How much cozy is too much cozy? Well, we don’t know the answer to that one, but we sure do know ways to make your bedroom cozier—add area rugs! And what’s the best place for adding an area rug to your bedroom? Around your bed, of course! Who doesn’t like stepping on a warm, soft rug on cold mornings?
However, if you’re looking for a rug to put under a king-size bed, it can be quite tricky to find the right fit. King-size beds are already huge and take up a large chunk of space. So, you need to find the right rug size for a king bed that adds to the sophistication without making your room feel overcrowded. Also, you need to do this in one shot if you don’t want to spend a bunch of money and hassle on returning a large rug.
6 Things to Consider to Choose the Right Rug Size for a King Bed
Before choosing the right rug size for a king bed, you need to bring out your tape measure and take some measurements. Why? Because you need to figure out your bed’s exact size (yes, king beds come in more than one size), the dimension of your room, the space between your rug’s edges and the walls and more. Here are some things our experts recommend you to consider -
1. Size of your bed
King-size beds generally measure 70 inches wide and 80 inches long or approximately 193 cm by 203 cm. But there are other non-standard king-size beds, such as California king-size beds, which are narrower and longer than the standard size at 72 inches wide (approximately 182 cm) and 84 inches (approximately 213 cm) long. You might also have custom king-size beds with slightly different dimensions that you need a measurement of before deciding on rug size for a king bed.
2. Dimension and layout of your room
For a king-sized bed, it’s ideal to have a room that measures at least 10′ x 12′ (304 x 365 cm). However, many prefer large beds in more spacious areas, around 13′ x 13′ (396 x 396 cm) or larger. Typically, positioning the king bed centered against one wall maximizes space utilization. But in unusual layouts, a side of the bed can be placed against a wall.
3. How will you frame the bed?
Now, you have many different options for how you want to frame the bed. For example, putting only the footboard on the rug, or the lower two-thirds on the rug, or even enveloping the bed, bedside tables, and the bench completely with the rug. The ideal rug size depends on how you frame the king bed. We will go into more detail on positioning rugs under a king bed later in this article.
4. How much do you want the rug to extend?
The general recommendation is the rug should extend 18 to 24 inches (45 to 61 cm) beyond the sides of a king-size bed. This creates a better flow and doesn’t make the bed look out of place. However you frame the bed, take your tape measure and add this extra space around the bed to help you find the right rug size.
5. Position and dimension of the bedside tables
According to flooring expert Megan Hersch, a rule of thumb is that the rug width must be at least as wide as the distance from edge to edge of the bedside tables on either side of the bed—especially if you have a large bedroom. If you want to place the bedside tables under the table, then the distance between the bedside tables will come in handy to find the right rug size for a king bed.
6. Exposed floorspace
This is crucial as leaving too narrow of floor space between the rug and walls can make your room feel cramped and simply the opposite of cozy. Interior experts recommend having at least 18 inches of bare floor space exposed by the edges of the rug. This is especially important for smaller rooms. You can also get away with 10 inches (25 cm) of floor space, but you might need to strategically place each piece of furniture to make it work.
How to Choose the Right Rug Size for a King Bed
Now that you have taken all the measurements and retired your tape measure, it’s time to choose the right rug size for a king bed. All our measurements conclude that the minimum rug size you can place under a king-size bed measures eight feet (243 cm) in length and 10 feet (305 cm) in width. But smaller rugs also have a place close to a king bed if you put your creative interior skills to play. Here are our five favorite rug sizes for a king bed -
1. 8×10 Rug: The minimum rug size you can use under a king bed
A picture of an 8x10 rug
An 8-foot by 10-foot (243 cm by 305 cm) is the best rug size if you have a small or medium size bedroom. But placing it under the bed is even more interesting as you have different choices. One option is to place the rug along its width and cover the entire bed. You can even place the nightstands on the bed if they are slim enough. Although we’re not a fan of this orientation, it can still work as the rug serves as a slim border for the large bed in this case.
A picture of an 8x10 rug with perpendicular placement
The second option is a perpendicular placement where the rug goes under the bottom two-thirds of the bedframe. The nightstand and the headboard stay off the rug. Framing an 8-foot by 10-foot this way elongates the bed. However, make sure to adhere to the exposed floorspace rule in whichever way you choose to place the rug.
