Asked on Mar 14, 2016

How to stop an area rug from bunching up on top of another carepet

Michael
by Michael
I am a renter so I'm very limited to what I'm " allowed " to do in my apartment.
The biggest problem I have is, I have a very nice area rug that extends out from the edge of my sectional sofa, which is on top of the carpet that is throughout my apartment. On top of this area rug I've placed only my coffee table. The area rug keeps bunching up creating , what I call, hills.
Can anyone suggest a remedy to prevent carpet on top of carpet from bunching up.
Many Thanks,
RevereMike
  10 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 14, 2016
    You can get a double sided tape from a hardware store just make sure it will not harm the floor.
  • MN Mom MN Mom on Mar 14, 2016
    I would use a non-slip carpeting or rug backer under the area rug and NOT tape. Tape will only harm the existing carpeting. A rug backer should be available wherever area rugs are sold such as Target, WalMart or a home improvement store. The are easy to adjust to work with just about any size rug.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 14, 2016
    as stated previously I said as long as the tape wold not harm the floor
  • Carole Carole on Mar 15, 2016
    Try Velcro, attach it to the reverse side of your rug.
  • Susan Susan on Mar 15, 2016
    I too, lived in an apt. and used a thin gray felt-like gripper that is sticky. They come in sizes like 3' x 5', 5' x 7', 8' x 10' etc. I found it works better than the rubber gripper kind. But, what I found is a stiff back area rug works best, over carpet. It is the softer, light weight rugs that make the hills. Also, it helps to anchor the area rug under your couch or loveseat. Also, you can order from Ikea or check Amazon. And... if the gray felt-like sticky rug gripper, is a little large, you can fold the ends under, or cut it. I found this gray felt-like sticky ones last forever! Have fun decorating your apartment!
  • Mavis Ens Mavis Ens on Mar 15, 2016
    You can get a tube of silicone caulking and run lines of it on the backside of the area rug, making sure to run close to the corners and all around the edge - then several rows of it spaced across the rest of the back. I've done it on small area rugs and they can be washed. If the silicone comes off, you can easily redo it. Let the silicone cure (dry) at least 24 hours before using the area rug on top of the carpeting. Personally, I'm not fond of rug backers, mine always slip and end up peeking out.
  • Michael Michael on Mar 19, 2016
    I used one of the posts and bought a mat gripper. So far, so good! A Huge Thank you to everyone who responded. I LOVE this site!
  • ADub ADub on Jun 08, 2020

    Ok here’s what I did because my area rug on carpet bunched every time I walked on it! I have an 8x10 rug so I got a piece of the thinnest plywood from Lowe’s and had it cut 7.5 x 9.5. I got the 3M Dual Lock (very heavy duty Velcro) and pot 4 inch strips every 2 feet across the top and bottom of the plywood, and every 3 feet around the sides. Then I placed the rug over it. Once perfectly placed I took the adhesive off the back of the Velcro and it’s working perfectly to keep the rug in place. And I don’t have to worry about the adhesive from the Velcro damaging my carpet.


    Problem solved!

    • Linny Linny on Jul 24, 2020

      Did you have a coffee table over the area rug over carpet?

  • Sharon Sharon on Jul 24, 2020

    I use this for all my caregiving clients runners and area carpets, and in my own home for 2 very large area rugs witha coffee table on top. https://www.amazon.com/Mohawk-Home-Rug-Gripper-Ivory/dp/B004AWJNQG/ref=sr_1_38?dchild=1&keywords=mohawk+carpet+to+carpet+tape&qid=1595617828&sr=8-38 you can find this in most home store carpet depts.

    Best of all you can rip up the rug and no nasty adhesive residue on either rug.

  • Sharon Sharon on Dec 04, 2020

    They make a carpet tape for carpet to carpet, is kinda like an open weave that doesn't leave glue on the carpets but holds well..... they sell it at most carpet departments in home stores.... https://www.amazon.com/Mohawk-Home-Rug-Gripper-Ivory/dp/B004AWJNQG/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=mohawk+carpet+to+carpet+tape+for+area+rugs&qid=1607140456&sr=8-13 I use this with lots of my clients taping down runners and area rugs to prevent falls.