Tips for Using an Area Rug 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 simply 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 choosing the right rug material, size, and pad to prevent slipping. Here are expert-backed 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:

• Adding style and texture to the space 
• Hiding stains and damage on the carpet 
• Extending the life of the carpet
• Providing extra padding underfoot

Choose the Right Style for Your Carpet

Choose an area rug that's the right thickness to place over broadloom, say experts.

"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 Interiors, 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."

In addition, avoid mixing patterns when layering rugs. Ideally, Knight says, your top area rug should be patterned, and your carpet should be a solid color. The solid-colored carpet will balance out the pattern of the area rug.

Rug Size Matters

The area rug's size must fit the room's scale. Rugs that are too small for the space look awkward and out of place. The general rule of thumb is to keep all four legs or the front two legs of a major piece of furniture on top of the area rug.

Also, leave between 6 and 24 inches of floor or broadloom carpet space showing as a border around each side of the area rug.

If you're working with a small room, use an appropriately sized rug for the space. A larger area rug can be an advantage in a smaller space.

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

Anchor the Rug

It's important to anchor an area rug layered on a carpet to keep it from shifting and creating a falling hazard. A properly anchored area rug stops unwanted ripples, prevents people from tripping over it, and keeps the rug from sliding. An area rug may move depending on its backing and the carpeting's style.

Use Furniture as Anchors

Anchor an area rug under a bed or sofa to ensure the edges are secure and won't move. Ideally, furniture should hold the area rug down on all four sides. However, if the piece is heavy enough, anchoring the rug on two opposite sides may be enough to stop movement.

Non-Slip Rug Pad

Watts also advises using a rug pad when placing an area rug over a carpet. "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. Pads also reduce premature wear or blooming of the carpet fibers underneath the area rug caused by repeated friction from movement.

The effectiveness of carpet-to-carpet pads varies because of many factors, including quality, the carpet's style, the area rug's backing, and fiber types.

Consider anchoring the area rug by combining heavy furniture with a pad underneath. This helps if one side of the area rug cannot be anchored. However, use a carpet-to-carpet non-slip pad to prevent ripples in an area rug in a foyer or hallway that can't be anchored by furniture.

Rug Tape

Secure your area rug with rug tape, also called rug gripper. Rug tape is a double-sided adhesive that anchors area rugs to the floor. It is very sticky and comes in various forms of adhesives, including silicone, rubber, and glue.

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

Rugs Over Carpet: A Yes, If You Wish

Designers say 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.

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