2. 9′ x 12′ Rug: The best rug size to use under a king bed
A picture of a 9x12 rug
A 9-foot by 12-foot (274 cm by 365 cm) rug fits a king-size bed, nightstands, and even a bench at the foot of the bed. Although this is considered the best rug size to use under a king bed, you still need to take a few things into consideration before clicking on that “order now” button. Your room should be at least 11′ x 14′ (225 x 427 cm) to fit this rug without looking cluttered. You also need to make sure to leave enough space between adjacent furniture to make a rug of this size work.
3. 10′ x 14′ Rug: Best for rooms 13’x13′ or larger
A picture of a 10x14 rug
You can already imagine how big a 10-foot by 14-foot (305 cm by 427 cm) rug is. It covers your king-size bed, nightstands, and bench with room to spare! There is no doubt that everything in your bed area will fit onto this rug. You only need to be careful whether you have the space to fit it. This is why we recommend this rug size only in bedrooms that are 13’x13′ or larger.
4. 12′ x 15′ Rug: Best for California king beds
A picture of a 12x15 rug
If you have a California king bed and a room large enough to fit it, you can go for something as grand as a 12-foot by 15-foot (427 cm by 457 cm) area rug. This statement piece will easily become the center of attention in your bedroom, perfectly enveloping your California king bed, nightstands, and bench with plenty of rug space all around the bed.
5. 5×8 Rug or 6×9 Rug: Perfect for the end of the bed
A picture of a 5x8 or 6x9 rug
You might be surprised to see this rug size in this list, as we’ve already stated that the minimum rug size you can place under a king-size bed is 8’x10′. Well, it’s not wrong because we are not technically putting these smaller-sized rugs under the bed, but next to it.
Area rugs measuring 5-foot by 8-foot (152 cm by 243 cm) or 6-foot by 9-foot (183 cm by 274 cm) are perfect if you want to bring warmth and sophistication into the bedroom but don’t want to commit to putting something under a heavy bed, which isn’t an easy job per se. You can still rip the benefit of area rugs by using smaller rugs at the end of the bed or on either side of your king bed.
The Best Rug Size to Use Under a King Bed: The Verdict
The best rug size to use under a king bed—drumroll, please—9-foot by 12-foot! Now, how did we come to this conclusion? Well, first of all, this rug is large enough to fit your giant king bed, your nightstands, and even the bench (if you have any). Secondly, although this rug is quite large, it doesn’t require a huge room to fit in. A medium to large bedroom should fit a rug of this dimension comfortably.
How to Style a Rug with a King Bed
Choosing the right rug size is crucial, no doubt about that. But styling it correctly with a king bed makes or breaks everything. Here are some of our favorite ways to style a rug with a king bed -
Use runners on both sides of the bed
A picture of runners on both sides of the bed
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of putting a full-size rug under a king bed but still want to enjoy the warm, plush rug under your feet, opt for two 8-foot runners on each side of the bed. Leave two inches of floor space between the side of the rug and the bed so it doesn’t look like one big rug running all the way. However, since the rug is not anchored to anything, use a rug pad or double-sided tape to secure it.
Follow the two-thirds rule
A picture illustrating the two-thirds rule
The “Two Third Rule” suggests that when selecting a smaller area rug, consider positioning it beneath the lower two-thirds of your bed. Doing so will center your room around the sleeping space, creating a balanced and visually pleasing effect.
Layering your rug over the carpet floor
A picture of a layered rug over a carpet floor
If you have carpet floors, those huge rugs that cover your entire sleeping area might not be the way to go. Rather, opt for something smaller, around 5×8 or 6×9 and layer it under the footboard lengthwise. Place only a couple of inches under the bed. This allows most of the rug to pop out and add chicness to your space. Try to go for brighter colors, patterns, or high piles to create a clear distinction between the carpet and the area rug.
Placing rugs if your bed is against a wall
A picture illustrating rug placement if the bed is against a wall
Although having a king bed against a wall is unusual, your room layout might dictate so. Whichever the case is, you can still enjoy all the goodness of an area rug in your bedroom. Bring a 5-foot by 8-foot rug and tuck in two inches of it lengthwise under the open side of the bed. It makes your room feel bigger while leaving plenty of rug space to enjoy the softness underfoot.
Looking for the right rug size for a queen bed? Click here to learn how to choose the perfect rug size for a queen bed.
