Tips for Using Area Rugs Over Carpet

To answer the question “Can we use area rugs over carpet?” Yes, you can lay rugs on the carpet, let’s find out how.

Carpets became a fixture in just about every home during the latter half of the 20^th Century as carpet became a more affordable option.  As more families benefitted from home-ownership, spending money on the interior décor became a popular way of showcasing your home and your taste in décor.  “Keeping up with the Joneses” almost became a sport as people living on housing estates vied to outdo their neighbors and have the most envied home and furnishings on the street!

The most obvious (and one of the most expensive) demonstrations of luxury living were the installation of wall-to-wall carpet – a true sign that you’d “arrived”.  Not only were you the proud owner of your own home, but you also had the money to decorate the interior to show off your individual style and taste.   Carpets were installed almost everywhere – in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, etc.  Some people even had wall-to-wall carpet laid in the bathroom – not the most practical flooring solution in the dampest room in the house!

Area Rugs over Carpet

With so many homeowners eager to show off their carpets, keeping the carpet spotlessly clean became a popular pastime.  Sales of vacuum cleaners increased rapidly, carpet cleaning devices appeared on the market (who remembers the Bex Bissel home carpet shampoo machine?) and people began installing new carpet on a more regular basis.  However, when it came to spills and stains, most were almost impossible to remove, and light-colored rugs (initially a popular choice in bedrooms which spread to other areas of the home) soon began to look dull and dingy.

A popular way of prolonging the life of a carpet was to add an area rug to the parts of the carpet that suffered the heaviest footfall.  A rug placed over the carpet helped to cut down on wear and tear in the busier parts of the room – in some cases a rug would be added to cover a dreadful stain or a patch of carpet that had become a bit threadbare!   In bedrooms, a bedside rug would often be added to ensure that there was a soft and comfortable patch to step onto when barefoot and getting out of bed in the mornings.

Laminate Flooring with Floorboards

In recent years, floorboards have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in many homes.  Homeowners who don’t have wooden floorboards under the carpets haven’t missed out on this home décor trend – we now have laminate flooring that is easy to install on concrete floors, providing the look of floorboards without the expense of installation.

Laminate flooring is surprisingly warm underfoot, but still looks (and feels) a lot more luxurious with the addition of a rug.  In fact, a stylish area rug placed in front of the hearth or added to the living room seating area makes for an interesting feature, as well as adds that extra touch of warmth.  Placing rugs over floorboards of laminate flooring also cuts down on the amount of noise – an important issue in apartment buildings where the people living below may be disturbed by noise from upstairs.

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Adding Area Rugs for Home Decor

Rugs are a vital home décor accessory and, although traditional rugs are still available, modern rugs are available in so many different colours, designs, and textiles that they can be used to transform a room from an ordinary space into a stunning style statement.

• Adding a brightly colored rug is a great way to revamp your room without going to the trouble and expense of redecorating. If your sofas are looking a little tired, just add a throw and some brightly coloured cushions, and then place some rugs on the carpet in front of the sofas.  If your bedroom looks bland and boring, grab yourself a new bedspread or throw, add a rug in matching colours and transform the room, gaining a whole new look without having to break the bank.
• A rug in the dining room is a great way to protect the carpet or flooring under the table. Make sure you choose a rug that is big enough to extend out from under the table by a couple of feet to make it easier to use the chairs.  A stylish dining room look features bold colour on the walls, plain carpet or flooring, and a rug and matching table linens that add a bright splash of colour to your eating space.
• Adding the right types of outdoor rugs can make a huge difference to so many rooms in your home. Living rooms and bedrooms benefit from the addition of a chunky rug that adds texture as well as colour and interest.  A rug in the kitchen is essential as you spend more time on your feet in the kitchen, so adding a rug makes the whole cooking experience more comfortable.

Points to Consider While Using Area Rugs over Carpet

When it comes to using area rugs on carpet, there are a few issues to consider making sure you get the right look:

• The most important factor is to make sure you don’t pop a patterned rug on top of a patterned carpet as the patterns are likely to clash. If your carpet is patterned, it’s best to choose a plain rug in one of the colours that feature in the pattern.
• However, if your carpet is plain, feel free to let your imagination run wild and add a rug that’s heavily patterned to add interest to the floor – again, choose a pattern in shades that complement your living room furniture without clashing with the background colour of the carpet.
• Make sure you choose a rug that’s large enough to fill any empty space on the floor – a small rug dropped into the middle of a large expanse of carpet will just look as if you haven’t been able to afford the right size rug for the space.
• An area rug on the carpet must be properly anchored down to avoid a tripping hazard – this is just as true of bedroom rugs on the carpet as it is for a rug in any other room.
• If you’re using a rug on laminate flooring or on top of floorboards, it’s a good idea to use some sort of grip tape to stop the rug from sliding around.