Area rug under dining room table?

Question

We are having new hardwood floors put in our dining and living rooms.  Should we put an area rug under the dining room table?

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Personally area rugs give the room a warmer feeling.

Jeanette S · Answer

I like rugs...particularly under the table because people don't always pick up their chairs but scoot them back. Make sure you get one large enough to allow for the chairs to be sitting on the rug when they are being used. I bought mine too small, but then we don't use the dining room that much so it will do!

Shari · Answer

This is strictly a personal decision based on your decor and the look you like. As Janet said, area rugs over wood floors usually do create a more cozy/warmer feeling, plus if your dining room furniture is a wood tone, a rug will help give a visual break between the wood furniture and wood floors. A rug will also give you the opportunity to add color and pattern to the room, if you want. 
 Be aware that many people make the mistake of buying a rug that is too small for their dining room. The rug should be big enough that at least the front legs of the chair should still be on the rug when the chairs are pulled out, but preferably all 4 legs of the chair remain on the rug. 
 If you are concerned about spills if you put a rug under the table, you might want to seriously consider indoor/outdoor rugs. I have 5 inside my house and 4 outside on my large, covered front porch. They are very durable, usually much less expensive than regular rugs, and the color and design selection is excellent. Many of them are not extremely plush but I don't think a plush rug under a dining room table is a good idea anyway due to crumbs and potential spills. Probably the best part about indoor/outdoor rugs is they are very easy to care for. You can take them outside and hose them off with the water hose or pressure washer if they get dirty! 
 My favorite places to purchase indoor/outdoor rugs are Ballard Designs, Home Decorator's Collection, Overstock.com, and I'm attaching a picture of the indoor/outdoor rug I just bought from Kohls.com for my foyer (except I got the 4' x 6' size instead of round). It's more plush than my other indoor/outdoor rugs and just gorgeous in person--every bit as beautiful as a regular rug. I've only had it about a month but already I have received so many compliments on it. Normally, I would not have selected a plush rug with so much white for the foyer, where people are entering the house with dirty shoes but I knew that since it was an indoor/outdoor rug, it will be easy to take it outside and wash it off when it gets dirty! :)

Teresa Rickmond · Answer

this is a personal preference. i don`t have a rug under my table but i did use the approx. quarter size felt pads on my table and chairs. they work fine.

Quince_Cottage · Answer

We have kids, so we've always had a rug under our dining room table (to protect the floor from scrapes). We've been careful to pick one that is easily cleaned (either an indoor outdoor one that looks like jute/seagrass etc. or a wool Oriental). There will be spills and a fiber that doesn't do well with stain removal is a tragedy in the making :)

Marsha Heitner · Answer

The look of a rug under the table is nice but on the other hand the chairs are hard to move and things drop or get spilled. Personally I wouldn't get a rug but would use the felt pads under the legs of the chair to protect the floor.

Welcome to the Woods · Answer

I agree with Marsha completely! I would not put a rug under the dining room table. My kids are way too messy of eaters!

Z · Answer

We have hardwood flooring under our dining table with no area rug. I chose this for the same reasons Marsha stated. The first thing I did was put felt pads on every leg, including the tables to keep from damaging the floors. Food spills on hardwoods are much easier to clean than an area rug would be. 
 Though I love area rugs over hardwood in all other rooms in our home, to me an area rug under a dining table looks like an island with furniture sitting on it. I know not everyone feels that way, so I agree with those that said it's all about personal preference.
Edited to add a picture of the types of glides I use. They don't split narrow chair legs or bend when trying to put them on like the nail type ones do.

Leslie · Answer

Instead of putting a rug, you can put felt under your chairs and table. They actually sell some that have a sticky back side, but I cut mine wider and wrapped it around the leg with a clear hair tie, works great and doesn't fall off. Rug under the table would be messy, especially if you have kids, or like me, just clumsy ;)

Duv310660 · Answer

I would, but we don't spill food on the floor - that's what the table is for! ;-) Anyway, in the U.S. you can purchase lovely synthetic rugs online; low cost, vast array, free shipping, free returns. They wear well (I have a runner at my kitchen counter where I cook, wash dishes and serve canned food to 5 cats; the 'antique' herzig pattern takes all that daily abuse, including cat hair and vomit (I rescue, so my home must be clean). If you can park your car in the sun, you can wash, hose off and dry your rug no problem by throwing your rug on the top (NB I also have an 8 x 8 ft rug I treat this way - the synthetics are light, and I would not hesitate to try a larger one.) Try Wayfair or Direct Rugs.

Patti · Answer

Great comments! Personally I opt for totally bare floor under the table. Mainly because of daily maintenance. Whether or not you use the table for daily dining or just occasionally you need to VACUUM (at least) and that can be a pain ita. Then depending on the style of furniture (pedestal table, etc.) you need to move not only the chairs but also the TABLE in order to vacuum. IMO it's soo much easier without a rug because a swiffer, broom or BigWooly dust mop is all you need. Simple.

Also imo a rug under the dining set looks like it's stranded on an island. But thankfully we can each choose the look we want 🙏🏼

Ann|The Apple Street Cottage · Answer

This is a personal preference, but I did.

Mogie · Answer

This is a personal call but I like the ability to clean up easily and if you have creative eaters (kids) they can end up with more food on the floor then their plate.

Johnavallance82 · Answer

Will look more inviting, but will be awkward to vac around.

Area rug under dining room table?

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Area rug under dining room table?

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