How to Repair Area Rug Bunching

Place a felt-rug pad under the area rug when it resides on top of another carpet. The felt pad creates friction and keeps the area rug in place while at the same time protecting the underlying carpet. Rubber or nylon pads can sometimes break down, causing discoloration and damage to the carpet beneath the area rug. Carpet pads with a pattern or texture can crush the pattern into the fibers of the underlying carpet in high-traffic areas.

Cut a carpet pad to fit under the area rug when it is placed upon a hard floor surface, using scissors. Rubber or nylon carpet pads offer gripping traction that will keep the pad from bunching in high-traffic areas. Pads with a "no-slip" guarantee work well. Flip the carpet over, unroll the rug pad on top and cut the pad an inch inside the size of the rug all the way around the rug's edges (do not include fringe or trim.) Place the pad on the floor and the rug on top, face up. Uneven cutting of the pad will not be seen---a perfect job is not necessary.

Weight the area rug to keep it in place by creating a seating area on top of the rug. The furniture's weight naturally keeps the rug stable.

Replace the rugs that bunch with thicker, heavier rugs. Lightweight area rugs bunch easily on any surface. The weight of a heavy area rug will help keep the rug in place. Test the weight of the rug by placing it flat on the floor and walking across it. Drag your feet a bit to see how the rug responds. Place a rug pad under the rug and test it again.