Do you have a wall-to-wall carpet and are considering placing an area rug or two over it for added visual intrigue? Or maybe, your carpet is showing signs of wear and you’d like to cover those unsightly spots with a rug. Here is why it’s a good idea to layer your carpet with area rugs and how to keep them from moving or bunching up.
When shopping for area rags that you can layer atop your carpet for added visual glam, remember to go for the proper mix of texture, color, design patterns, shape, and size. To keep the rug from mowing or bunching up, pair it with a rug pad, lock it with furniture and go for a thinner profile rug.
Can you put an area rug over carpet?
Yes- it’s totally okay to put an area rug over your wall-to-wall carpet. Since area rugs come in varying shapes and designs, they’re a great way to add aesthetic appeal into your interior space. What’s more, if your carpeting is chipped or scratched in certain sections, you can use an area rug to cover that up.
Still- interior design is a very personal thing and not all will agree that area rugs should be put over carpets. If you’ve- however- chosen to put an area rug over your wall-to-wall carpet, consider the following for visually satisfying results:
1. Texture
If your carpet has a soft texture, you might want to accompany your area rug with non-slip mats to ensure firm support, such that the rug doesn’t buckle or shift.
For looped carpeting, we recommend layering with a thick and plush area rug for an added touch of coziness and elegance. Meanwhile, you can choose low-profile, woven rugs for luxurious carpeting, as this creates a nice contrast.
2. The size of the room
A good area rug is one whose edges touch on surrounding furniture items without leaving any wide open spaces. As such, it’s important to consider how large your room is when buying an area rug.
3. Patterns and Color
The key to successful interior decoration is finding the right balance, and the same principle applies to layering area rugs over carpets. Therefore, if you have carpeting with intricate and colorful design patterns, you might want to tone things down a bit with a plain area rug.
Conversely, neutral-colored carpets can be paired with multicolored, oriental rugs for a transitional allure. Finally, ensure that your area rug and carpet don’t color clash. The shades of both floor coverings should actually complement each other.
How to keep rug from moving on carpet
When your area rug starts to buckle and wrinkle once placed over the carpet, it creates a safety hazard, and dampens the visual appeal of your floor décor. The occupants of the house can trip over the folds on your area rug once it starts shifting, possibly resulting in injuries.
Meanwhile, a wrinkled area rug isn’t the first thing you want visitors to see as soon as they step into your living room. Which is why it’s important to take measures to ensure your rug stays put on the carpet. Some of the steps you can take to ensure the same are discussed below:
Pair the area rug with a rug pad
Rug pads and anti-slip mats help prevent area rugs from shifting when placed over a wall-to-wall carpet. With a good carpet-to-carpet rug pad, you’ll be able to properly anchor your area rug atop your carpet. This will consequently prevent the rug from moving about or shifting.
Lock down the rug using furniture
If you’re working on a budget and can’t afford to invest in rug pads at the moment, you can use your furniture to lock down the edges of your area rug. The weight of the furniture will hold down the rug and prevent bunching up/creating folds.
Choose a thin profile rug
To prevent your area rug from moving, you can instead make smart purchasing decisions when shopping for an area rug. For instance, a rug with a thinner profile is less likely to create folds or shift.
Area Rug vs Carpet – Differences
Rugs are typically woven materials for covering small or large sections of floor without extending over the entire floor space. Rugs are not attached to the floor but can be secured using a rug pad. Area rugs come in variety of sizes, designs and colors which makes them ideal for enhancing your room décor scheme.
Carpet, on the other hand refers to a thick woven fabric that offers wall-to-wall covering of a floor. A carpet extends over the full floor space and is secured to the floor with glue or tacking strips. A particular color of a carpet can be used to enhance or unify the interior décor of a home.
The table below summarizes the key differences between carpets and rugs.
| Carpets | Rugs |
| Are typically double-layered featuring a heavy-duty fabric construction | Commonly made by weaving and lack a second layer |
| Firmly tucked or glue on the floor thus able to keep their shape | Usually not firmly secured on the floor thus unable to keep their shape |
| Larger in size, some even wall-to-wall – can cover the whole flooring in a room | Typically smaller in size and covers only a given section of the room |
| Are heavy and thick in appearance thus not easy to move or bunch up once installed | Usually lightweight and thin in appearance which makes them easy bunch up or move |
| Hard to clean when dirty and you have to use a special equipment like shampooer or steam cleaner | Easy to clean when dirty and can be done manually or using a machine |
| Don’t need anti-slip mats and hardly bunch up even in high traffic areas | Are typically paired with anti-slip mats or rugpads to secure them on a carpet or other flooring |
| Expensive to purchase and install since they have to be glued or tucked down | Are less expensive and easy to install, clean and maintain |
Final Thought
Regular sweeping with a soft broom or vacuuming is what is required to maintain a carpet or area rug. Remove spills immediately and deep clean the floor coverings at least once per season. After cleaning your carpet or area rug, ensure it dries up properly. This will prevent bad smell and also growth of mold and mildew in the material.