Smooth down any air bubbles that might be trapped between the pad and the area rug.
How to put down a rug pad.
Not just any pad will do though.
You must lay the rug pad at the location where you wish to place the rug.
Subtract 2 inches from both the length and the width of the rug to get the measurements for the rug pad.
If using the waffle pad style of carpet pad the waffle side of the carpeting pad should be face up for maximum cushioning and it is cut to fit inside the tackless strips with about gap so that the carpet itself can be attached to the tackless strips and the padding does not interfere with the securing of the carpet.
It gives time for the area rug s fibers to relax and for the rug pad to settle on the floor.
Lay the rug pad out on the floor and measure the length that you determined for the pad down the side of the rug pad.
Placing the rug pad.
Using the washi tape as a guide roll out your area rug pad and place the area rug directly on top.
These types of pads are specially designed to help keep an area rug from shifting and rippling over the carpet.
You may use a rug pad of the same size of the rug.
If you can live with a mismatched area rug and rug pad on the floor for a couple of days i strongly recommend this step.
Clean the whole room to ensure that the pad will stay securely in place.
There is a non slip rug pad designed for pretty much every use of an area rug including holding an area rug over broadloom.
Wait 1 2 days before trimming.
Placing a pad under a rug not only prevents the rug from slipping on your hardwood floor it also makes the rug more comfortable for walking.
Once you have placed the rug pad place the area rug directly on top of this non slip pad.
These are generally referred to as carpet to carpet pads.
Cut straight across the pad to cut a piece slightly shorter than the length of the carpet.