Rugs half under the sofa?!

[crystalsue]

I often browse an interior design forum, mainly because I like a nosey at other peoples' homes to get some inspiration for my own. Everyone always says that the front legs of a sofa should be on the rug, but I have literally never seen this in real life! Is it really a thing? Perhaps American? I am thinking of getting a new rug and was just going to get the same size as before (in the middle of the floor, with a gap between the edges and the furniture) but now I've got rug insecurity

Yes, it's a thing! Rugs are not supposed to 'float' in the middle of the floor, so they should be large enough to be anchored down by pieces of furniture like a sofa (apparently). I think it makes a kind of sense actually and it's how I chose the size of my rug.