How To Layer Rug Over Carpet

A neutral color with a cut wool pile and no heathering or interesting variation.

How to layer rug over carpet.

You want the rug to bring life to the floor like in laura s adorable melbourne home shown above where she layered a graphic flat weave over beige carpet and a basic tiled hearth. Area rugs generally work best over short pile or looped carpet. Rugs should always be anchored whether used on a hardwood floor or on top of carpet. On a hard floor an untethered rug is more likely to slide or slip but when layering area rugs over carpet the rug is more likely to wrinkle or ripple.

Layering rugs gives you license to have a little fun but don t go rug wild. The key to layering carpet over carpet is to vary the texture. Likewise if you have a plush style of carpet installed choosing a low profile berber or woven rug is your best bet. In those cases laying a thick luxurious shag rug adds a wonderful sense of softness and elegance to the space.

When laying the rug over carpet however the concern is more about the rug wrinkling or rippling which presents a big tripping hazard wrinkling will occur because as one area of the rug is stepped on it will shift assuming it is not properly. In those cases laying a thick luxurious shag rug can add a softness and elegance to the space. The key to layering rugs over carpet is to vary the texture. In most cases wall to wall carpeting is very basic.

As a rule of thumb you can layer two or three rugs at a time but experts say that two is considered the sweet spot.