Dislodged, crooked, or even creepy rugs can be risky to any home occupants. They are also unattractive, and they can lead to slips and falls. In the guide below, I will explore some of the best techniques to stop area rugs from moving on a carpet at home.
Rugs are not only beautiful, but they are an excellent way to add sophistication, class, and style to your space.
With the many varieties on the market, rugs can help bring life to your bedroom, class in your living room, and a touch of class to your staircase.
On the other hand, rugs tend to slip, wrinkle, or even bunch up on carpets, just like on the tiles and wooded floors.
As a result, they pose a risk of slips and falls. According to NIH: National Institute on aging), 6 out of 10 falls happen within our residents, where the elderly, children, and even our pets tend to spend a lot of time.
Whether the rug is light or heavy, when placed on carpets, they tend to move and curl on the ends, especially in areas with a lot of foot traffic.
Therefore in this article, I will look at some of the reasons why rugs move on carpets and some of the best techniques to stop area rugs from moving on a carpet at home.
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Why Do Area Rugs Move On A Carpeted Floor?
Rug/mat movement is always a concern to people who intend to place them on a carpet along the hallway or even beside the bed.
Below are some reasons why rugs tend to move in a certain direction when placed on a carpet, unlike wooded or tiled floors.
a) Pile/Weave Direction
With continued use, carpet piles (the fabric loops of the carpet) tend to face or lean in one direction. The force of people’s feet makes them face in one direction.
Therefore when a rug is placed on top of a carpet, the pressure of people’s movement will make the rug to slowly and naturally be pushed towards the direction in which the carpet pile is facing.
b) Vacuuming
You will notice that rugs tend to move a lot after vacuuming if you are keen.
When vacuuming, it is always easier to do so towards the side in which the piles are facing.
If you vacuum in the opposite direction, there will be a bit of resistance.
Many people tend to follow the pile direction, thus making it a bit slippery for the mat.
c) Plush And Long Piles
If your carpet piles ate long and plush, definitely your rug will quickly move.
Plush piles are comfortable and soft to touch, making it easy for a rug placed on top to slide.
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How To Stop Area Rugs From Moving On A Carpet At Home: 8 Best Techniques
Moving rugs are both an eyesore and dangerous to the elderly and children.
According to NIH: National Library of Medicine, falls due to curled edges of rugs, loose and unsecured rugs are among the leading causes of unintentional injuries among the elderly.
Due to the risk posed by the moving rugs, I will explore some of the best techniques to stop area rugs from moving on a carpet at home in the article below.
1) Use An Anti-Slip Rug Pad.
Using an anti-slip rug pad is one of the easiest and quickest ways to hold your rug in place over the carpet.
An anti-slip rug pad keeps the rug in place, preventing it from bunching or sliding over the carpet.
The rug pad usually sticks to the bottom of the area rug, while the felt surface of the pad will hold to the carpet pile beneath it.
Rug pads are majorly made of rubber, creating good traction between the rug and the carpet.
They also help keep the rug’s edges to stay flat rather than curling up at the edges, especially if the rug is thin.
The felt surface of the anti-slip rug pad provides extra cushion, making it comfortable to the feel.
In addition, the pad also acts as an additional layer, which aids in absorbing and reducing the noise made by footsteps.
By holding both the carpet and the rug together, the rug pad helps to prolong the life of the carpets and the rug.
2) Anchor Your Rug
If you are looking for a quick, fast, and temporary solution, anchoring your rug with furniture such as sofas, dressing tables, or even dining tables will be the option.
It is often regarded as a free solution.
Unlike sticky tapes, caulking, or even glue which might end up being messy, anchoring rugs is mess-free and easy.
When anchoring your rug, ensure not to hide its beauty with the furniture.
The furniture such as sofas should be placed on the edge or corners of the rug.
An ottoman or a heavy coffee table can also be placed in the very middle part of the rug.
On the other hand, the disadvantage of anchoring a rug is that the area of the rug which is not anchored will always curl up at the corners or move.
3) Apply Silicone Caulk/ Hot Glue Under The Rug
You can easily use caulk if you have an inexpensive rug to keep it from sliding.
