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Tips for Using Area Rugs Over Carpet

Laying an area rug over broadloom or wall-to-wall carpeting can hide a worn or soiled spot in the carpet, add some personal style to a rented space, or look luxurious. But can you do that?

According to designers, there are many benefits to styling rugs on top of carpet at home. The key is to ensure you choose the right rug material, size, and rug pad to prevent it from slipping. Here are some tips to help you do it properly.

Can You Put an Area Rug on Carpet?

Rugs can be layered over your carpet to achieve various aesthetic and functional results, including:

  • Stylish rug design helps add style and texture to the space 
  • Hides stains and damage on carpet 
  • Extends the life of carpet
  • Adds extra padding underfoot

Choose the Right Style for Your Carpet

The rules for choosing an area rug to use over broadloom pertain to thickness in particular.

What Is Broadloom?

Broadloom refers to woven, wall-to-wall carpeting commonly seen in bedrooms, living rooms, and basements.

"Hides, kilims, and dhurries all look great layered on carpet because of their low profile," Nadia Watts, the founder of Nadia Watts Interior Design, explains. "You don't want to layer a rug on carpet that is too thick or textured; try to stick with natural materials and lower profiles," she advises.

Trisha Knight, the co-founder of the design firm Knight Varga, agrees. Knight says the bottom carpet should always be heavier in weight and texture than the rug on top of it.

"The top rug becomes a feature framed by the bottom rug," Knight explains. "We will often do this with a natural woven rug on the bottom and a light vintage-inspired rug or natural shag on top."

On this note, you will also want to avoid mixing patterns when layering rugs. Ideally, Knight says, your top rug should be patterned, and your carpet should be solid in color. The solid-colored rug will balance out the pattern of the carpet.

Rug Size Matters

area rug used over a carpet

The Spruce / Jessica Lombardi

It's essential to ensure that the size of the rug you select complements the scale of the room you are designing. Rugs that are too small will look awkward and out of place. A typical piece of guidance when styling around area rugs is that four—if not two—legs of a main piece of furniture should touch the rug.

It is also advisable to keep floor space (in this case, carpet space) between six and 24 inches open around the sides of the area rug.

Keep in mind that even if the room you're decorating is on the smaller side, you will still want to use an appropriately sized rug for the space. A rug that's on the more expansive side can even work to your advantage.

"A large area rug will make a room feel bigger," Knight says.

Anchor the Rug

rug layered over carpet in bedroom

Nadia Watts Interior Design

Why is anchoring a rug so crucial? A concern with a rug over a carpet is that it will shift if not anchored in place or create a falling hazard. A properly anchored rug can stop unwanted ripples, prevent people from tripping over it, and keep the rug from sliding. The extent to which it will move will depend on the carpet style underneath the rug and the type of backing of the area rug.

Use Furniture as Anchors

One way to anchor a rug in a space is to use furniture as your guide, such as by placing it under a bed or sofa. Ensure the edges of the rug go under the furniture item to help keep it from moving. Ideally, furniture should hold the rug on all four sides, but if it is heavy enough, simply anchoring it on two opposite sides may be enough.

Non-slip Rug Pad

Watts also advises using a rug pad when placing an area rug over a carpet, just as when working with a hardwood floor. "Rugs will add friction to your flooring—no matter what's underneath—so use a pad to protect and prolong the life of the carpet," Watts says.

Non-slip rug pads designed for holding an area rug over broadloom are called "carpet-to-carpet" pads. These pads prevent an area rug from shifting and rippling over the carpet. These pads will also hinder damage to the carpet under the rug, as repeated friction from the rug moving over the carpet could cause premature wear or blooming of the carpet fibers underneath.

The effectiveness of these carpet-to-carpet pads can vary greatly because there are so many factors (carpet style, rug backing, fiber type, etc.) that the pad can't necessarily account for, as well as a wide range of pad qualities available.

Another option is to use a combination of heavy furniture with a rug pad underneath, mainly if one side of the rug cannot be anchored. However, for rugs that are nowhere near furniture (in the center of a hallway or foyer), the carpet-to-carpet non-slip pad is your best option for preventing ripples in your area rug.

Rug Tape

A final option is to secure your rug with rug tape or rug gripper. Rug tape is a double-sided adhesive that anchors area rugs to the floor. It is incredibly sticky and comes in various forms, including silicone, rubber, and glue adhesive.

A drawback of rug tape is that the wrong type may pull at the fibers of your carpet and rug when removed. It's also single-use only, so once you pull it up one time, the tape will lose its grip.

Rugs Over Carpet: A Yes, If You Wish

patterned rug layered over carpet in bedroom

Amy Leferink at Interior Impressions

Designers say that rugs can be layered over carpet if they are low profile and properly sized for the room. However, if you dislike how it looks, don't layer. Your space should reflect your personal style and design choices. Your home should feel like you.

FAQ
  • Is putting a rug on carpet OK?

    There are many benefits to placing a rug over a carpet, including infusing personality, concealing any stains and damage on the carpet, extending the lifespan of the carpet, and providing extra cushion to your floor.

  • Do you need a rug pad on carpet?

    Designers advise purchasing a rug pad to place beneath an area rug on the carpet.

  • Do rug grippers work on carpet?

    Rug gripper, or rug tape, works on all floor surfaces, including carpet.

  • How do you put a rug on carpet without bunching it?

    Properly anchoring the rug over the carpet is key to preventing bunching. Some anchoring methods include using rug tape, placing a rug pad underneath the rug, or using your furniture.

  • Can you screw a rug down on carpet?

    You can screw a rug down on a carpet as a means of anchoring it.