Use the rug to create a visual relationship

The designers in the source recommend beginning with the sofa's front legs resting on the rug. This connects the larger furnishing to the floor covering and helps establish one seating area. A rug left floating between the sofa and coffee table can feel less integrated, even when its color suits the room. The guideline is therefore concerned with proportion and visual balance rather than decoration alone.

Treat the rule as a starting point for the room

The reference presents this approach as a useful design convention rather than an inflexible law. Consider how the rug reaches the nearby chairs and how the complete seating group sits within the available floor space. The goal is an arrangement that feels connected and easy to use. Choosing the right size and position together helps the rug support the layout instead of looking like a separate object placed in the middle.