Whether you're moving into a new apartment or a new house (congratulations!), you'll most likely be looking for a rug or two to put down in your new space. We know—rugs come in a dizzying array of styles, colors, materials, and sizes, making it difficult to determine which one will be the best fit for your space and lifestyle. So we're here to help with this handy guide that answers frequently asked questions about how to buy Moroccan rugs for your new home.

What Rooms Should I Start with Rugs?

It all depends on which spaces you'll be using the most during your first few months in your new home. Will you be entertaining anytime soon? Then, when guests arrive, prioritize the living and dining rooms and close the doors to any unfinished rooms. Do you have a baby who is just starting to walk? Rugs should be placed in their bedrooms and living areas where they will spend the most time.

Even if they aren't the right size or style, don't be afraid to use rugs you already own while you look for one you truly adore. And it's fine to have bare floors for a while while you figure out what you want. Outfitting a new home is costly, and it's normal to not have the entire house decorated when you move in.

I'm Getting New Furniture as Well as New Rugs. Is it Better to Buy One Before the Other?

There is no hard and fast rule for when you should buy what. If you're starting from scratch, we recommend purchasing a key piece—whether it's a rug, sofa, dining table, etc.—and then filling everything else in around it.

Which Rug Size is Best to Get?

Again, it depends on a variety of factors, including the size of the room, the type of room, and the furniture that will be present. We'll get into room-specific advice later, but for now, here are a few general guidelines to remember.

In general, the larger the rug, the better. Rugs that are too small can make your space appear smaller, especially if they are "floating" in the room without any furniture on them (or with just one piece of furniture on top, like a coffee table). We recommend purchasing a rug large enough to accommodate all or some of the legs of the surrounding furniture.

If you want to use a rug that is too small—perhaps you already own it, or it matches your decor perfectly—consider layering a larger rug underneath to extend coverage.

Are you unable to choose between two sizes? Break out the painter's tape and tape off the exact dimensions of the rug in your space. This will assist you in visualizing how the size will appear in your room.

A Rug Guide on Every Room

Entryway

The entryway sets the tone for the rest of your home, so make it feel warm and inviting. The rug should be wider than the door and fill as much of the space as possible to make the room appear larger and more welcoming. Choose long-lasting materials that can withstand heavy foot traffic, such as wool, polypropylene, and other synthetics, or jute and other natural fibers.

Dining Room

Choose a rug for the dining room that extends about two feet (or more) beyond each side of your table. This will provide enough space for diners to slide in and out of their chairs without getting caught on the floor. We recommend choosing a material that is easy to clean if food or drink is spilled, such as wool, synthetics, or even outdoor rugs.

Kitchen

A kitchen runner is something we adore! Most of our runners will fit in a standard kitchen galley, but if you need some help, we like our runners (or any size kitchen rug) to be about 6 inches away from walls or cabinets on each side. Stick to easy-to-clean materials, such as wool, synthetic, and outdoor rugs, just as you would in the dining room.

Living Rooms

Living rooms come in all shapes and sizes, so deciding on the right material and size rug can be difficult. Bigger is usually better in this case, and we recommend getting as large a rug as your space and budget allow. We recommend leaving one to two feet between the edge of your rug and the walls for full-room rugs.

Aside from that, we like to base rug size and placement on furniture layouts. Because sofas are the focal point of most living rooms, choose a rug that spans its entire length and extends about half a foot beyond each side, if space allows.

Bedroom

You'll want to create a comfortable, cozy atmosphere in your bedroom, so, as with the living room, we recommend getting as large a rug as possible for this space. Whether the rug covers the entire room or is the size of your bed, make sure it extends beyond the bed (rather than hiding beneath it) so you can see and feel your beautiful new rug.

Because there will be less foot traffic and you will often be barefoot in the bedroom, this is the time to have more plush, delicate rugs. All materials are acceptable, but wool, silk, and shag rugs will be the most comfortable underfoot.

Can I Put a Rug on Top of the Carpet?

Absolutely! Carpet is installed in many homes, and we see this all the time. We like it as a low-cost solution to cover up existing carpet that you don't like, or as a quick fix to cover carpet that you know, you'll eventually want to replace. To keep the rug in place, we recommend using carpet tape. Rugs will lie smoother on a carpet with a lower pile, though it also works on medium-pile carpets.

A Rug Pad is a Necessity

Every rug, from the largest to the smallest size, from those with furniture on top to those with nothing on top, requires a rug pad. Rug pads are essential for two reasons: they protect your rug as well as your floors from heavy furniture and foot traffic, and they keep rugs securely in place.