Rug Pad Guide: Why You Need One and How to Choose the Right Type

A rug pad is the unglamorous purchase that makes everything else work better. It protects your floor, extends your rug's life, prevents dangerous slipping, and makes the rug feel softer underfoot. Yet most people either don't use one or use the wrong type.

Why You Need a Rug Pad

Safety: A rug without a pad on a hard floor is a slip hazard. Flatweave kilims especially can shift significantly underfoot without a pad. This is not a minor inconvenience; it is a fall risk.

Floor protection: The grit that accumulates under a rug acts like sandpaper on hardwood and tile when the rug shifts. A pad elevates the rug slightly and prevents this abrasion.

Rug longevity: A rug that slips and bunches wears unevenly and develops stress points at the creases. A stable rug on a pad wears evenly and lasts significantly longer.

Types of Rug Pads

Natural rubber: The best grip on hard floors. Thin, grippy, allows air circulation. Safe on hardwood, tile, and stone. Look for 100% natural rubber — not synthetic rubber or PVC, which can damage floors.

Felt: Adds the most cushioning. Less grippy than rubber alone. Best for rooms where comfort underfoot matters most. Ideal on carpet.

Felt + rubber combination: The most versatile. Rubber side down for grip, felt side up for cushioning. Works on hard floors and low-pile carpet.

How to Size a Rug Pad

Cut the pad 5–7cm smaller than the rug on all sides. The pad should be completely hidden under the rug with no edges visible.

Our kilim rugs pair perfectly with a natural felt pad: Browse our collection — handwoven, flat-weave, ships from Italy.