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.
The Spruce / Jessica Lombardi
Here are expert-backed tips to help you do it properly.
Meet the Expert
Can You Put an Area Rug on Carpet?
What Is Broadloom?
Nadia Watts Interior Design
Broadloom refers to woven, wall-to-wall carpeting seen typically in bedrooms, living rooms, and basements.
Trisha Knight, the co-founder of the design firm Knight Varga Interiors, agrees.
“The top rug becomes a feature framed by the bottom rug,” Knight explains.
Amy Leferink at Interior Impressions
In addition, avoid mixing patterns when layering rugs.
The solid-colored carpet will balance out the pattern of the area rug.
Using acolor wheelis helpful.
Or, choose an area rug with the same color as the carpet underneath but in a different texture.
Rug Size Matters
The Spruce / Jessica Lombardi
Thearea rug’s sizemust fit the room’s scale.
Rugs that are too small for the space look awkward and out of place.
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.
Buying the wrong-sized rug can lead to your space looking awkward or disproportionate.
An area rug may move depending on its backing and thecarpeting’s style.
Ideally, furniture should hold the area rug down on all four sides.
Non-Slip Rug Pad
Watts also advisesusing a rug padwhen placing an area rug over a carpet.
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 orblooming of the carpet fibersunderneath the area rug because of repeated friction from movement.
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.
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.
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.
There are many benefits to placing a rug over a carpet.
Rug gripper, called rug tape, works on all floor surfaces, including carpet.
Properly anchoring an area rug over the carpet is key to preventing bunching.
Some anchoring methods include using rug tape, a rug pad, or furniture.
Yes, you might screw or nail a rug down on a carpet as a means of anchoring it.
Yes, use a rug pad under an area rug layered on a carpet.
While you don’t need the extra padding, a rug pad protects your carpet from wear.
