Because the rug anchors the room, it’s important to choose a color that complements your overall look and is still practical enough to survive life under the dining table. Lighter hues are neutral enough to work in a variety of settings, but they don’t always clean as easily and aren’t as effective at masking spills or stains. Instead, pick a color that ties together accents from the surrounding elements – like furniture upholstery or artwork – yet still has enough depth to hide any accidents that might occur during a meal. Bold colors and patterns can not only complement your design, but they can also hide a multitude of elements within the room. If your table is centered in the room but your rug won’t be, look for a rug with an allover pattern, but stay away from anything with a border. A bold, sweeping pattern moves the eye around the room and distracts from the fact that the rug is off-centered. Likewise, if you are using the rug to cover up a floor that needs refinishing or other work, a bright color or interesting pattern helps keep the attention on the rug.

Even if you love sinking your toes into plush high-pile rugs like shag or Moroccan styles,  they’re not always best-suited for use in the dining room. It can be a bit difficult to pull chairs in and out over these styles, and they are more difficult to keep clean because the higher piles may trap crumbs. Instead, opt for a rug that has a low pile, a flat weave, or one made from an extra easy-to-clean material – Outdoor rugs are often an excellent choice for a dining room.