How to Keep Rugs from Slipping on Laminate Floors

Gorgeous rugs are always a great design addition to any room. However, an unsecured rug rarely stays in place. Aside from the eyesore it can be to see a rug bunch up or creep away from its original location, it can also be dangerous for you and your family members to have a throw rug on a slippery floor. Keeping around thin rugs can be a fall hazard while walking around, because it’s so easy for the rug to skid underfoot.

So how do you keep your rug from slipping on a laminate or wood floor? There are a number of tricks you can try to prevent rugs from sliding around on a floor surface. Whether you have a laminate floor, a hardwood floor, a vinyl floor, or a tiled floor, you can use these things to stop rugs from moving around:

• Furniture
• Caulking 
• Rug Pad
• Rug Grip Tape
• Velcro
• Non-Slip Backing
• Rubber Shelf Lining
• Floor Underlay 

Keeping Rugs in Place on Laminate Flooring

Placing a beautiful rug on your hardwood, tile, or laminate floor can definitely add a bright pop of color and texture in any room. Aside from livening up the atmosphere and warming up your feet, a rug can also cushion your wood flooring against furniture scratches. 

However, most rugs don’t have a backing attached to help it stay put. This means the rug is likely to slide whenever you walk on it, which is especially dangerous for running children and pets. The risk is doubled if you have hardwood, tile, or laminate flooring, as these floor types are smooth and polished. Here are some ways you can keep rugs in place to keep unwanted accidents from occuring:

1) Furniture

At first, it may not seem like the best solution to place a heavy piece of furniture on your rug. You may not see the rug clearly and it won’t be very useful for cushioning your laminate or wood floor against foot traffic. However, this is the simplest and cheapest answer to the problem. 

Simply anchor your bed, dresser, couch, or coffee table to the rug, without covering it completely. While this doesn’t stop the rug from curling, rumpling, or lifting at corners, it’s less likely to creep across your floor or carpet because it’s weighed down. The technique is best for area rugs or living room rugs which are large enough to be placed under several items or one large piece of furniture. For a dining room rug, a quality underlay would work better, as you have to move chairs in and out frequently. 

2) Caulking

If your rug isn’t very expensive, you can simply apply acrylic-latex caulking to hold it in place. Put a bead of caulking on the back and along the edges of the rug, then apply caulk lines to the middle. Use a putty knife to flatten the bead head to create good adhesion between the caulking and the rug. Leave your rug in a well-ventilated room where it won’t be disturbed. 

Once the caulking dries completely, you can place the rug over your carpet or laminate floor. Ensure that the caulking is totally dry, as it can leave adhesive residue on hardwood flooring. The dried silicone caulk will “grip” your laminate floor easily. You can also achieve a similar effect with a glue gun. If your rug is expensive or antique, it’s best to avoid this solution because the adhesive can pull at the fibers and damage the rug. 

3) Rug Pad

A non slip rug pad is one of the easiest ways to secure a rug or floor mat to a slippery surface. A rubber rug pad is a thin pad with a waffle pattern, so they serve as a grip between oriental rugs and a hard floor. A non slip pad can be cut perfectly to fit beneath your pad so it can reduce noise, absorb shock, and keep your rug secure atop a laminate floor. A rug pad often varies in thickness and durability, so it’s important to choose the right rug pad thickness based on the amount of traffic the area is subject to. In a room with light traffic, a thin, natural rubber rug pad can work fine but a thicker rug pad is essential for higher traffic areas. 

It’s important to choose a quality rug pad, as some cheap rubber pads are coated in adhesives that can damage your floor with a sticky residue. Instead of a rubber pad, you should consider using a felt rug pad for cushioning and protection. Coated with a natural rubber backing, felt pads work well on wood, laminate, and marble surfaces. 

4) Rug Gripper Tape 

Rug tape, also known as rug grippers or anti slip rug tape, are often used for both rugs and large carpets. Carpet tape is effective in gripping both the rug and laminate flooring without leaving a scratch on either of them. It’s also really easy to reposition the rug when you need to, as the tape releases itself quickly from the carpet when it’s lifted. It’s important to choose a good carpet tape so it won’t leave behind residue when you remove it; carpet tape should not be used on an antique or expensive rug. 

Choose the right tape for your rug based on the material it’s made of and the type of surface you’re trying to stick it to. For example, a jute rug is especially slippery so you would need an aggressive rug gripper if you’re trying to stick it to cement or hardwood. Seam tape and masking carpet tape are some particularly strong carpet tape types. You can also choose among acrylic foam tape, double sided carpet tape, or even a spray-on coating -- if you’re not interested in using an adhesive. 

5) Velcro 

Velcro is a good option for sticking a rug or a carpet in place. Stick the Velcro hook (scratchy surface) onto the floor by peeling off the protective backing on the strip’s adhesive side. Place the Velcro loop (soft surface) behind the rug. Take your time and be careful in attaching both sides together, as the adhesive is very strong; you won’t be able to adjust the strips without ripping them off and damaging your laminate floor with glue. Whenever you need to wash it, you can simply detach the Velcro strips then re-attach the rug onto the floor when dry. 

6) Non-Slip Backing 

Maybe you’re planning to buy a brand new rug or thinking to replace an old rug. If this is the case, you can purchase a rug with non-slip backing to save you from the stress of looking for ways to keep your rug from sliding. Rugs with a grippy, latex gel backing are easy to find in many stores. 

One problem with buying a rug that has a non-slip backing is that the backing material can harm the surface of a laminate floor. The lack of air can create a reaction between the backing and the floor’s finish, which can discolor the floor and leave a yellowish residue. The backing material may also deteriorate and get stuck to the floor, requiring you to scrape the rubber off and risk scratching the finish. To prevent this, you may need to place a rubber carpet pad with a corrugated or honeycomb design that allows air to circulate between the rug and the floor. 

7) Rubber Shelf Lining 

Creative homeowners on the internet suggest using rolls of non-skid rubber shelf liner to hold a rug in place. This is a thrifty substitute for a rug pad, although it may not always be efficient. Rubber shelf lining works best with small rugs made of lightweight materials. If you’re going this route, it’s important to check your laminate or vinyl flooring after a few weeks or months after use, to make sure no sticky adhesive or glue residue is stuck to your floor. 

8) Floor Underlay 

A quality underlay is ideal for carpet runners and rugs in high-traffic areas of the house. Placing an anti slip underlay beneath the rug can add a “grip” and keep it from slipping on wood or laminate. Aside from a regular floor underlay, there are also anti slip rug underlay products designed for carpeted floors; these are manufactured to provide the best support for the rug without damaging the carpet underneath. 

Zothex Flooring: Sacramento’s Leading Floor Experts 

Choosing and installing a floor as you design or remodel your home can be a stressful experience. At Zothex Flooring, we save you from a headache by providing world-class, personalized customer-service; from start to finish, we’ll help you make the best flooring decisions. Come and share your vision with our design team. Call Zothex Flooring today to learn more about our high-quality products and services.

Learn more: What Is The Best Underlayment for Laminate Flooring?