A few months ago, we layered a really gorgeous vintage rug (from here) on top of our FLOR tiles in our entry. While we loved the character it added, and the extra layer of dirt camouflage, we struggled with it constantly bunching and moving around on top of the FLOR carpet squares. Often resulting in a look more like this:
I ended up rolling it up for our big Halloween party so it didn't become a hazard, but I was determined to keep it in place without excessive straightening every afternoon. Whether you're layering area rugs, or putting an area rug over wall-to-wall carpet, or just laying an area rug over hard flooring, here are the top 5 tips and methods for keeping them exactly where you want them.
1. Rug pad
The most obvious is a rug pad. We have them under every area rug in our home to help them last longer and stay put. This gorilla grip one is great (and cheap!) for area rugs directly on hard flooring, but we opted to use this amazing rug pad (with so many great reviews) for keeping these two rugs together since the FLOR tiles don't slip themselves. The pad's fibers are especially grippy--they'll even stick to your fingerprints) and the rugs have been smooth ever since.
2. Strips of silicone-based caulking or hot glue.
If you're wanting a more DIY route, Martha Stewart made adding strips of caulking on the back of an area rug a thing back in 2002 (!!), although the process has mixed reviews. The "fails" I read all used latex caulking which soon rubbed off, so that could be a factor.
Along the same lines, Gimme Some Oven used hot glue on the back of her rug with great results. Just make sure it's fully cured before flipping it over!
3. Velcro
Here's an example of a blogger that used velcro on the back of an area rug to keep it in place. Of course, you'd have to be okay with attaching the other half of the hook and loop to your flooring.
4. Double-sided Tape.
This double sided indoor carpet tape promises it will stick to any kind of flooring, including carpet without leaving behind any sticky residue when you want to pull it up--which sounds pretty great.
5. Stop Curling corners.
Lastly, sometimes your area rug, even if you have managed to keep it from slipping around, still has stubborn corners that won't quit curling. I see it all the time on Instagram. This NeverCurl product is our favorite solution for that. No more curling corners, ever!
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This is a great subject that need solving, thank you!! I came across the idea to use hot glue a few months ago, I thought it was a genius idea!! For my situation it did not work at all and I also did not think twice about putting the rug in the dryer until it was too late!! Sure was obvious then!!
This is so cute, All the rugs are so beautiful share more interesting blog like this
Its a really nice website. Thanks for giving full information about rugs. You can also check at rugsuk.
can you tell me how not to trip over an area rug with padding? thank you
Hmm, maybe your pad is a little too thick?
Hi - does anyone know where I can find the off-white herringbone looking rug that is underneath the vintage rug in the cover photo for this article?
The herringbone 'rug' is made of FLOR squares. Linked in the article above.
For me, I think magic tape is ok. Anyway, I need Persian or Oriental rugs that are organic, non-toxic, can comfort me and my family.
Don't use carpet tape unless you don't mind spending hours getting adhesive off your carpet.
i have a very large dog that, no matter what i do, she keeps making my rug move alot and it always trips me. dog is a great dane/american masstif. loves chasing balls. i have a disability and she is my trained special needs dog. please help me comed up with a cheap, easy to do solution, tried super glue, gorilla tape and glue.
I had an issue with a carpet runner placed on top of fitted carpet in the hallway staying in place. A variety of carpet pads made little difference. The solution was to install a plastic runner with the little spikes underneath, attached to the carpet pad with double sided tape and the carpet runner laid on top
I can guarantee that this works. Rugs on hard floors stop slipping if you roll masking tape (the kind that vehicle painters use, which can be bought at any hardware store) at least 5 times around your hand and apply to each corner of the rug. The tape will not damage any tiles or even wooden flooring
NeverCurl descriptions says "Works great with Roombas" ok SOLD!! Going in my basket right now. Pushing up rug corners is my only complaint about our wonderful vaccuum robot.
Thanks so much for this post! I tried googling and searching a little myself about an inexpensive way to get a rug from slipping and then was like let’s just see what CLJ has to say and this article was exactly what I was looking for.
It's interesting to read about some of the ways that you can get a rug to stay where you want it. It makes sense that a rug mat would be a quick and easy option. I'm wanting to get some more rugs, specifically antique ones, and trying these tips could be very helpful. Thanks for the post!
