Rug dilemma in living room that’s a walk through to garden

last month

Hi, apologies if this question posts twice but my first attempt disappeared for some reason.

So, our living room is a walk through from front to back & directly into the garden. Room plan attached that shows the doors in and out.

I’ve always put a small 120 x 180 rug under a coffee table directly in front of the sofa just because I didn’t know what else to do really. It never looked great, just small. Plus it made the room appear divided either side of the walk through if you know what I mean. It looks even more divided now we’ve knocked through and have that extra room open plan off the living room & I don’t know how to join it all together.

I’ve laid some throws out on the floor and the lounge looks so much better and spacious with a large rug across the whole room. Only problem is, that means we’d be walking across the rug to & from outside and even if you take your shoes off constantly I assume it'd get dirty. We also have a dog.

So, any idea on how to make the room look as one and not like it has a runway through the middle? If the best bet is a large rug, has anyone else managed this and not had the rug get grubby where you walk across it in and out all the time?

Any help much appreciated…

Featured Answer

Sonia

last month

My living room is a through room to get to the kitchen and garden. I have two rugs which I alternate depending on my mood! However, I’ve had to take them up for now as OH has dementia now and is at risk of falling. The first rug is a beautiful persian rug in mostly reds and although it’s hand knotted wool, it’s very tough and easy to clean, so we always walk across it without a thought. The rug seller said persian rugs are used to camels and sand so are very tough! The other rug is cream and grey pattern, more a summer rug, from Dunelm which we also walk across without a thought and it’s fine. Polypropylene rugs are very tough and easy to clean and come in some fantastic patterns including faux oriental. Choose something with a pattern as a plain rug will show every mark. Both my rugs are very big so sofa feet sit on it on one side, but it doesn’t quite reach the fireplace or tv. I have doormats both at the front door and the back patio doors. When I had dogs, in the winter they would have their feet wiped with an old town before they came indoors. They expected it after a while! Here’s some old pictures of mine, sorry they’re not the best. Not saying get ones like mine but I hope they show how mine are big but don’t fill the whole room.

As far as tying the two rooms together, don’t be too obsessive about it, as long as the colours are complementary you should be fine. A nice colour on the walls in both areas would certainly tie it together.

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Comments (29)

minnie101
last month
Hi, you only need the front feet of the furniture to sit on the rug at minimum like the 1st image (plus a few inches either side). Most rugs are in standard sizes, not sure of the chimney breast measurement but would a 220x160 work? You wouldn’t really be walking on the rug if you have a coffee table on it. Or you could go larger and opt for a washable rug?

Unrelated but are they doors from the dining space as that (in my mind!) would be the obvious route to the garden for you and the dog?

Throws are a good idea to lay it out to the exact size. Personally I don’t like a rug that contrasts hugely with the floor as it always makes the room feel smaller or cuts it in half
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Rolly Polly thanked minnie101
Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
Hi minnie & thanks for the pics.

It’s just big picture windows at the rear of the dining area so no garden access that way.

We’re just about ok on the chimney breast side and that size rug woukd fit fine but it’s the other side of the sofa that is the issue, where the tv is and down across the knock through and towards the internal lounge door to the right of the sofa. I’d like the rug to go right across the room on that side too but then you’d have to walk across the rug to the patio doors. Is a rug across the walkway a no no?

I could mark out thenissue on my sketch if it helps…
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Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
Does this make more sense - the orange arrow is the walkway, the pink splodge to the left is where I usually put a rug and the green splodge to the right stays bare floor. I’d like to have a massive rug that spans pink and green but that means it’d get grubby being walked across all the time? So, how could I link both sides of the room ideally, floor wise?
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minnie101
last month
You’d only typically use a rug to zone an area like seating, dining etc so I personally wouldn’t have a rug covering where the green blob is.

What furniture is in the living/dining space? Are both rooms linked in other ways ie paint, lighting etc?
Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
Yes, it’s open plan so the oak floor runs throughout and atm the walls are all the same i.e. white. I may bring some colour in but it will very much be linked. The living/dining space has a dining table for four at the bottom and an oversized armchair for two up by the big window. It’ll be a place to relax and enjoy the view, listen to music or read but also informal dining. So, somehow I need to join the two rooms and space in general and I’m not sure how to do that with rugs etc?
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minnie101
last month
Ok, so i don’t like these rugs at all but can’t find a better pic! So you could choose rugs that complement each other as shown or even go for matching rugs. Lighting is another way to link so a pendant over the dining table with a complementary floor lamp next to the sofa. Complementary art would also work
Rolly Polly thanked minnie101
Isla Cherry
last month
If a large rug looks better and I can see that it would then just think about the colour carefully. Be prepared to vacuum more often and have a good doormat. I would remove shoes before coming inside to avoid tracking dirt onto the rug. You don't say how large your dog is but they don't usually bring as much dirt in as shoes. I would leave the walkway clear though. Removing your shoes is the biggest thing you can do to stop dirt being tracked inside.
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Rolly Polly thanked Isla Cherry
minnie101
last month
Just to add I have a nice lidded basket by my kitchen door which hides a towel to wipe our dog’s feet and keep flip flops etc in there too although our shoes are mainly for dry weather!
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Rolly Polly thanked minnie101
Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
Appreciate all the advice. The dog is small/medium but she likes to have a good rummage through the borders. Don’t they all!

