Can I Use Large Rolling Ottoman on Braided Rugs

The $13 solution to keep your rugs lying flat! It's easy to use and works perfectly!

Today I want to share a simple tip with you. Have you ever tried to use an area rug over carpet, and been frustrated because it bunches up and buckles where heavy items sit? See the image above for reference.

Last week I shared the first of several peeks into my home office reveal. I showed you how I organize by color , and how I utilized a china hutch for my chalk paint supplies. I also shared a tutorial for creating a giant dry-erase, magnetic memo board from an old picture frame.

Rug buckling

I added an area rug but was having issues with it buckling under the legs of my turquoise desk. The carpet in that room is a neutral (read 'boring') beige. I wanted to use a black and white check area rug that I bought from IKEA several years ago. It was a great size for my small office space, underneath my desk.

However, it never stayed flat. My heavy desk on top caused the area rug to bunch and buckle and make these weird, lumpy waves. It was driving me crazy! I would fix it, turn around and it was lumpy again!

buckling area rug

I was constantly trying to pull and straighten the rug to make it lay flat.

Are you struggling with this issue too and wondering how you can get your area rugs to lay flat without spending a ton of money? Keep reading because the solution is easier and less than you'd think!

Inexpensive Solution

I spent some time online researching this problem, and it seemed like the common solution for this rug buckling problem was the use of a rug pad. I was all set to fork over the $50+ dollars to fix my problem, when I found another product that cost much less...and made my buckling rug a non-issue!

The $12.99 solution I found was double-sided carpet tape! I decided to try it because it's so affordable.

UPDATE: this particular tape I used for this room is no longer available. However, I purchased this carpet tape for my new home in Texas, and it works just as well, maybe even better!

If you'll be using the tape on hardwood floors, I recommend this carpet tape for damage free removal on delicate surfaces.

carpet tape

Have you heard of it? Maybe I've been living under a rock, but I never knew about this product! I ordered it from Amazon, hoping that spending only $12.99 was going to solve my problem!

When it arrived, I removed all the furniture that had been sitting on the rug, and flipped it over.

I ran the tape along the perimeter of the rug, and I put a big X in the middle.

apply to back of rug

The tape is double-sided, so after you have it positioned where you want, you simply peel off the paper that is protecting the sticky side that will be against your carpet.

I flipped the rug back over, pressed it over the carpet and it seriously worked like magic! No more buckling!

stop buckling rugs

The bunching and buckling was gone. My rug lies flat and smooth, even with heavy furniture on top. It simply does not move!

I've had the taped rug in place now for a couple months, and never had to fix it. I'm sure that over time, the tape may need to be replaced...but that's okay because I have most of this large roll left!

I also used the carpet tape on some small area rugs that are in front of my doors (again, over carpet) and it has kept them from moving and shifting around!

I am ecstatic that this problem was solved without having to spend a lot of money! That's my favorite kind of 'fix'!

Update: 5 years later, a new home and I still rely on this simple solution to keeping my area rugs flat and to keep them in place over wood floors!

Love this tip? PIN IT for future reference!

cheap solution for buckling area rugs!

I hope this tip for keeping your area rugs from buckling makes your life a little easier too!

Later on this week, I'll be sharing a favorite dessert recipe that has been in my family for decades... homemade apple pie! If you've never made an apple pie from scratch before, you are going to be ecstatic when I show you just how easy it is!