Carpeted floors may not be the most aesthetically pleasing elements in a room, but they are soft on the feet and dampen the noise. Considering that you’re meticulous, all a carpet floor needs is weekly cleaning to avoid dirt accumulation and pests. The only downside is that they are less aesthetically pleasing and need another element to give them more personality.

Adding a rug onto a carpet may sound weird at first, but that’ll only be the case if you don’t strategize your design well enough. In this article, we’ll be providing design tips and exploring the do’s and don’ts of adding rugs on top of carpets.

The Benefits of Rugs On Carpets

They make your home cozier and warmer

When installed right, rugs offer the advantage of thermal insulation and contribute to a warmer and cozier home. The added cushioning and diminished noise also result in a quieter environment.

They’re Cost-effective

Rugs are typically lower priced compared to carpets. In addition, they offer great flexibility as they are easier to change or reposition, allowing for more frequent updates to match your home’s evolving styles and preferences.

To ensure long-term savings, strategically place your rugs in high-traffic areas like entryways, living rooms, or other heavily trafficked areas of your home or business. By positioning them in these areas, you can effectively trap dirt and debris, preventing them from embedding in your carpet.

This not only prolongs your rug’s lifespan but also reduces the frequency of replacements, ultimately saving you more money. Consider professional rug cleaning services as part of your maintenance routine to ensure your rugs stay clean and well-maintained.

They give more flexibility in terms of design

Unlike the carpet that could already be fixed into your floor, rugs offer extensive designs so you can choose whatever suits your space the best. Rugs can keep up with seasonal trends from color to texture and pattern.

What to Remember When Placing Rugs Over the Carpet

Once you’ve opted to buy a rug for your carpet flooring, there are some things you must and shouldn’t do to maintain an aesthetically pleasing environment.

Choose The Right Style of Rug

When you select an area rug, the most important guideline focuses on knowing the right thickness for your rug. The main rule for layering rugs over carpets is that the rug shouldn’t be heavier in texture and weight compared to the carpet. This is because the bottom rug (the carpet) serves as the top rug’s frame, highlighting whatever design or texture can bring more personality into the room.

It’s also advisable to refrain from combining patterns when layering rugs. One preferred approach is having a patterned rug on top of a solid-colored carpet. This balance ensures a balanced visual appeal, with the solid-colored rug offsetting the patterned rug.

Know The Importance of Rug Size

Ensuring the rug size aligns with the room’s scale is crucial in design. If the rug is too small, it can appear awkward and disjointed. A common guideline suggests that at least four, if not all, legs of the furniture piece should touch the rug.

Additionally, maintaining a space of six to 24 inches around the perimeter of the area rug is recommended to ensure an aesthetically pleasing layout. Even in smaller rooms, it’s important to choose a rug size that fits appropriately.

Anchor Your Rug

One issue with placing a rug over a carpet is that it can potentially shift, posing a tripping hazard if it isn’t properly secured. As long as your rug is properly anchored, you’ll avoid unwanted ripples and reduce the risk of tripping or sliding. The degree of movement will depend on the style of the carpet underneath and the backing of the area rug.

One method of anchoring includes using the furniture as a reference point. This would mean positioning the rug below a bed or sofa to ensure its edges are tucked beneath to prevent it from shifting. Preferably, there should be furniture pressing the rug on all four sides. However, anchoring it on two opposite sides will do if the furniture is heavy.

Use a Non-Slip Rug Pad

“Carpet-to-carpet” pads are rug pads designed to keep an area rug from moving or shifting over the carpet. Plus, these pads help prevent damage to the carpet under the rug, as constant friction caused by the rug moving over the carpet can lead to untimely wear or distortion of the carpet fibers.

The effectiveness of these pads can differ significantly due to various factors such as fiber type, carpet style and rug backing, which the pad may only partially accommodate. Furthermore, many pad qualities are available, adding to the variability.

You can also consider using a combination of heavy furniture and a rug pad beneath, especially if anchoring one side of the rug isn’t feasible. However, in cases where rugs are positioned away from furniture, such as in hallways or foyers, adding a non-slip rug pad is your top choice for preventing ripples in the area rug.

Clean Your Rug

Maintaining a rug’s cleanliness is important not only for aesthetics, but also for enhancing indoor quality by preventing the accumulation of allergens and dust. Regular vacuuming, preferably once a week, is crucial. Once again, it’s advised to contact the experts in carpet cleaning once or twice a year to help deep clean your rugs.

Conclusion

All in all, following these few tips can help you maintain a beautiful and tidy space where your rugs bring more life into the room. Whether you want to add warmth, style, or practicality to your space, adding rugs to your carpeted floors can make your home interiors inviting and visually appealing. With the right design choices and maintenance practices, you can enjoy the benefits of rugs on carpets for years.

About the Author

Tony Kantzavelos is the CEO of Love Your Rug, a carpet and rug cleaning company established in 1984. Love Your Rug has 10,000 square feet of rug cleaning and repair facilities strategically located in East and West Toronto.