How to Place Rugs on Carpet

Even if you have wall-to-wall carpeting installed in your home, you still can choose to place area rugs on your carpet. Area rugs can serve many purposes. You can use rugs to reduce the amount of wear and tear on the carpet underneath, as a focal point in a room or as a way to tie a room together. Rugs also add texture and color to the environment. While selecting the appropriate shape, size and color of a rug is important, knowing how to secure the rug to the carpet properly--which keeps the rug from buckling, moving or rolling--also is significant.

Things You'll Need

• Vacuum
• Thin polyester fabric rug pad, coated with adhesive
• Measuring tape
• Scissors or utility knife

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Make sure the carpet is dry and clean. Vacuum the rug to remove any dirt and debris.

   • 2

     Measure the length and width of the area rug you will be placing on the carpet. Do not measure the fringe.

   • 3

     Cut a thin polyester rug pad, coated with adhesive. It should be 1 to 3 inches smaller than the area rug. For example, if you want to make the pad 2 inches smaller, cut 4 inches off the length on one side of the pad and 4 inches off the width on one end of the pad. This will result in a pad that is 2 inches smaller on all sides.

   • 4

     Place the rug pad in the exact area where you want to place the rug. Place the rug on top of it.