Rug Pad Buying Guide
Lay your rug down like a pro, and don’t forget a rug pad to keep it safely in place.
You probably already know that adding a new rug to your space is one of the biggest-impact design decisions you can make, but have you given much thought to what goes beneath it? The right rug pad can help your rug last longer, protect your floors, prevent slips and even reduce noise. Read on to learn which rug pad is right for you.
What is a rug pad?
Simply put, a rug pad is a piece of material that sits between your area rug and the floor. Rug pads can be made from various materials and come in a range of thicknesses, depending on your needs.
Why do you need a rug pad?
Without a rug pad, your area rug is more likely to slip, bunch up, move out of position or even cause damage to your floors.
Benefits of rug pads:
- Protects floors from abrasion
- Keeps your rug from slipping, sliding or bunching
- Provides firm, stable footing
- Keeps your rug in place while vacuuming
- Makes your rug feel softer and cushier underfoot
- Creates a more comfy spot for playing with children
- Extends the life of your rug by cushioning against abrasive contact with hard flooring
Where to use rug pads:
- Areas where you prefer added cushion
- To secure the rug firmly in place, ideally for use in high traffic areas
- Recommended especially for households with pets or children
- Optimal for use on tile and uneven surfaces, including wood, laminate, vinyl and marble
How to Choose the Right Rug Pad
Here at Rugs Direct we offer rug pads that work with all types of rugs and home environments including outdoor rugs, radiant heat systems, hard flooring, and carpeting. We’ll look at the three main types of rug pads including outdoor, gripping and cushioned, so you can choose the perfect rug pad for your space.
Outdoor Rug Pads
When to choose an outdoor rug pad:
Outdoor rug pads are specially designed to stand up to the moisture, wear and tear that occurs when your rug is exposed to the elements. Our outdoor rug pads resist moisture, mold and mildew, and can also be used indoors in high traffic and high-humidity areas, such as the mudroom, kitchen and bath.
Gripping Rug Pads
When to choose a gripping rug pad:
Gripping rug pads are important if you have smooth flooring like hardwood, tile or linoleum because without a gripping rug pad your rug can slip and slide. Slim, gripping rug pads can also be helpful underneath really thick and fluffy high-pile rugs like a shag rug, where you might not want to add more height, or in a spot where your rug needs to fit below the level of a door opening. Round gripping pads are available.
Cushioned Rug Pads
When to choose a cushioned rug pad:
Our thickest rug pad is also the most versatile, thanks to a reversible design that allows you to use it on either hard flooring or carpeting. This luxuriously thick rug pad is, however, not recommended for use with runners or smaller rugs on hard surface floors. Round cushioned pads are availble.
Benefits of cushioned rug pads:
- Large spaces where keeping noise down is a concern can benefit from thick, cushioning rug pads. These can actually help buffer noises to help create a quieter, more soothing space.
- A thicker, cushioning rug pad can also add an insulating quality to your floors, actually helping to keep your space feeling warmer in winter.
- Cushioned rug pads are good underneath rough or textured rugs like natural fiber area rugs.
- Our thickest rug pad is safe for use over radiant heat flooring.
- Provides ultimate comfort whether standing for prolonged periods or sitting on the rug to play with kids.
- Fully reversible design is made of synthetic fiber with natural rubber backing.
Rug pad sizing tips:
- You can easily trim most rug pads with scissors, so it’s best to go up slightly in size rather than choose a rug pad that is much too small.
- We recommend trimming the rug pad 2 to 3 inches smaller than the rug on all sides.
