You bet you can! If you know us, you know we love rugs, and that includes rolling them out on top of existing carpet, too. It’s a go-to trick for sprucing up rentals, an easy way to bring in character with color and pattern, and so much more! Ready to learn if adding a rug over carpet is right for your space? Keep reading to find out!
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The Case for Putting a Rug Over Carpet
It’s a go-to move for rentals!
Do you live in a rental where you can’t replace the carpet? Here’s your solution: Roll out a rug! It’s the perfect low-cost way to give your space a fresh new look—while still allowing for you to get that security deposit back.
It’s more affordable than replacing carpet.
If you don’t love the carpet in your home, but don’t have room in your budget to replace it, layering on some large area rugs is a great way to get a new look for a low cost. And if you do decide to eventually get rid of the carpet? You’ve already got rugs that fit in perfectly with the space! In fact, this cost-saving, area-rug solution is a classic living room carpet transformation.
It adds extra cushion in bedrooms and kids’ areas.
You can add a rug over carpet in any area of your home, but our favorite places are in kids’ rooms and bedrooms–both spaces that you want to make as cushy and comfortable as possible!
It’s an easy way to bring in color and pattern.
Feeling like you need to add a little oomph to your space? A new area rug over carpet is just the thing you need to get the job done! We have thousands of options available in a wide array of patterns, colors, and styles—making it easy to find a look you’ll love that will be a gorgeous complement to your home.
It’s perfect for covering up spills and stains.
From pesky food stains to muddy shoe tracks, our carpet can go through a lot! For any spots that just won’t budge, consider rolling out a rug on top to conceal the spot—and to bring a brand new look to your space!
It’s great for open-concept spaces and creating separate areas.
We love open floor plans, we really do! But it can be tricky to create separate but cohesive spaces within them. Our favorite solve for this is to start by rolling out multiple area rugs in the room, which will help add separation and make each area feel more like its own.
How to Layer a Rug Over Carpet
Find your perfect size.
This is the first step—and one of the most important!—in finding your ideal rug. Learn all about finding the perfect size in our guides here.
Think about color.
Before landing on a rug, consider the colors present in the rest of the space—including the carpet. We know most carpet comes in neutral tones, but that’s not always the case! So you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing a rug that won’t clash with the carpet, and instead will complement its tones to feel like a cohesive part of the room.
Note that shorter carpet works better with a rug.
When it comes to putting a rug over carpet, be aware that shorter carpet piles will work better and help the rug lay its flattest and look its best.
Anchor with carpet tape or heavy furniture.
You’ll definitely want to secure your rug so there are no accidents or falls. Do this by applying double-sided carpet tape to the bottom of the rug, which can be found at your local hardware or home store. If the rug will be in a room with a lot of heavy furniture, and the furniture will be placed near all the edges of the rug, you can also secure it that way.
