area rug under dining table...

we have hard wood floors

i like the look of an area rug under a table, but i just feel like logistically it would be annoying.

how much bigger should it be so that its not annoying to pull and push your chair out?

also would it be more annoying to clean with kids?

area rug under dining table...

DH and I talked about this for years, but could never find something that suited us. Originally, he just wanted a rug under the table that was small enough that our chairs wouldn't touch it. I wanted something that would go under our chairs too. We couldn't agree. We put cloth sticky things on the bottom of all the chairs to prevent the floors from getting scratched. I'm glad we don't have a rug because the amount of food our toddler spills on the floor would have ruined it!

Re: area rug under dining table...

I have an area rug over hardwood floors in my dining room. However, I also have an eat in kitchen with a table and chairs, so my dining room is a "formal dining room" in the sense that we eat there when we have guests, but when it's just dh, DS (6), and me, we eat in the kitchen. So keeping it clean isn't as much of an issue. I did get a patterned rug in darker colors, though, because I didn't want something that would show every little spot.

The rug is large enough that the table, without leaves in it, and chairs are completely on the rug. When I extend the table with both leaves, one end of the table extends over the rug, onto the hardwood, so it's not centered. But when the table is not extended (and it's bit most of the time), it's centered on the rug and the chandelier is centered over the table.

Re: area rug under dining table...

http://www.bhg.com/blogs/centsational-style/2013/06/15/dining-room-rug-rules/

Re: area rug under dining table...

.....Make sure the rug is sufficiently big enough. While your table size and space limitations may actually dictate the size of the rug your dining room can accommodate, here are a few rules of thumb to remember when making your purchase:

Ideally, your dining room rug should be about four feet longer and wider than your table. You need 18 to 24 inches on each side so you and your guests can slide chairs out without worrying about falling off the edge of the rug. If your rug is too small, chairs can still scratch the floor, get tangled in the edge of the rug, and cause discomfort, embarrassment, and frustration when trying to slide the chair back in place.

To determine the size of rug you need, first measure your table. Then add 36 to 48 inches to each measurement. Be sure to include any extra table leaves in your figure because you want your new rug to accommodate the entire length of your table. In most cases, an 8×10 or 9×12 rug will fit your area and leave plenty of room for your chairs.

As you consider your options and the best measurements for your space, take into account any sideboards or china cabinets in the room. Your new rug should not extend beneath those dining room pieces.