What Type of Rug Is Good Under a Dining Table?

The wrong rug can ruin the look of your dining room, while a rug that enhances the room's appearance makes it not only more attractive but also helps meld together the elements in the space. As perhaps the largest accessory or accent in the space -- and one that must endure heavy activity -- the rug under the dining table is almost as much a focus for diners as the table and chairs. Consider every aspect of the rug you choose so you can create the dining room you desire.


A stylish rug that has a smooth surface is an excellent choice for underneath a dining table. Of course, you'll also need the rug to extend far enough out that guests can easily move their chairs in and out.

Framing Your Table

Think of a dining room rug as a frame that prevents the table and chairs from looking like more than just a collection of legs. A wide area of rug -- at least 24 inches -- should extend all the way around the dining table when all your guests are seated with the chairs tucked in. This allows diners to comfortably move chairs and sit in them without their chair legs falling off the edge of the rug. A rectangular or oval rug of the proper size suits either a rectangular or oval table. Use a round, octagonal or square rug to complement a round or square table.

More Than a Feeling

The physical texture of a rug is particularly important under a dining table. Chair legs must glide smoothly over the rug without catching or snagging. Furniture and decorator showrooms often allow customers to check out rug samples for testing at home, or one of their decorators may make a house call and bring samples to you.

Most showrooms also allow customers to bring in one of their chairs. A heavy dining chair will be more difficult to drag through a shag or deep-pile rug than a lightweight chair. Flat-weave rugs that are tightly woven are suitable for all types of chairs, and dents are less likely to form from table legs.

A jute rug under dining table is a great choice if you have children or pets in the home, as it's soft, durable, and easy to clean.

Choose Cool Threads

Choose from a variety of fibers for your rug, based on your needs. Wool is durable and easy to spot-clean but should be dry-cleaned when the whole rug becomes soiled. Synthetic fibers in wall-to-wall carpet offer ease of cleaning spills from a dining room rug. Natural fibers such as sisal lend a casual look and may suit a small budget but won't last as long as other types. Silk rugs are usually too delicate for a dining room, but silk accents in a rug may withstand moderate use.

Dressed in Style

The style of your rug, including the pattern and color, should work with the style of your dining room furniture and adjoining spaces. Diners seated at the table should enjoy their meal instead of wonder why you placed a purple shag rug under your Early American maple dining set. Traditional patterns in a rug's weave will more likely complement the lines and wood tones of a traditional table and chairs.

Contemporary patterns and colors are typically better suited to streamlined styles. The flooring surrounding the rug should also work with it in tone and pattern. Use a simple border rug if the flooring pattern is heavily patterned.