that visual balance to elevate your space with extra large rugs.
There’s an art and science to styling large rugs; it requires careful consideration of the measurements of the space, the layout of furniture, and the feelings you want to evoke.
Common sizes for extra large wool rugs
The perfect rug size is largely subjective, but it’s worth considering standard rug size guidelines to get a sense of balance and proportion.
These are the general standard extra-large rug sizes by room type:
- Living and dining room large rugs: 300 x 400 cm
- Bedroom large rugs: 244 cm x 305 cm or 274 cm x 366 cm
- Hallway large rugs: 100 cm x 426 cm long
Remember that there are no hard and fast rules.
Extra large rugs are perfect for expansive spaces, offering bold visual impact with more space to play and enjoy warmth underfoot.
For example, our Galet rug was customised to fit the living space of this gorgeous Shore House by @archibuildnz perfectly.
With Bremworth’s custom rug maker, you can tailor your large wool rug to fit your space perfectly. Our online tool offers custom rugs up to 3.66 m wide and 6 m long in a beautiful selection of styles, colours, shapes, and edgings.
But you’re not limited to these size guidelines, either. If you’re planning an even larger wool rug, just reach out to our team. We can work together to create a beautiful bespoke rug that exceeds our standard dimensions — one that’s truly tailored to your space, vision, and needs.
How to style extra large rugs to elevate your space
Match the extra large rug to your hardwood flooring
Choose an extra large area rug that exists harmoniously with your hardwood floors. Begin by identifying whether your flooring has a warm or cool base, and then choose a large rug that complements this tone.
Our Charmeuse rug in the shade ‘Clay’ blends seamlessly with the warm tones of the timber flooring.
Opt for a striking contrast or a subtle, neutral colour that perfectly aligns with the natural tones of your hardwood. Here’s some inspiration to get started:
- Rug Ideas For Warm, Dark-Coloured Hardwood Floors
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- Rug Ideas For Cool, Light-Coloured Hardwood Floors
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Think carefully about the perfect rug fit
Rug sizing influences how your rug interacts with the space, the atmosphere it creates, and the feeling underfoot. It’s important to measure your space and consider the rug’s placement before deciding on size or style.
Size and placement affect the style of your extra-large rug. For example, if you want your rug to accommodate all your living room furniture, it must be big enough to allow at least 20 cm of space beyond each piece.
Our rug size and shape guide is an excellent resource for getting the rug measurement and placement right.
Extra large rugs are especially practical in bedrooms. The rug needs to be large enough to fit under the bed and provide walking space to ensure you have a soft, warm landing when you get up in the morning.
If you want to show off your flooring and wool rug together, keep your nightstands off the rug — about 10 cm away from the edge. The Glenburn rug in the colour Stone pairs perfectly with a darker-toned wood grain or tile:
Featured: Glenburn – Stone
Or, consider opting for an even larger rug that can accommodate all of your bedroom furniture — highlighting the wool as a luxury architectural surface in your home.
Product Consultant Lily Ng recommends either having your night stands 10cm away from the edge of your rug, or getting an extra large rug and ensuring all furniture is placed on it.
Consider function as well as form
Wool is a high-performance fibre that can add exceptional warmth to a space and underfoot. It’s a naturally resilient material made to endure, perfect for families with small children and pets.
For high-traffic areas of the home, extra-large wool rugs bounce back under your footsteps. They’re naturally stain resistant, meaning less time spent cleaning.
Consider the rug type and pile when selecting your extra large rug. At Bremworth, we offer cut pile, chunky cut pile, loop pile, and chunky loop pile.
| Cut Pile | Chunky cut pile | Loop pile | Chunky loop pile |
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| Carpet with the top of its loops cut | Cut pile but with less twist | Short, densely packed looped fibres | Thicker loop pile |
Check out our guide on types of wool rugs to learn more about each pile type.
When extra large rugs aren’t the right choice
Avoid extra-large rugs in small rooms, as they risk giving the room a suffocating feel and distracting the eye from other important elements.
