Coastal Style Sisal Rugs
Proportion Consideration

The primary consideration in determining a rug’s proportions are the room in which it will be placed. In the absence of furniture, the most aesthetically pleasing proportions for the rug would depend on how large the rug is to be. 

If the desired rug is close to room size, then you should consider maintaining a consistent border between the rug and the walls. If for example you had a room that was 14 by 20 feet, you could maintain a consistent one foot border by ordering a 12 by 18 foot sisal rug. This is represented in the drawing at right:

If, however, you wanted a slightly smaller rug, then you could mirror the proportions of the room. In the 14 by 20 foot room above, the length of the room is approximately 140% of the width. If you decided that a 10’ wide rug would work well in the room, then a rug sized 10 by 14 foot would proportionally fit the room. This would leave a 2 foot border on the width of the rug, and 3 feet on the length. These proportions would reinforce the proportions of the room. 

This is represented in the drawing at right:

When you are not bound by considerations of room and furniture dimensions, the most balanced and pleasing dimensions would be based on the Golden Proportion, referred to as phi (pronounced fee). This proportion was discovered by the Greeks, and was used in such architectural works as the Greek Parthenon at Athens, and in the great pyramids by the Egyptians. It has also been rumored to be used by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo in their great masterpieces. Further it is a rule that is closely followed by nature, and can be used to scribe the curve of a seashell, or to describe the proportions of a human face.

The Golden Proportion is approximately 1.618 to 1.The proportion is common, and when we see it we feel a sense of balance and harmony. It often is at work when we see something that is aesthetically pleasing to us, but we can not describe why. And it goes great with sisal rugs! A 10 foot wide rug then would be best balanced, in the absence of other considerations, at 16 feet 2 inches. This is represented in the drawing at right.

Rugs are often made at a close approximation to phi. 5 by 8 foot rugs are almost perfectly proportioned, and 4 by 6 foot or 6 by 9 foot at 1.5 to 1 are close approximations. These proportions feel right in most situations. You must consider all the factors when you decide a rug’s proportions including the room, the furniture, and the size of the rug. And keep in mind the Golden Rectangle -its proportions have stood the test of time.

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