area rugs

Illustration: David Wyffels

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It All Adds Up to Great Design
Achieving a pleasing sense of proportion and scale in a room isn't all that complicated actually—if you have a tape measure. Many times, getting the numbers right is all it takes. Here are some common measurement guidelines that are sure to bring some aesthetic harmony to your house:

Area Rugs

The distance between an area rug and at least one wall should be between 12 and 18 inches so that flooring is visible. In oversized great rooms you can increase that distance between wall and rug or have it completely free floating in the center of the room if the space is big enough.

The front legs of your sofa and chairs should sit on an area rug—ideally the entire furniture grouping should be within the perimeter of an area rug.