Putting rugs over your hardwood floors is a no-brainer. Rugs protect flooring from scratches, stains, and other signs of wear. But should you try putting rugs over wall-to-wall carpeting too? Since they have the same or similar textiles, you may be wondering how layering a rug over a carpet can benefit your space.

There are plenty of reasons why you should consider layering a rug over carpeting in your home. Protection, style, insulation, and cleanliness are all benefits of utilizing rugs in high-traffic carpet areas. Plus, rugs are a lot more affordable than replacing carpeting. 

If you're interested in elevating your home's style or you want to keep your carpeting in top condition, you should consider placing rugs in strategic places all over your home. We'll go over why, where, and how you should lay an area rug over the carpet. We'll also go over popular rug types that will work well when paired with your carpet.

Why Should You Put an Area Rug Over Carpet?

There are a few obvious reasons why you may want to place an area rug over the carpet in your home. For instance, if you're renting and cannot replace old carpets. Or, if you have stains and discolorations in certain areas of the carpeting but don't want to pay to replace the whole carpet just yet. Rugs can be a quick and temporary solution. 

However, if you love your current wall-to-wall carpeting, you should still consider placing rugs at various points in your home. Rugs insulate your flooring and prevent wear and tear damage in high-traffic areas. They also help to protect your carpet from stains, discoloration, and accumulating dirt. 

For carpeted bedrooms on the second floor, rugs can act as extra insulation to decrease any noise that might be noticeable on the first floor. The extra insulation can also help on cold winter days by adding an additional warm and cozy layer to the flooring. 

For high-traffic areas, like hallways, dining rooms, living rooms, and entryways, rugs can protect your flooring from common signs of wear. Rugs can also make it easier to clean in these busy areas, especially if you have plush or high-pile carpeting, as these types of carpet can collect dirt easily. A durable low-pile rug placed near the backdoor or foyer can make it easier to keep your floors clean. 

Another important reason to consider layering a rug over carpeting is the pop of color and design. While many designers often recommend neutral colors for long-lasting floors like hardwood, tile, or carpeting, rugs are more affordable and easy to change. So, if you want to experiment with your home's interior style, add a rug with bright contrasting colors or an interesting pattern to elevate the overall style of the space.

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How to Anchor an Area Rug on Top of Carpet

Putting a rug on a carpet means your rug will constantly shift if not anchored in place. Sturdy anchoring ensures your rug doesn't attract unwanted ripples, slide from position, or cause people to trip when walking on it. Here are a few ways to put a rug on a carpet to prevent it from moving:

Non-Slip Rug Pads

Non-slip rug pads are the most efficient way to prevent your rugs from sliding. They are designed to prevent an area rug from moving and shifting over the carpet. The best choices are carpet-to-carpet rug pads that fasten themselves on the carpet's fiber, giving it a tighter hold and thus preventing a slide.

Furniture as Anchors

The furniture in your space can act as an effective guide when installing and anchoring your rug, and using it is one of the easiest ways to anchor your rug. You could place the rug under the dining set and have the table and chairs firmly hold it in place. When doing this, ensure the rug doesn't disappear under the furniture and hide its aesthetic value.

For heavy furniture like sofas and coaches, you'd want to place the rug's edges under the furniture legs to hold it firmly in place. The only downside of using furniture as anchors is that an unanchored side can still move, so you may need to use another anchoring method for those sections.

Double-Sided Rug Tapes

Double-sided rug tapes are efficient solutions for keeping your rug and carpet stationary for a long time. These tapes are made from glue, silicone or rubber to hold your rug and carpet in a firm position. They're also easy to install, so you can replace them any time you wash your rug and carpet.

Using the wrong rug tape can pull at your carpet or rug's fiber when removed, shortening its lifespan, so it's essential to find a tape suited to your rug's material. Once you pull out the rug, the tape will lose its grip, meaning you can only use it once.

What Kinds of Rugs Work Best Over Carpet?

When you consider placing an area rug over the carpet, you should think about the existing decor elements of the space. Features like existing carpeting, furniture, drapes, artwork, and paint colors should all work together with any rug to create a stylish and comfortable space. When you shop for a rug, you should think about its style (pattern, texture, color, shape). Additionally, you should also consider its practical features (maintenance, care, and durability). 

In terms of style, there aren't a lot of rules surrounding rugs. You can opt for bold, neutral, classic, or modern. As long as it ties in with other design elements of the room, you can choose a rug that stands out as much as you want. 

However, if you're planning on placing rugs in high-traffic areas, there are other considerations that you'll need to take into account before selecting an area rug over the carpet in your home. A low-pile rug is often the best choice for busy areas that see a lot of traffic. Compared to high-pile rugs, they are much easier to keep clean and don't show imprints from wear or furniture as much. 

Additionally, you should consider the materials used in the construction of the rug. Synthetic materials are easy to clean, plus they are resistant to moisture and dirt. Fibers, like wool, can be trickier to clean and maintain. So if you're looking for the most durable, easy-to-clean, and lowest maintenance option, going with a synthetic, low-pile rug will be the best choice for high-traffic areas. This low-pile polypropylene rug is incredibly durable and perfect for high-traffic areas in your room.

How to Choose Area Rug Sizes for Over-Carpet Installation

Choosing the right area rug size begins with understanding the scale of the room you're designing. The best rug size should uniformly complement the room's scale to prevent your rug from appearing awkward and out of space. A good rule of thumb when choosing an area rug size is to pick one that touches at least two or, at best, four legs of the main piece of furniture.

Another way to do this is to maintain at least 6 to 24 inches of open carpet space around the rug's sides. Leaving a uniform space around the rug ensures the focal area stands out and helps your carpet achieve its aesthetic purpose. Always maintain some space around your area rug, even when decorating a smaller room.

A larger area rug should work to your advantage by making your room look bigger, provided it covers the right focal space. Any excess rug can be trimmed around the rug to achieve a neat look.

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Choosing to place rugs strategically in high-traffic areas in your home is a smart idea, no matter your flooring. Whether you have hardwood, tile, laminate or carpeting, area rugs protect you from daily wear, stains, dirt and more. Since switching out rugs in your home is much easier and more affordable than replacing carpeting, you can choose interesting patterns and bold colors to add a lot of style to your space. You'll also have all the benefits of rugs, such as added insulation and noise reduction.

Contact Carpet & Tile Mart to choose your next rug from our huge collection of area rugs.