The key to styling extra-large wool rugs is finding the delicate balance between the room’s size and the ideal rug size and shape.
Why extra large wool rugs are the perfect architectural surface
Extra large rugs are large statement pieces that add dimension and create a harmonious feel to your space.
Wool rugs in particular are a long-lasting investment that you and your family can enjoy for many years to come.
Luxurious and practical, we always come back to these amazing benefits of wool flooring:
- Highly durable: Wool holds up and bounces back from footsteps, paw prints, and stains and messes that come with the everyday bustle of life.
- Perfect for health-conscious families: NZ wool is naturally hypoallergenic, which makes it a good choice if you or someone in your family has sensitive skin or allergies.
- Effective insulation: Wool acts as an insulator for both sound and heat, creating a warm, peaceful environment where you can comfortably enjoy time spent with friends or playing on the floor with your children and pets.
- Natural and sustainable: Bremworth uses 100% NZ wool and is compostable. You can enjoy your rug for many years, then return it to the earth after it’s served its purpose.
How to correctly measure an extra-large rug for the perfect fit
Start by measuring the length and width of the room or area where you’ll place your rug.
Don’t forget to take into account space between the rug and the wall — we generally recommend 20 cm of space between.
Then, consider your preferred placement of the rug. We recommend two approaches:
- The anchored approach: Place all your furniture on the extra large rug with at least 20 cm beyond each piece to give your space a feeling of connection and unity, like our Te Aroha rug shown below:
Featured: Te Aroha – Brass
Discover more advice on how to size your rug for the perfect fit in our placement guide.
Styling extra-large rugs: your questions answered
Our designers share their insights into the most frequently asked questions about styling extra-large rugs.
What is the biggest size rug you can get?
The biggest rug size we offer online at Bremworth is 6 m x 3.66 m. However, we’ve happily worked with many homeowners, designers, and corporate businesses to create beautiful bespoke rugs that exceed our standard dimensions; email us to place an order for an extra large bespoke rug.
Here’s a stunning example of a custom extra large Galet Indigo rug featured in a breathtaking New Plymouth house project by Evelyn McNamara Architecture and featured on The Local Project.
Can a rug be too big for a room?
Yes, rugs can be large for some rooms. The result is a cluttered and busy look that doesn’t do your space justice. When selecting rug size, it’s always important to consider your room’s layout and furniture placement to ensure the rug doesn’t overwhelm the space by being too large.
This guide to placing a rug in your home explains how to achieve the perfect balance.
Is a bigger rug better for the living room?
Extra large rugs are beautiful and practical in living rooms. However, it’s important to get the sizing just right for a harmonious and well-proportioned space. Avoid extremes — a rug that’s too large may create a cluttered atmosphere, but a rug that’s not quite large enough could lend to a disjointed feeling throughout the room.
For living room rug inspiration, explore these five stunning rug ideas.
Should your rug be bigger than your sofa?
Your rug should be bigger than your sofa to ensure a balanced look. Aim for a rug that’s large enough to contain all of the legs of the sofa and other living room seating. Or, you can opt for a half-on half-off placement with just two legs of the sofa on the rug.
Refer to our living room rug placement guide for more detailed instructions.
How do you clean an extra-large rug?
The cleaning and maintenance process for an extra-large wool rug is the same as for standard-sized rugs - dry vacuum at least once a week and clean spills and dirt off using just water and paper towels.
There are specific cleaning instructions based on the style of the wool rug (cut pile or loop pile), so refer to this detailed guide to wool rug cleaning and maintenance for more instructions and quick video tutorials.
Transform your space with an extra large wool rug
Natural wool is a miracle fibre that adds a feeling of luxury while maintaining its shape and beauty in the most inhabited areas of your home. All the reason to consider an extra large wool rug to transform your space into the cosy sanctuary that you deserve.
Explore more Bremworth rugs or book a consultation to customise your own extra large wool rug.
