antique rugs for the dining room

A rug under the dining table brings warmth and elegance to the room, and it protects the floor too. In the dining room, though, size and durability matter more than in any other space, because the chairs are pulled in and out all the time. An antique rug, of dense wool and a worked design, solves both: it stands up well to use and hides crumbs and the small marks of daily life. Here is what to look at to get it right.

The right size (the rule that matters most)

The maths is simple and never fails: the rug has to be large enough that the chairs stay on it even when pulled back. In practice, that means leaving 60 to 75 cm of rug beyond the edge of the table, on every side. If the chairs “fall off” the rug when you sit, it is too small, and using it turns into a nuisance. When in doubt between two sizes, take the larger. This is exactly why, for the dining room, antique Persians are the right choice: they were woven in large, room-sized formats that hold the table and the chairs with room to spare. We set out the measurements by room in tips for placing and choosing the right rug size.

The shape follows the table

A rectangular table calls for a rectangular rug; a round table pairs with a round rug or, if you prefer, a generous square. The idea is for the table to sit centred on the piece, with the medallion (when there is one) showing in a balanced way around the table legs.

Colour and pattern working for you

Here antique rugs play in your favour. Pieces with a dense design and deep colour, like the floral Persians, hide a crumb or a splash better than a pale, plain rug. The natural-dye tones talk to wooden tables and light tableware, from the classic to the more modern. Red and blue grounds give presence; ivory and beige lighten the room.

Pieces that work well in the dining room

It is worth looking at the Persian rugs, which hold the room-sized pieces, and seeing how a rug changes a space in how antique rugs can transform your space. If you are also putting together the living room, we have a dedicated guide in antique rugs for the living room. To see everything with sizes and prices, the catalogue is always up to date.

Talk to us

Send the measurements of your table and the space on WhatsApp, and we will point out the sizes that fit and help you choose the design, calmly and with no obligation.

Talk to a specialist on WhatsApp