How do I choose the best rug for my dorm room?
Rugs come in all shapes and sizes, but not all of them will be useful to a college student. Since dorm rooms are multi-purpose, they have some unique considerations you wouldn’t see in other rooms. The first step when choosing a rug size should be to look up the dorm or apartment floorplan online.
Size Considerations
- 5’ x 8’ rugs are the most popular size for dorms. At this size, your rug likely will not reach under your bed, but you will cover most of your floorspace, where you are most likely to walk or sit.
- If you don’t know your roommate well or would rather keep your own style, consider a 4’ x 6’ rug. These will fit perfectly by your bedside without taking over the entirety of your shared floor space.
- For something closer to wall-to-wall carpet, opt for a larger 6’ x 9’ area rug. 6’ x 9’ rugs will typically be big enough to cover the main floor space and extend under the beds.
Color Considerations
- Dorms are rarely designed with fashion or comfort in mind. Concrete walls, linoleum or tile floors, white paint, and fluorescent lights are to be expected.
- Since a rug will take up so much space, some people will opt for neutral colors and simpler patterns that position the rug as a backdrop to your other more interesting décor.
- Opt for bright colors and louder patterns to make the rug the centerpiece of your design.
Keep It Clean!
Unlike a house where there are separate spaces for living, sleeping, and working, everything happens in the same space when you are in a dorm. All that traffic means dirt will inevitably find its way in, and rugs have the unfortunate habit of holding on to it.
A rug’s pile height is directly related to how easy it is to maintain. Generally, low-pile rugs will show very little wear and won’t hang on to dirt as much as high-pile rugs. An occasional once-over even with a low-cost stick vacuum or electric broom should be enough to keep it looking great all semester long.
If you can’t afford to buy a vacuum or just don’t want one, consider buying a smaller rug that can be taken outside and shaken when dirty instead.