35 Dining Room Rug Ideas to Elevate Your Space

If you're in the process of decorating your dining room, keep in mind that a rug is an excellent way to make your dining space feel more comfortable and complete.

But if you're struggling to land on the perfect area rug or aren't sure which styles or colors would be right for your space, you're going to want to take a look at the 20 inspiring dining rooms below.

Whether you're a color lover, prefer neutrals, or are somewhere in between, you won't want to miss out on these well-designed spaces that prove rugs in the dining room are a total must.

Style a Modern Knit Rug

A thick knit rug like this one keeps a space feeling welcoming and cozy—and is always soft underfoot. In this space, it really pops against the dark wooden floors and makes the room look nice and serene.

Pick a Rug With a Bright Color Story

Today's dining rooms are fun-filled spaces. So why not say yes to color? In this bright and peppy dining room, a cheerful patterned rug is the perfect finishing touch and proves that the dining space doesn't need to be stuffy or serious.

Try a Checkered Print

In a farmhouse-inspired dining space, a checkered rug makes for an excellent accent. This one is warm, modern, and plenty big—definitely don't skimp on rug size in this space; you'll want your rug to take up most of the room.

Go With a Multicolored Rug

A multicolored rug like this one is full of energy, and it offers a bonus in that it'll help camouflage crumbs and stains without fail. It's important to be mindful of your family's lifestyle—and potential messes—when selecting a rug for a space like this one.

Choose a Large Abstract Rug

A swirly, blue and white rug is modern and playful. Once again, this rug is quite sizable and really makes a statement, even in this large dining space.

Try a Geometric Print

Go geo! A colorful geometric rug adds energy to this otherwise simple dining space. Just because you love neutral furniture doesn't mean you can't go bold when it comes to flooring.

Blend Blue and White

Here's another example of a contemporary blue and white rug; it complements the abstract art hanging on the wall wonderfully. Definitely keep artwork, window treatments, and other decorations of this kind top of mind and ensure they will play nicely with your rug choice.

Throw Down a Textured Rug

A textured rug looks right at home in this mid-century modern style dining room. Though this space lacks color, it still offers plenty of visual interest due to the various shapes and lines present.

Use a Classic Jute

Jute rugs are a classic option for any room in the home. If you're looking for a piece with a subtle twist, opt for a rug with a border. It will really make your rug stand out and look a bit grander.

Keep It Simple With A White Patterned Rug

A white patterned rug fits nicely into this dining room, which is airy and sunlit yet still appears calm and cozy.

Go for Some Stripes

Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns in your dining room. Here, busy wallpaper and a striped area rug look excellent together, despite being an unexpected pairing. Note that dining rooms no longer have to feature traditional china cabinets and tall wooden chairs. If you crave rattan, go for it!

Pair Blue and Yellow

Think about the entire room when choosing your rug. Here, a multicolor rug with yellow and blue tones ties back to this dining room's wall color as well as the light wooden furniture present.

Make It a Vintage Rug

Vintage (or vintage-inspired) rugs are having a major moment and look beautiful on their own or layered atop a larger jute. It's easy to source special vintage pieces from all over the globe by visiting websites such as eBay and Etsy, which are chock full of vendors offering beautiful rugs at unbeatable prices.

Be Playful With Gingham

Make your dining room a bit playful with a gingham rug like this one. It reminds us of an oversized picnic blanket—what's not to love?

Think Traditional

If your style leans more traditional, a rug like this one is an outstanding pick. The blue and red hues are classic and sophisticated.

Be Bold With a Coastal-Style Rug

In this coastal-inspired dining room, a large patterned rug with reds and whites really allows black chairs to pop. Just because a space is coastal in style doesn't mean it solely has to incorporate whites and blues; don't be afraid to go dark.

Take a Color Risk

Don't be shy about pairing blue and orange together; the two colors look lovely on this rug. Your dining room, just like any other room of your home, should reflect your personal style and personality; go ahead and think outside the box if you're so inclined.

Bring the Drama

If you love the look of knit rugs but prefer a piece that's darker in hue, why not say yes to something that's blue/gray? Here, a darker rug shines against wooden furniture and brings a bit of drama to the space.

Mix Styles

While we often see knit rugs like this one in coastal spaces, you can certainly go ahead and pair them with more traditional furniture, like these faux bamboo Chippendale chairs. Thoughtfully blending different design styles will always yield a one-of-a-kind space that makes a major first impression.