So, this is what I would have liked to do with the rug, across the whole room but you can see the walk throughs…

However, would the best bet be this instead?
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Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
That does still leave quite a big expanse of empty wooden floor to the right of the turqoise line, separate from the rug/seating area. Probably more so now because we can see the floor comtinuing through into the dining area. Plus, the TV kind of feels like it’s on its own (across the walkway) by the sliding doors. It doesn’t really feel like one big room as that third to the right is separate almost.
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Sonia
last month
Here’s some nice rugs that may appeal to you. Rugs are tougher than you think and they can all be cleaned. I’m not sure of your rooms colour schemes though, so a guess. I wouldn’t try a jute rug as in my experience they are very difficult to clean and hoover. Stuff gets stuck in all the grooves! Sold mine in the end. Try Next, Dunelm and John Lewis for a good range of rugs.
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Rolly Polly thanked Sonia
Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
Thanks Sonia but sorry to hear about your OH. That must be tough.

Both of your own rugs are lovely, especially the sumptuous persian. I had heard they were hard wearing and the dirt won’t show so much. I had considered plain jute but the general consensus seems to be that it’s not practical for a high traffic area.

Where is that first rug from in your second post please? Gorgeous. Love the warm colours.
Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
If it helps, this is the (very much unfinished) living space. For some reason the aforementioned mutt has her bed in every shot! Anyway, can hopefully see the part that is the walkway to the garden (alongside the arm of the sofa)? It’s all white for now but might change. We just want to make it comfortable & down tools after a bruising year long build (supposed to be 3-4 months).

Maybe that helps show the issue with the rug and joining up the space? The room almost has two parts divided by a runway. Also, am not usually drawn to grey but that sofa was a lockdown buy with no choice of colour. My preference is warm colours ideally.
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Ann Jones
last month
Hi Rolly Polly, just a thought if you want something that’s not a standard size, you could buy a piece of carpet that you like from a shop and get them to bind the edges. It’s not exactly a rug but it works because you get the correct size for where you want. Good luck with your project. Annie
Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
Didn’t realise that was an option Annie, thanks for the heads up. In the lounge I generally favour flatweave though. Plus, I find it easier to clean as well as less likely to trip over too!
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minnie101
last month
Just in case @Sonia can’t find the rug here’s a link

I’ve included the manufacturer as it’s sold at various prices. FYI the medium appears out of stock everywhere

https://www.therugseller.co.uk/origins-teepee-rugs-in-multi/p-41-52229-82641-0
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minnie101
last month
Nice room :) I think I still prefer the smaller size although slightly different to the pink option. Mask it out on the floor in different coloured masking tape though as it’s what you like that’s important!

I would also pull the sofa forward 3 inches, hopefully the rug can then go under the front feet of the sofa and the door still open

Personally again i prefer it if the rug doesn’t include a fire or tv so it just zones the seating area

out of interest when you say runway, do you mean runway within the living space or between living and dining areas?
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Sonia
last month
Hi Rolly, all the rugs are from Next. Details of the one you like are below. It would go so nicely with your terracotta chair! Grey goes so well with almost everything so you could bring it all together with some cushions on the grey sofa. If you search for vintage rugs there tons out there. Nice thing about buying online from Next is that if you decide the rug is not for you, you can return it within 28 days no questions asked. There is also a wonderful Oriental carpet shop in Olney, Bucks with a fantastic range of rugs (not all red!) so worth a look if that’s anywhere near you.

Caring for someone with dementia is the hardest thing ever, but I try to keep chipper, see friends and family when I can. Houzz is a lovely escape for me too!
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Sonia
last month
I’ve just noticed lots of retailers sell this rug! The Rug Seller have it in their sale. Made of polyester so easy to clean.
minnie101
last month
I really feel for you Sonia, it must be so hard in every way, you have often mentioned your OH so I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Hopefully family and friends help too and it must be nice to have a bit of respite
Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
Minnie - the runway/walkway is mainly from the internal door next to the sofa through to the patio sliding doors straight ahead. It starts at the front door, up the hallway and then all the way to the back…in a line.

I would be very interested in your variation to my pink option as I need all the help I can get!

Also, with pulling the sofa forwards - I am planning on putting a small sideboard next to it on the left so what would I do with that? Have it 3 inches from the wall too or would that look weird? It’s going from the left arm of the sofa in to the corner. Thanks
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Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
Cheers to you both for linking the rug. Big hug for you Sonia.
Sonia
last month
Thank you for your kind words Minnie and Rolly 💜
tamp75
last month
We have an indoor- outdoor rug in our living space by our patio doors and it’s great. Our previous wool rug there got filthy. It’s not at all plasticky like lots of the outdoor rugs you can get. It has quite a short, tufted finish and you wouldn’t know it was suitable for outdoors.
Rolly Polly thanked tamp75
Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
Where did you get that from tamp75 - do you have a link?
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Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
Hi, I bought this round rug mainly to see what it looks like. I’d prefer a faded Turkish style rug tbh and, also, it still looks a bit small. However, if I go any wider it sticks out over the walk through I mentioned. Any thoughts on the style or round shape vs square and should it be bigger/smaller? Help please, there must be people out there with a good eye for this sort of thing as I am clueless!
Sonia
last month
It’s okay, but not as nice as the vintage rug from Next………..
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Rolly Polly
Original Author
last month
Agree Sonia, in fact the more I look at the photo the less I like it. Just had to check that a circular rug wasn’t the missing link! Back to the vintage style rug 👍🙏