How To Lay A Rug Over Carpet

Area rugs generally work best over short pile or looped carpet.

How to lay a rug over carpet.

When laying the rug over carpet however the concern is more about the rug wrinkling or rippling which presents a big tripping hazard wrinkling will occur because as one area of the rug is stepped on it will shift assuming it is not properly. You may be laying down an area rug because you can t stand the color of the existing wall to wall carpet such as in a rental unit but trust us it will look much worse if you just throw down a rug. The only difference when the rug is going to be used over a carpet is to make sure that the color of the rug complements the color of the carpet. You want the rug to bring life to the floor like in laura s adorable melbourne home shown above where she layered a graphic flat weave over beige carpet and a basic tiled hearth.

When laying an area rug over a hard surface such as hardwood flooring the biggest concern about the rug s movement is that it will slide around. In most cases wall to wall carpeting is very basic. Choose something with a different texture and or fiber like jute sisal silk. In those cases laying a thick luxurious shag rug can add a softness and elegance to the space.

Rugs should always be anchored whether used on a hardwood floor or on top of carpet. This is because the underside of the rug is smooth and glides over the carpet underneath. But whether the rug is a large oriental rug or a small round area rug it can bunch up when walked on. Installing carpet over carpet can be a cost efficient unique and fast way to change the look and feel of a room.

In order to stop this natural rug migration you need a non skid rug pad. On a hard floor an untethered rug is more likely to slide or slip but when layering area rugs over carpet the rug is more likely to wrinkle or ripple. Using a throw rug over carpet can brighten up a rental space or installing carpet tiles over a low pile carpet can freshen up your home while saving on time and labor. A neutral color with a cut wool pile and no heathering or interesting variation.