How to decide whether rectangular or oval rug works best in room? (hardwood floors, contemporary)

[Bass101]

I have a number of rooms to put rugs in (we have hardwood floors) but I'm not sure how to decide whether rectangular or oval would be better. Any guidelines to go by?

[OCFabriqgal]

Ovals on floors allow traffic to flow around coffee tables better. They also allow furniture to be placed on the bias(diagonally) more freely. The thicker a rug the more likely it can become a trip hazard. I usually use larger rugs to define a space as a room within a room with no other natural barriers such as walls, pony walls, stepups or stepdowns. Ovals are less adaptive to a new application if you grow tired of the old one. Under an elongated coffee table comes to mind as my #1 choice for this use. It could limit your freedom to change in the future. But, trends are usually started by risk tastefully executed.

[Squirl]

I always associate ovals with traditional, country French, early American, rustic decors.

I associate rectangular or square rugs with "hard edge looks" like casual trendy, urban, or contemporary looks.

Of course, if you are eclectic, whatever suits your palette.....

[South Jersey Styx]

Also remember that there are some "guidelines" with rugs (i.e., a rug put under a diningroom set should be large enough to allow the chairs to be pushed in and out.)

And how about the newish cow hide rugs? Neither rectangle nor oval but irregular/organic!

[Bass101]

Originally Posted by Squirl

I always associate ovals with traditional, country French, early American, rustic decors.

I associate rectangular or square rugs with "hard edge looks" like casual trendy, urban, or contemporary looks.

Of course, if you are eclectic, whatever suits your palette.....

Interesting. I guess our look is Pottery Barn style--so I'm thinking maybe ovals might be better suited to that look?

One room I'm thinking of in particular is a rectangular shaped, smallish room. I'm wondering if rectangular or oval would be better for this room.

[tarragon]

I had the same issue whether oval vs. rectangular for my LR area..because the room is small, I went with rectangular.