Once applied, caulk will always give your rug the extra grip needed to remain in place.
If you have been keen if you check on your indoor warm socks, the small gripper-dots are all made of silicone caulk, and they protect us from sliding.
It is effortless to apply caulk, and you can do it at home by yourself.
You can purchase caulk packed in squeezable tubes or even the one you can apply with the help of a caulking gun.
Apply the caulk at the rug’s edges, and add a few lines crisscrossing the rug.
Flatten the beads with a blunt knife and then let them dry for at least 24 hours. Once dry, the rubber strip at the back of the rug will act as the grip.
4) Use A Double-Sided Stick Tape.
A double-sided stick tape is a cheap, fantastic, and easiest way to hold your rugs in place.
Even though it is not a long-lasting or rather a permanent solution, it will always keep the rug in place temporarily.
You can always find them online or even in your DIY store near you.
The tape will hold your rug firmly to the carpet with its adhesive, keeping it in place while still making vacuuming easier.
The other advantage of the double-sided sticky tape is that it’s not shape-specific.
You can easily use it to stick your rug to the carpet regardless of the shape and size.
It also works perfectly on laminate or wood flooring. On the flip side, the tape is not a long-term solution.
With time due to foot traffic, you will need to be replacing it quite often since the bond would have loosed up.
Also, when removing it, it may pull the carpet’s fibers.
5) Use Rug To Carpet Grippers
Rug to carpet grippers is an easy-to-use double-sided tape used to stick your rug to whatever is below it.
You can use it to stick a rug to a carpet or floor below it.
The grippers secure the rug such that there is no sliding, even when vacuuming.
It helps to ensure the rug stays in place and it does not curl at the corners too.
They secure your rug, thus making it smart and neat and preventing unintended slips and falls.
To install the grippers, just press them into the corners of the rug, remove the adhesive, and press it against the underneath carpet or floor.
Rug grippers are always reusable, and they can be repositioned as need be, and they do not leave any residue on your carpet or floor.
6) Purchase Rug Pins
Rug pins are easy to use, and it’s an easy option when it comes to securing your rug to your carpet.
Although they are not long-lasting, they usually come in handy when you want to secure your decorative and throw rugs to your carpet.
They anchor the rugs to the carpet, preventing them from slipping, curling up, and even bunching up.
When installing, all you need to do is push the angled pin under the pad and towards the direction in which the rug is sliding to secure the rug.
The pins have an oversized head that is visible, and also, they can appear decorative.
7) Use Hook And Loop Anchors (Velcro)
Velcro is a hook and loop fastener which functions as same as the closure of kids’ shoes.
It is a durable and excellent alternative to carpet grippers or double-sided tape.
It is straightforward to install as one side is attached to the rug and the other side to the carpet.
When both sides are pressed together, they form a solid bond, thus holding the rug into position.
It is also easy to clean the rug or even the carpet because all you need is peel it off and detach it.
On the other hand, Velcro is not a long-lasting solution for high-traffic places like the kitchen or hallways.
The consistent impact of the foot can loosen the bond and the fibers too.
8) Quality Of The Rug
The quality of the rug and the backing should be a very crucial consideration when purchasing a rug.
Once the quality is overlooked, then all will not be ok. Therefore when buying a rug, strive to buy an all-inclusive rug.
The rug should be heavyweight and not light. Heavy rugs slide the least as they have a heavy rubber backing, enhancing their grip.
The rug should be considerably bigger, as small rugs are prone to slide.
Heavier rugs are also resistant to wear and tear. Also, buy a rug that already has a non-slip backing.
Some rugs have inbuilt grippers or even raised bumps to enhance anchorage.
Final Thoughts On How To Stop An Area Rugs From Moving On A Carpet At Home
Rugs and mats add class and sophistication to your home. On the other hand, they can be dangerous, especially to the elderly and toddlers.
Once placed on carpets, rugs tend to creep and move in the direction the carpet’s pile is moving.
Therefore to avoid such incidences at home, you need to ensure the rug is contained.
Above are the best techniques on how to stop an area rugs from moving on a carpet at home.
