Rectangular Rugs

Rectangular rugs: the shape that suits almost any room

Most living spaces are rectangular, and that is precisely why a rectangular rug is the obvious choice. It follows the lines of walls and furniture, uses the floor area without waste and makes a room feel calm and ordered. Where a round shape deliberately sets a counterpoint, the rectangular shape works with the existing geometry rather than against it.

For planning a room, that brings two practical advantages. First, a rectangular rug can be matched exactly to a seating area, a bed or a dining table. Second, there is scarcely a rug size that does not exist in this shape, from small formats to large pieces for open-plan living areas. On this page you will find rectangular rugs from both sides of our range: hand-knotted one-off pieces and modern designs.

Finding the right size

Size determines the effect more than colour or pattern does. A model that is too small leaves a room looking unfinished, while a generously chosen rug draws the furniture together into a single unit. These rules of thumb have proved themselves:

• In the living room, at least the front feet of sofas and armchairs should stand on the rug. If the whole seating group sits on it, the area feels more self-contained still.
• At the dining table, add roughly 60 to 70 centimetres to the tabletop on each side, so that the chairs stay on the rug when they are pushed back.
• In the bedroom, the rug should extend well beyond the bed at the sides and the foot end, so that you step onto wool when you get up.
• Always measure the free floor area rather than the whole room, and allow for doors that swing open and for radiators.

As a guide to placement: a surrounding gap of about 30 to 50 centimetres to the wall makes a room feel larger than a rug that runs right up to the skirting board. If no standard size suits your floor plan, many models can be made to your own measurements.

Rectangular rugs room by room

Living room: here the rug carries the whole arrangement of furniture. A large rectangular format beneath the seating area creates a clear zone and dampens sound at the same time.

Bedroom: a rug around the bed gives warmth and comfort underfoot. High pile is a good choice here, because the room sees little traffic.

Dining room: low pile is the more practical decision, because chairs glide more easily and crumbs are simple to vacuum up.

Hallway: for long, narrow floor plans a runner suits better than a wide format.

Children's room: a rectangular rug marks out the play area and gives the room structure. Wool is an advantage here, because it repels dirt naturally.

Bathroom: in damp rooms, small washable formats make more sense than large pieces.

Oriental or modern

Rectangular is the classic shape in the art of rug knotting. Almost every traditional pattern, from medallion to border, was designed for this format. Our rectangular Oriental rugs are hand-knotted individual pieces, each with its own drawing and its own play of colour. They work particularly strongly in front of plain furnishings, because there the decoration competes with no other ornament.

If you prefer clear surfaces, the rectangular modern rugs offer a calm look, discreet textures and graphic designs. Our Oriental rugs and modern rugs give an overview of both directions. In terms of colour, the choice in both worlds runs from beige and grey through blue and green to red, pink, anthracite and black.

Other shapes compared

Not every floor plan calls for a rectangle. Runners suit hallways and kitchens, where length matters more than width. Round rugs take the hardness out of a strictly laid-out room and work well beneath round tables or in reading corners. Square rugs are the right choice for roughly square floor plans and compact seating areas. An oval shape, in turn, brings soft lines into a room where many edges already meet.

Materials, pile and care

Most of our rectangular rugs are made of wool. It is hard-wearing, takes colour deeply and feels warm. For a silken sheen you will also find pieces with a silk content, and in hand-knotted rugs cotton forms the foundation. If you like the look of a natural fibre, the range includes flatwoven versions with a quiet texture.

With the pile, use decides. Low pile suits heavily used areas and is the easier choice to care for. High pile is softer and warmer and belongs in rooms where comfort comes first. Flatwoven rugs with a low overall height have the advantage over underfloor heating, because the warmth passes through more easily.

For care: vacuum regularly, lift stains immediately with clean water rather than rubbing, and turn the rug once a year so that it ages evenly. Professional rug cleaning is worth arranging every few years, depending on how hard the rug is worked.

Advice, made-to-measure and showroom

Morgenland Rugs is a family business in Hamburg's Speicherstadt. If you are unsure which size suits your home, we are glad to work it out with you in our rug consultation, including from photographs of your rooms. If no standard format fits, we can tell you about made-to-measure rugs. Size and effect are best judged in person: in our showroom you can lay formats side by side and see the difference straight away.

Common questions about rectangular rugs

Which rug makes a room look larger?

A large-format rug in a light, quiet shade with a gap all round to the wall. Several small individual pieces divide up the floor and make a room feel tighter.

How large should the rug in front of the sofa be?

It should be at least as wide as the sofa and extend a little beyond it at the sides. The front feet of the furniture belong on the rug, otherwise the seating area looks disconnected.

Which rug suits which floor?

On dark wood, light rugs work as a contrast; on pale parquet, muted shades and patterns come into their own. What matters most is the contrast with the floor, so that the shape stays legible.

Are rectangular rugs available in custom sizes?

Yes, many models can be made to measure. Tell us the length and width of your floor area and we will check what is possible.