Malene Barnett, principal of Malene b, a custom-design carpet company based out of Brooklyn, N.Y., says the area rug should be used as the focal point in a room. Depending on your preference, she suggests a rug that will provide space enough for the furniture to sit on top.

"You don't want too small of a rug for the space it serves," she says. In large living rooms, for example, you can use two rugs to create two separate living areas.

Aimee Beatty, an in-house stylist for Pier 1 Imports, says to be sure to choose a rug that extends beyond the coffee table and at least under the first set of legs on sofas or chairs.