Having a beautiful rug in your dining room isn't just aesthetically pleasing; it's also functional. Dining rooms are an important area of the home. However, they receive a lot of traffic and the occasional spill. 

It's important to choose rugs that can tie into the style of the room but are also practical. With so much going on in dining rooms, you'll need a rug that is easy to maintain and keep clean. A dining room rug will need to be durable and able to handle things like chairs being pushed out, spills, food droppings, pets, and kids.

If you're looking for a new dining room rug but don't know where to start your shopping search, we'll go over the basics. We'll explain the main factors you need to consider, including details about the room and your rug options so that you can choose the right rug for your home and lifestyle. 

Consider the Room

One of the first things you should consider before you start looking at rugs for the dining room is the room itself. You'll need to have an accurate idea of the size and style of your dining room. Plus, you'll need to think about how your lifestyle will affect the room. Will you be eating in here often? Do you have children or pets? Depending on the level of traffic your dining room receives, you may need to opt for an extremely durable rug option or dark colors. 

How Do You Measure for a Rug?

In addition to the traffic in the room, you'll also need to consider the overall size of the space and your table. If a rug is too big, it might overcrowd your space. But, if it's too small, then it may make pulling chairs out difficult or look awkward. 

The key to getting the right size rugs for a dining room is to allow enough space for the chairs to be pulled out. If your table is square or rectangular, then you can measure the perfect-sized rug by adding two feet to each side of the table. 

Consider Your Rug Options

As you start rug shopping, it's a good idea to understand what type of material and style of rug will best fit your needs. Spills and messes are practically synonymous with dining rooms, so you'll need a carpet material that resists stains and is easy to clean. Likewise, when you choose a color or pattern, you'll want to consider what can hide stains, furniture imprints, and discoloration well if your dining room is a high-traffic area.

Shop Area Rugs

Material

Some of the best rugs for dining rooms that get a lot of use include polypropylene and nylon. These materials are durable, stain-resistant, and washable, which makes them a great choice for high-traffic areas. This polypropylene rug is perfect for your space as it will provide the durability you need, as well as an elegant design you'd want in the dining room. This traditional rug is a blend of nylon and polypropylene and is perfect for dining rooms thanks to its durability and intricate pattern that hides messes well.

If you have a dining room that you don't use often, you'll want a rug that can handle the occasional spill, but you won't have to limit yourself to completely synthetic materials. Wool and cotton can be good choices for some area rugs for the dining room. Wool, though expensive, is naturally dirt and water-resistant. It's also a great balance of luxurious plushness and practicality, as wool rugs are easy to clean. This elegant blue patterned wool rug is a great choice for a dining room. Cotton is also easy to clean, making it a good choice for area rugs for dining rooms. However, they're not quite as durable as wool rugs for the dining room, so they are not the best for high-traffic areas. 

Pile Length

When you consider the pile length of a rug, you're basically looking at how easy the rug will be to clean and maintain. Low-pile or flat-weave rugs are generally the best for high-traffic areas and places where you'll be eating and drinking. For dining rooms, having a high-pile rug, like a shag carpet, will be a pain to extract food or stains from, as they tend to trap small pieces of food easily. Though high-pile may feel plush and soft, its high-maintenance and cleaning issues make this type of rug, not a good choice. 

Color/Patterns

Selecting colors and patterns may be the most fun part of rug shopping. You'll get to consider the overall style and aesthetics of your dining room and try to tie a new rug into that look. However, when considering colors and patterns, it can be a good idea to think about more than just style. Dark colors and intricate patterns tend to work best in dining rooms that get a lot of traffic. They're able to hide stains, marks, and debris better than light colors or solid patterns. This traditional rug provides an interesting design and dark color scheme.

However, if your dining room doesn't get a lot of traffic, you might want to mix it up a bit. You could try a light-colored rug with an intricate pattern, like this one.

As you start shopping for a dining room rug, ask yourself about your lifestyle and practical needs. You'll need to consider the functionality of the space and rug by estimating the correct sizing and how much you'll use the room. The best rugs for the dining room will be easy to clean and maintain while also tying together different style elements from around the room. If you're ready to start browsing different rug options, we have an assortment of various materials, colors, and design styles.