Rug Pads/Ones To Avoid And Putting A Different Kind To The Test

I love to change the look and feel of the rooms in our home by switching out the area rugs every so often. Sometimes I just rotate them through to other rooms or, if I come across an amazing sale, I’ll buy a new one.  I’m frugal so I will put up with something I no longer care for to get a good bargain and luckily that’s just what happened this month. 

EXISTING RUG…

This rug I’m replacing is generally in very good shape. I’ll shampoo it with my Bissell and definitely find it a new place in my home or sell it on Facebook Marketplace. Either way it won’t just get tossed.

When I originally chose this size rug to go under the dining room table I thought it would ground the table and make the room feel a little larger if more of the wood flooring was revealed.  Now I feel the rug just looks to small. 

It also reveals to much of the discolored wood where previous damage had occurred before we moved into the home.

Though the floors were professionally sanded three times over, the previous owners pets stains were so deep into the wood the only option left is to replace the stained wood with new pieces or completely strip and re-stain the floors a darker color.  We are currently in the beginning stages of a fireplace reno in our family room so neither are good options at this time.

CLEAN UP…

The recurrent problem↓↓↓

This is the last time I want to deal with this mess when I take up an area rug. Originally I thought it was because the pad was aged or maybe I just bought low quality but that isn’t the case here. Every time I’ve purchased the pads made of recycled synthetic fiber and felt, whether I buy high or low, they breakdown terribly leaving a big mess. 

This dining room is by no means a high traffic area but the remaining debris is always the same. Half of that gray stuff is stuck and needs to be scraped away with a plastic scrapper, which I dislike doing for fear of damaging the floors, the rest looks and feels like straight up dirt!

No matter the thickness or price of these types of pads I’ve purchased, it’s the same result each time…YUK! 

Here’s the floor freshly cleaned. Except for the unfortunate stains at the top of the picture the floors are in great shape.  For now sanding and re-staining is going to remain on the list of to-dos.

NEW RUG PAD…

It’s always recommended to put a pad under area rugs covering wood floors. They not only protect the floor surface but thicker ones provide some extra cushion. These pvc covered rubber pads I’m hoping will work out better. Since my rug is under my dining room table I don’t have any concerns about slipping or any extra cushion, I’m primarily interested in floor protection. 

These pads can be easily cut to size and are very affordable. The thicker varieties do provide some extra cushion and they do help hold the rug in place. The one complaint I did see someone make was that the pad left a waffle pattern on their newly finished wood flooring. Since my floors were last sanded and finished more then 10 years ago I’m not very concerned about that happening to ours.

Fingers crossed. I’m going to start doing progress checks on ours in three months to see how they are holding up.

NEW DINING ROOM RUG…

The new rug was purchased on line. Once opened and laid out, it was recommended to only give it a light vacuum. I love the neutral colors and faded pattern. It’s very versatile. The other up side is, since I sized up, most of the stains are now covered and you can still see the a decent amount of the wood flooring. This picture was taken the first day we laid the rug in place.

This is two days later. Still wavy and needs to relax more before the weights can be removed but look at that pretty pattern:)

For our home these faded neutrals are the way to go. I will be able to use this rug in any room of my home. I think this pattern can add charm and warmth to so many different design styles.

When I decide I want to change a room, I like to start by adding one element first and letting that lead the way and help with inspiration to decorate the space.

So I’m excited to see where this rug brings me. (I can already tell the curtains need to go:)

Thank you for stopping by and if you have a recommendation on rug pads please leave it in the comments:)

Roni♥