THANK YOU FOR THE CURLING BIT.
And I did the caulking thing too, but it eventually stuck to the floor and i had to scrape it off - which is good I guess cause the rug didn't move - but once I was over the rug, it left behind nastiness. HOnestly, its still under the new front door rug, because I've been slacking on scraping those last bits off the tile ;)
Thanks for these tips Julia! I'll definitely share this with my wife. There is a part of our house where the rug keeps on curling. This will surely help! Thanks for sharing this. Thumbs up.
Thanks for this post. We just moved into a house will all wood floors on the first floor and our rugs have been driving us crazy. Will certainly try some of these options.
Thanks so much for sharing these useful tips! I was researching this exact topic just a couple weeks ago. I'm using a kilm rug on top of carpet in the nursery, and I want to make sure it doesn't budge. I'm going to be checking out the rug pad.
http://dahliasanddimes.com/2017/01/04/kitchen-reveal-the-after/
Ooh! So any tips on how to straighten out a rug that's been rolled up? I ordered a Moroccan shag rug for our foyer and over a year later, it's still all bent out of shape. You can see it in this post (sorry for the bad photos - I need to go back and replace them due to camera issues!).
http://www.lovelakeliving.com/2016/02/the-home-tour-part-1.html
Gorilla Grip sells a non-slip rug pad similar to the Martha Stewart one you linked out to that has the added benefit of being rolled instead of folded for delivery; of course, because it's rolled that means you end up with a large cardboard tube (depending on the size of rug pad you order) to dispose of, but the tube can be used for projects or recycled. The GG rug pad is a bit more expensive (still reasonable), but you don't have to worry about creases in the rug pad that can make the rug uneven until they flatten out. It's also easier to trim the rug pad because it lays perfectly flat.
I linked to the Gorilla Grip one! It's awesome.
I was referring to the GG one that is like the Martha Stewart by Safavieh one you chose, not the thinner one in the grid-like pattern by GG that is linked in the post. It's more expensive, but it's cushy like the MS one and comes rolled instead of folded.
I've used a similar carpet tape to what you have listed, and will never use it again. I put it under my entryway runner because various rug pads wouldn't keep it in place with all the foot traffic. On the plus side, it kept the rug in place very well. On the negative side, when I took the tape up it left horrible sticky marks on my hardwood floor, and I had to scrub the floor on my hands and knees with multiple products before I could get it up!
I had the same problem with this! I'll never use it again.
I've had the same issue with other carpet tape! It was a nightmare. But this one promises to leave no tacky residue and the reviews are affirming.
Goo Gone!
Saturate the stickiness with Goo Gone. Let it sit for a couple of minutes to really penetrate the stickiness... Then gently rub off. Depending on how much is there, you may need to repeat a couple of times.
I have wall to wall carpet and certain rugs always slip and slide around. I recently found by putting some of the microfiber cleaning cloths under the rug that it keeps it anchored. I used some older cheap ones that I had in my cleaning basket. I put one in each corner and one on the edge where the rug is most walked on.
Hope this tip helps someone else!
Cool!
Wow!
I know you guys don't have an IKEA near you but for those that do--they sell the same kind of grippy pad as that Martha Stewart one you linked to but they are cheaper! (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60300345/)
I have the IKEA pads under ALL my rugs and they work fabulously. I swear by them.
Thanks! On my list for this weekend! Our kitchen rug is becoming a hazard/ nuisance.
Chris & Julia, did you just cut the rug pad to fit and layer it between the two rugs or does it adhere to the bottom of the top rug? The rug pad on the link looks thicker than the one in the picture of Chris cutting it. Just looking to get more info before i commit. We have a similar rug problem and in the past when I've bought those thin rug pads they just bunch up under the rug or move around and creep out from an edge.
I would love to find something that really truly works.
Thanks for all your hard work!
Nicole
We just layered it in between. The fibers are really, really grippy on both sides so it stays firmly in place.
We tried the calking route to keep our rug in place and it left sticking marks all over our wood laminate. It took a long time time to get it off.
I found this amazing item, Safety Grips by The Stay Put Rug, bought it on Amazon, and all I had to do was peel it and stick it in the corners of my throw rugs. They have survived an 8 year old boy and a Jack Russell! The rugs have not moved, and left no debris on my hardwoods or carpet!
Great tip!