The cement walls and cold tile floors of dorm rooms can give a dull, uninviting feel to a dorm living space.  You have probably added tons of cool art and decor to your walls, added some color and style to your dorm room with colorful blankets and pillows for your bed, filled your desk with lots of unique organizers and knick-knacks.

You may have even added some lights to drape across your ceiling. It is possible that you have done all of that work and something about your dorm is still feeling a little stale.

The last step to tie it all together is a dorm rug for your room.  Not only will this add a nice decorative touch, but it will help retain some heat in your dorm room as well.  This is especially helpful during the winter months when the floors can be cold against bare feet.  When looking for a rug, your first concern may be the color and pattern.  Another important thing to consider when shopping for a rug is the size.  Read on for tips on how to find the perfect size to accommodate the dimensions of your area.

All Your Size Options

1. The 5’ x 7’ area rug is the most popular size for amongst students.  While this size probably won’t reach under your bed, it is large enough to cover the main part of your floor where your furniture and other supplies are located.  More importantly, it will cover the areas where you will do all of your walking and sitting.
   

2. The 4’ x 6’ rug is the next most popular size after the 5’ x 7’.  This size provides more versatility in function.  It is a perfect size for placing next to your bed for your own personal rug.  What's more, depending on the specific dimensions of the room, this slightly smaller size may enable you and your roommate to each have your own rugs without overlapping.
   

3. For those that are looking for larger alternatives, turn to 6’ x 9’ dorm rugs.  This carpet is not large enough to cover the entire floor, but it is your best option next to installing a wall-to-wall carpet.  This size rug will cover the main area of your room while also reaching the area under your bed.  If you want to purchase this particular length and width, also include a vacuum into your shopping cart. While lighter models may be able to be brought outside and shook in order to get rid of dust, this sized rug will be too heavy.
   

4. A smaller, 3’ x 5’ rug is yet another option.  This option is ideal for more specific purposes, such as placing beside so you have something soft and warm to place your feet on when you get up in the morning. They're also useful for placing under heavier objects to help slide them about, like a spacious trunk that normally is housed under your bed.
   

This list does not cover all of the rug sizes, as more variants do exist.  This covers the basics that will work in most dorm rooms.  Additionally, not all dorm rooms are created equally, so you may want to check with your student housing office to find out the specific dimensions of your new living area.  When considering the size of your room, the décor, and the purpose of a rug, you are sure to find the perfect rug that will create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your dorm room.

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All Your Types of Dorm Rugs

1. Residence Carpets

Carpets have a little bit of a different texture and weight than other rugs do. These carpets are large and made for dorm rooms with those tile floors. You won’t find residence carpets that are super fluffy or shaggy.

2. Accent Rugs

Accent rugs are smaller rugs that do exactly what their name says they do, they accent other pieces in your room. These are usually the 3’ x 5’ or smaller sizes. It is common to put rugs like these on top of another larger carpets. Switching up the texture in these rugs is the best way to set the rugs apart from each other.

3. Area Rugs

Area rugs are usually the 5’ x 7’ size and they really are the ones that you make a staple in your space. You can center it in the middle of your room, place them under a table or desk, or line your bed or futon with it. These rugs are large enough that they will really draw the attention of your room. So when choosing a style, choose a cool pattern, color scheme, or texture to help make your room stand out.

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Additional Ways To Style Rugs In Your Dorm

Maybe you see a pattern or texture of a rug you like and it doesn’t fit for the floor of your room, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t use it at all. There a bunch of non-traditional ways you can style rugs in your space. Do not feel limited when designing your room. If you see a spot you would love to have a rug, try it out. Read on to find a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

• Hang rugs as a tapestry. Maybe you still have not found the perfect piece of wall decor to fill up a bland wall in your room, try hanging a rug as a tapestry. Just find something is lighter so that it is easier to hang. If you do use a heavier piece, you will likely need a special hanger to be able to safely hand the piece. You can even try this out on your ceiling if that is what is holding your space back from being amazing.
  

• Wrap Your Chairs up. Add texture and comfort to those boring wooden desk chairs my draping a rug across it. For this, you would probably want to try use some type of fur or shag rug. This can not only look super cool and set apart your room, but provide some extra padding for when you spend those long nights studying.
  

• Use rugs as extra seating. Dorm rooms sure do not come with enough space for the people who live in them, let alone for guests. Chairs and bean bags can take up a ton of room when they are not in use. An alternative seating idea is having a dedicated rug for sitting down. Try and choose something more fluffy and thick so that your guests are comfortable. 
  

• Transform your rug into a headboard. There are a couple of different ways to make this happen. You can full DIY a headboard my taking the material from rugs that you like and wrapping a headboard. Or, for a simpler option, just hang a rug on the wall above your bed where a headboard would normally go. No matter which option you go with, you will want to use a thinner, lighter, rug. 
  

Dorm rooms can seem cold and uninviting. Make your space feel warm and cozy by incorporating a rug into your room. How have you used rugs in your dorm room? We’d love to hear from you!