With an endless array of rug sizes, some of which differ from the other by a mere fraction of an inch, deciding on the size of rug for a particular room can be fraught with frustration.

Smaller rugs are versatile; they can be placed just about anywhere and there is no one size that is perfect. If you are planning on using small rugs, you do not have to fret as much about the size of the rug. Large area rugs, however, can look rather odd if they are too small and can overpower a room if they are too large.

Take a look at the room and think about how much area you wish to cover. If you have just spent a fortunate renovating hardwood floors, you may want to include a small-sized area rug just to add warmth and to break up the starkness of the hardwood. Do not go out and buy a rug that fits exactly from wall-to-wall. If you wanted to cover the entire room, you might as well have left the floors alone.

If you intend placing a large area rug in your living room, for example, you will want to make sure that all of the furniture that you are using on the rug is completely on the rug. You do not want to have your sofa half on and half off the rug. The rug should be large enough to cover the entire area. If you do not have a rug large enough to cover the furniture area, then it is best not to put the furniture on the rug at all. Instead, place the rug in the center and arrange the furniture around its periphery.

The same goes for rugs placed under the kitchen table. Do not put a rug under your kitchen table and then have your chairs half on and half off the rug. Not only will it be a pain in the neck moving the chairs over the rug all of the time, it will also look decidedly un-tasteful.

In stores, rugs are usually hung up so that potential customers can see their design. Unfortunately, most people cannot visualize how the rug will look in the room until they take them home. Is the rug too big? Is it too small? You may find a rug that you think looks just right for you, but when you get it home it overpowers the room.

In order to decide on rug size, the first thing you should do is measure the room. Many people do not even know the approximate dimensions of their rooms, never mind the exact size. Most people have never ever measured their rooms to find out.

Measure the area that you wish to cover with a tape measure. Which part of the floor you want to cover and how much you want to cover depends upon your personal preference. In a living room, most people cover that area that has the most traffic. If there is a coffee table, the rug could go under the coffee table and become the focal point of your room.

Measure the space that you wish to cover with a tape measure and bring those measurements to the store with you. Choose a rug that comes very close to these measurements. Chances are you may not find a rug that measures exactly what you are looking for, but that's ok; a slight variation in size can actually bring an exciting result.

Remember that there are no set rules when it comes to decorating your home with area rugs. Designers will however, advise you not to overpower a room with a rug that is much too big nor have a rug that is too small for the size of the room.

Taking the measurements of your room as well as the area of the floor space that you want covered are key to finding the right rug size for your room.