How to Place a Rug Under a Bed

Co-authored by Garrison Hullinger and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: August 27, 2024 Fact Checked

If you’re looking for an easy way to decorate your bedroom, placing a rug under your bed is a great way to make the space feel homier. Rugs add extra dimension and a layer of comfort to your floors, but there are some size and placement rules to make a rug under the bed look its best. Keep reading to learn where to put an area rug under your bed and what sizes work best for your space.

Things You Should Know

Place your rug so all of your furniture is on top of it or so it covers ½–⅔ of the space under your bed.
Use a 6 ft × 9 ft (1.8 m × 2.7 m) rug for a twin or full bed, 8 ft × 10 ft (2.4 m × 3.0 m) for a queen, and 9 ft × 12 ft (2.7 m × 3.7 m) for a king.
Put the edge of the rug 2 ft (61 cm) from the end of your bed. Lift the bed’s legs as you unroll the rug so it lays flat.

Section 1 of 4:

What are the best layouts for a rug under your bed?

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Put your bed and nightstands completely on top of a large rug. If you want your rug to fill up most of the space in your bedroom, choose a rug you can center underneath your bed. Set all of the furniture legs on top of your rug to make your room seem cohesive. Try to leave at least 10 inches (25 cm) from the edge of the rug and the room’s trim.^{[1]
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- This layout works best when you have a large bedroom so there’s still space between the walls and the edges of your rug.
- If you have a bench at the end of your bed, make sure the rug extends 10 inches (25 cm) past it so you have comfortable walking space.
Turn your rug so the long edge is parallel to the foot of your bed. Only 2 of your bed’s legs will sit on top of the rug. Leave a gap between your nightstands and the rug, but make sure the rug comes up far enough that you can step onto it easily when you get out of bed.^{[2]
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Set the rug under the bottom third of the bed. Keep the long edge of the rug parallel to the foot of your bed. Slide the rug under the legs so it only covers the floor under the bottom third of your bed. Let the edges of the rug come out on the sides and end of your bed.^{[3]
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- Only covering a portion of the floor space under the bed lets you use a smaller and more affordable rug to decorate your bedroom.
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Place runner rugs along the sides of the bed. If you aren’t able to splurge on a large area rug, surround the sides of the bed with 3 ft × 5 ft (0.91 m × 1.52 m) runners. Since runners are smaller and more affordable, they work well with any bed size and make a great solution when you’re on a budget.^{[4]
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- You can set your nightstands on top of the runners or leave a few inches between them and the edges of the rugs.
- You can also put a runner at the end of your bed to make it more comfortable.

Section 2 of 4:

What size rug should I use under a bed?

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Twin or full bed: 6 ft × 9 ft (1.8 m × 2.7 m) rug Since twin and full beds are smaller, you can get by using a smaller area rug. Using a rug that’s much larger could overwhelm the space and make your room feel smaller than it actually is.^{[5]
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- If you have 2 twin beds in a room, then set both of them on top of a 9 ft × 12 ft (2.7 m × 3.7 m) rug.
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Queen bed: 8 ft × 10 ft (2.4 m × 3.0 m) rug Avoid using a rug that’s any smaller underneath a queen bed since the bed will look too big in comparison. You can easily position an 8 ft × 10 ft (2.4 m × 3.0 m) under all the furniture in your bedroom, or use it to cover the bottom half of the bed.^{[6]
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- If you have the budget, opt for a rug that’s larger when you have a queen bed to help fill your space.
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King bed: 9 ft × 12 ft (2.7 m × 3.7 m) rug If you position the long edges of the rug and bed parallel, the area rug has enough space to fit your bed, nightstands, and a bench on top. Otherwise, you can turn the rug horizontally to position it under the bottom half or two-thirds of the bed.^{[7]
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- You may be able to use an 8 ft × 10 ft (2.4 m × 3.0 m) rug if you only want the bottom half of your bed on it.

Section 3 of 4:

Rolling Out a Rug under a Bed

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Position the edge of the rug 2 ft (61 cm) from the end of your bed. Keep your rug rolled up so it’s easier to move around and position. Take the loose edge of the rug and line it up so it’s at least 2 feet (61 cm) from the mattress so you have some cushion on the floor around your bed.>
- Don’t forget to clean under your bed before you put the rug down.
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Lift the bed frame legs to unroll the rug underneath your bed. Have a friend help you pick up the end of your bed so the rolled rug fits under the legs. Hold the edge of the rug in place and slowly unroll the rug. Once you unroll it past the legs, set your bed down to hold your rug in place.^{[8]
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- Take the mattress off of your bed frame if it’s too heavy to lift.
Push the carpet underneath your bed until it’s completely unrolled. If you’re putting all of your furniture on the rug, lift up the top 2 bed frame legs and nightstands as you finish unrolling so the rug lays flat underneath your bed.^{[9]
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Section 4 of 4:

Can you layer rugs under your bed?

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Yes, a layered rug can add extra dimension to your space. When you layer rugs, try to play with different styles and textures to make your room pop. Try using something like natural fiber underneath a fluffy fur rug to make an accented border, or a patterned rug on top of one with a solid color to make your space look more interesting.
- You can put area rugs in a carpeted room to give your bedroom a little more dimension too.