Say Hi to Faux Hide

If animal print is calling your name, a faux hide rug may be an excellent solution for your space. If you can't find one quite large enough for your dining room, you can always layer it over a bigger solid-colored rug.

We see many instances of faux hides placed over jute rugs, which is a great way to mix and match different textures within one space.

Choose a Striped, Neutral Rug

Neutrals don't have to be boring. As shown in this small dining space, a striped, neutral rug adds extra personality and texture to the room. The striped rug also contrasts the rattan chairs beautifully.

Round It Out

If you have a smaller dining room, a round rug and a round dining table go hand in hand. It keeps your dining room feeling open and not cramped. Adding chairs in a contrasting shade to the rug and dining table, as seen here, creates a bold contrast.

Style a Pink Rug and Green Curtains

This dining room fuses antique charm with farmhouse chic flawlessly. The warmth of the pink dining room rug matches the warmth of the chairs. Sage green floral curtains add even more texture. Plus, green is a complementary color to pink, making the textiles of the space come together perfectly without competing.

Go Organic With a Faux Hide Rug

This airy and neutral dining room design by Ashley Webb really comes together thanks to the large, faux hide rug. The organic shape of the dining room rug complements the organic shapes found throughout the rest of the dining room such as the curves of the chairs and the large statement vase.

Lighten Up With a White Rug

This bold and black dining room still feels bright and inviting thanks to the bright dining room white rug. Not only does this lighten up the space, but the rug also adds contrast.

Try Cool a Traditional, Neutral Rug

This bright white dining room is mid-century modern meets traditional. The cool-toned rug plays to the colors in the statement painting. Gold accents and greenery liven up the room, making the mostly-white interior feel fresh and inviting.

Tip

If you're nervous about the light rug, there are plenty of washable rugs available today that will make cleaning up any messes easy.

Pick a Vibrant Rug

This colorful dining room comes together flawlessly. The bright blue rug with touches of purple anchors the playful aesthetic of the whole space. The rattan chairs add extra texture without taking away fro the vibrancy of the dining room.

Go Big With a Blue Rug and Blue Accents

This large, bright blue rug acts as a focal point in this dining room. Complementary blue accents found throughout the space makes everything feel intentional and styled.

Pair Light Blue And Light Gray

This dining room is sleek and modern. The pops of light blue in the rug pair beautifully with the light gray chairs. A large green plant and soft white curtains add texture and liveliness to the room.

Use a Large Rectangle Rug

While some may think only circular rugs can be paired with a circular table, they need to think again. Here, a large square rug and a circular table work wonderfully. The contrasting shapes and the contrasting dark wood against the light-toned rug add tons of visual interest.

Style a Midcentury Modern Rug

Midcentury modern is having its moment, and this dining room styled by Mid Century Jo executes the look to perfection. The vintage-inspired rug in warm tones adds extra texture to the dining room.

Go All Out With a Bright Rug

This luxe dining room is striking thanks to the cobalt blue ceiling, walls, and floor. The pink swirls of the dining room rug complement the pink stripes in the curtains, creating even more cohesion beyond just the tidal wave of blue.

Style a Warm-Toned Rug

Here, yellow, orange, and red warm up this dining room. The vintage-style rug with pops of green and yellow add even more tropical elements to the room.

Style a Rug With Tassels

This beautiful striped rug with tassels adds wonderful texture and an earthy element to this open and airy dining room. The blue in the rug adds a pop of color to the neutral space.

Pick a Polka Dot Rug

Polka dots aren't just for kids. This simple black and white polka dot rug adds a pop of personality and whimsy to this bright white dining room.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of rugs do you put under the dining room table?

The best type of rugs to place under your dining room table would be low-pile rugs or flatweave rugs. This allows chairs to slide from the table easily.

What is the rule of thumb for a dining room rug?

Generally, a dining room rug should be large enough to accommodate the table and all the chairs when they are pulled out. This amounts to around 24-30 inches from the edge of the table.

Is it a good idea to put a rug under a dining table?

In addition to adding an extra personal touch to a dining room, placing a rug under a dining table can actually prevent scratches and damage on your floor.

Read Next: How to Choose a Dining Room Rug

Read the original article on The Spruce.