There’s nothing like a beautiful day to inspire taking a seat outside and absorbing the sunshine. Whether your patio is made of wood or atop a concrete slab, it would be nice to go out on bare feet. The best way to experience foot-cage freedom is by picking out some great area rugs for the space. In preparation for this moment of glory, let’s explore the best area rug sizes to achieve your patio dreams.

To start with, the most logical way to pick rug sizes for your patio is by what is going to be on the patio. Some swindlers may have you believe that buying a rug to fill a majority of the space is the right way. But that would be stepping into a fool’s paradise.

This isn’t your bedroom, you don’t need edge-to-edge coverage. The sizes you will want to concentrate on when buying area rugs for your patio should correlate to your patio furniture and functionality. Fight me.

Outdoor Space Design

Is this the perfect opportunity to revamp or rework what you’ve already got going on outside? Perhaps. There’s nothing like a little shake-up to get the motivation for change. So, before you even think about rug sizes, let’s take a look at space. You may want to clear off everything already present for a blank canvas approach, but only if you have the energy. To be fair, you’ll have to do it anyway to get rugs there but, I digress.

Are you using your patio as much as you want to be? If not, this is your chance to change that. If yes, think about how this area is traversed through already. These are some questions to consider:

What is the patio used for?
Where do guests like to hang out here?
How many people can comfortably be on the patio at once?
What is something you’d like to add to the space?
What activities would you like to be hosting?

Whether you’ve just moved into a home or looking to reinvigorate the current situation, it helps to envision the potential of what could be. Think about the parties, equipment, proximity to outlets, furniture, and, of course, fun. Now that you have a feel for the future, we can think about placement of all the things and what sizes go best underneath them.

Seating Area

No matter what’s going on back there, people will want to sit. You’ll want to go with a rug that fits the seating area specifically. Depending on how much elbow room the patio consists of, it will determine how you can work the furniture with the rug. You’d typically have the seats in the middle of the rug for bigger space and on the edge for smaller space.

Sectional with armchair. If you have the room to place a sectional plus an armchair, you are party-ready. Once the rug is put down, of course. So, we suggest a 12′ x 9′ size where the armchair is placed catty-cornered to fit within the rug. The sectional would fit with room to spare on the sides and back of one side, with the back of the other side against the wall.
Sofa with two armchairs. A classic-sized sofa should go against the wall and still have room on both sides using a 10′ x 8′ rug. To add some inclusive conversation space, the back corner of both armchairs can be placed off the rug so they are turned inward.
Two loveseats. Let’s get cozy in a more intimate seating area with two loveseats faced looking at each other. A good 10′ x 8′ rug would give both loveseats room all the way around with a table in the middle.
Loveseat with two chairs. Have the loveseat with the front two corners on the rug and the back two on the patio. Use the empty space on the sides as a place for side tables. Then, add two regular chairs on either side of the couch to form a rectangle around a table in the middle. For this, a 9′ x 6′ rug.

Dining Area

Who needs to hit up the park for a picnic table when you can have some fine dining on your patio? No matter how big or small of a table you can fit in your great outdoor space, it’s worth investing in a place to comfortably chow down for everyone. We’ll go over coverage for both round and rectangle-shaped tables, including rectangle and round rugs to match.

8 seat rectangle. With two heads of the table and six people in between, you want a rug that covers beyond the table and chairs. The reason for this is the awkward bump of someone pushing off from the table and hitting the snag between the patio and carpet. For this kind of seating capacity, a 12′ x 9′ rug is recommended.
6 seat rectangle. A smaller version of the table for eight, a table for six, will have the same needs. Coming in just a tad shorter, a rug measuring 10′ x 8′ will do just fine.
6 seat round. Uh oh, dynamic change. This has the same number of people as the last table but round. These are more than mere guests, these are your knights at the round table. Get them a rug befitting of their presence, which is 8′.
4 seat round. This is an intimate group of people who can gaze into each other’s souls. That happens in the circle of trust, which is what this size of table is made for. Get a 6′ area rug.

Small Spaces

Okay, so you don’t exactly have all the room in the world to sprawl out as some do. That’s more than fine because it’s not about the size, it’s how you use it. In the words of outdoor furniture enthusiast, Grandin Road, “Let the available area be your guide.” Make the most of the small spaces in your backyard.

Bench. Who needs fancy table settings when you have a bench? Enjoying a cool beverage on a warm afternoon with something soft under your feet is enough. A 6′ x 4′ rug under a bench for three or two with stretching room works.
Loveseat. Don’t go out to an expensive restaurant and sit outside for a date night when you can have a sweet seat for two at home on your patio. Get a 6′ x 4′ rug under it with a table in front and you’re all set.

With a breakdown this thorough, it’s easy to see the beauty of sizing outdoor area rugs. Don’t buy blindly, my friends. Make the best decision for your patio by getting area rugs that fit around your life, not the other way around.