The topic of whether to place a rug over carpet is a rather controversial one in the interior-design world. Some feel extremely offended by the prospect, whereas others don’t feel limited at all by the presence of carpet. We firmly believe that, if done right, rugs over carpet can be a match made in heaven and also a great way of dividing the space into separate sections or specific rooms. After all., beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Check out our top design tips for rugs on carpet, in order to help you truly master the look.
Variation in Texture
To successfully place a rug on top of carpet, it’s extremely important that the texture of the rug differs from that of your carpet. If you have a thick, plush carpet, we recommend styling it with a woven or low-pile rug. This way, you’re creating a contrast. On the other hand, if you have a short-pile carpet, you can place a thick and shaggy rug over it to create an added layer of texture.
Pattern is Important
If you have a plain and simple one-colour carpet, placing an area rug over carpet can be a great way of introducing some pattern and excitement; particularly if your carpet is neutral. Geometric patterns are very on-trend and can introduce some style and interest to your space, looking great over a neutral carpet. Distressed Persian rugs are also extremely popular at the moment, and they can work well in both a traditional or modern space. One of the advantages of choosing to place rugs on carpet is that you can experiment and keep up with trends without committing to a whole new carpet, which is more costly and much more effort for you.
Bold Contrast
Under most circumstances, contrasting rugs and carpets can be a little too much. However, there are situations where this can work. If your carpet is very dark in colour, you could choose a rug that has a major contrast of bright bold colours and intricate patterns.
Importance of Colour Consideration
The benefit of neutral carpets is that you can introduce coloured rugs on the carpet. Bold modern coloured rugs are a great statement as long as they don’t clash with your existing rug or the rest of your room – this could be a busy nightmare that you will want to avoid. A pop of colour doesn’t have to be introduced with no pattern, the two can work together in perfect harmony. Traditional rugs often incorporate a few bold colours, which can work really well over a plain carpet. To combine the old and the new, why not place a bold and modern colour over a traditional pattern? Remember, it’s all dependent on the look you want to go for!
Size
Before deciding on the size of rug to place on top of your carpet, you first need to identify the purpose of the rug. Is it to introduce some pattern? Break up a space? Or, cover as much of the carpet as possible? If the latter, bigger is obviously better. But if you’re going for something bold and patterned, less is often more. You don’t want to consume space with a busy rug. If you’re looking to segment your space, you can introduce a few different rugs in the space, just as long as they complement each other.
How do you Keep a Rug Flat on Carpet?
Preventing ripples and waves appearing in rugs as well as ensuring that the rug doesn’t move around, can be annoying tasks, particularly when a rug over carpet is concerned. However, there are two simple things that can be done in order to stop trip-hazardous ripples appearing and movement occurring:
1. Anchor with furniture to prevent movement
Although rug movement is more of a problem when it comes to rugs on non-carpeted floors, the need to make sure the rug stays put and doesn’t ripple is still there and the amount to which the rug will move will be determined by the style of rug it is, as well as the backing the rug has. The rug on the carpet needs to be anchored by furniture around it to ensure it doesn’t move, this could be an armchair, some side storage or even a coffee table and the best way to determine this is by simply having a play around with the furniture layout of the room.
2. Use non-slip mats
As an alternative to anchoring the rug with furniture (if you have little furniture in the space or don’t want to move things around too much), you can use non-slip mats underneath your rug. These mats provide an extra non-slip layer below the rug to prevent it from moving and therefore rippling.
Be Confident
With our useful design tips up your sleeve, you’re bound to create a good combination of rug and carpet. Trust your instincts and enjoy the space you have created! Rugs are a great way of updating a space without having to replace your carpet, so please check out our blog for more useful design tips, to help transform your space without spending too much in the process.