What Size Rug Pad For 8×10 Rugs?
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An 8×10 rug is quite big to keep in place over both carpet or hardwood floors and enjoy its comfort as well as beauty.
In this case, putting a rug pad under the rug can prevent the rug from buckling, wrinkling, and wearing out.
But if you don’t know what size rug pad for 8×10 rugs and place the wrong size, it will ruin the aesthetic and cause plenty of hazards.
Read more to learn the right size pad for your 8×10 rug along with the process to determine it as well as tips to pick the best one for safety, longevity, and comfort.
What Size Rug Pad For 8×10 Rugs?
For an 8′ x 10 rug, you should use a 7′ 10″ x 9′ 10″ rug pad.
This size rug pad will prevent tripping hazards and prevent curling at the rug edge to keep it in shape and offer peak performance.
How To Measure For A Rug Pad?
Picking the right size rug pad is as important as selecting the right size rug to define furniture groupings and living spaces.
Using the right size rug pad extends the life of the rug by absorbing the traffic wear and tear.
It means determining what size rug pad for your 8×10 rug is extremely crucial.
Choose A Smaller Size Rug Pad
A misconception is that you must purchase the same measurement rug pad for the area rug.
But the reality is that picking the same size rug pad will lower its effectiveness and peek out from the edges of the rug, which will end up ruining the aesthetic.
Instead, you should choose a slightly smaller rug pad than the actual size.
This will let the edge of the rug taper to the floor and prevent tripping hazards from a shoe catching on the rug edge.
A smaller sized rug pad also prevents premature wear and curling at the rug edge as it is walked on.
Another reason to choose a smaller sized rug pad is that it will make the edge of the pad invisible.
Determine The Rug Pad For The Area Rug
The rug may come with or without tassels or fringe. When measuring the pad, you should only care about covering the rug, excluding its fringes.
Don’t worry about the fringe as the pad won’t be under the fringe.
Though you can go with the tags or labels that come with the rug, these aren’t always accurate.
That’s why it’s better to measure the actual rug with a measurement tape.
Remember, rugs may have binding on either side, and you should measure, including the binding.
Then deduct two inches from the width and length of the rug.
If your rug is thicker, deduct three inches and then use the measurement to pick the right size pad for your rug.
For example, if your area rug is 6’ x 9’, you’ll need a 5’ x 8’ rug pad. Large rugs seem fine in the living room, bedroom, or dining room.
Still, its edges can curl and the backing can scratch the floor due to being weighed down by heavy furniture.
If you want to put a thicker pad under large rugs like 10’ x 13’, consider a larger overhang.
So deduct three inches from the measurement of the rug to find the right size pad.
Apart from picking the readymade, sometimes it is necessary to resize the rug pad to get the best fit.
So let’s learn how to resize a rug pad so you can put the right size pad under your area rug.
How To Resize A Rug Pad
Area rugs are available in a range of sizes and shapes. So, considering the size of the rug and the pile height, you have to customize the rug pad.
For your 8’ x 10′ size rug, you need a 7’10′′ x 9’10” rug pad. You’ll need to cut the rug pad for the best fit.
The common rule is to subtract one inch on all four sides. It means for your 7’10′′ x 9’9′′ rug, your pad size should be 7’8′′ x 9’7′′.
Tools required:
- Rug pad.
- Box Cutter or Scissors.
- A Sharpie.
- A Measuring Tape.
- A Piece of Cardboard.
Now, follow these steps to make your rug pad perfectly fit for your new area rug to ensure peak performance and protection:
- Roll out the rug pad on a hard and clean surface.
- Now lay the area rug over the pad.
- Trace the outline of the rug onto the pad with the sharpie and remove it when done.
- Then mark 2 inches inside the marker line with measurement tape.
- Position the rug pad on the cardboard and trim the pad slowly through the smaller outline.
- Place the pad in the right spot, put the area rug over it, and finally trim the pad.
After trimming correctly, the rug pad should be invisible around the edge of the area rug.
And the edge of the carpet will also be covered perfectly and won’t bunch or shift.
Tips For Making The Most Appropriate Rug Pad Placement
Whether your floor is made of hardwood or laminate, picking the right type of rug pad is important to make the decoration safe and highly valuable:
- For placing the rugs over the carpet, select a pad made of thick polyester fabric and coated with adhesive. It will prevent the dark-colored rug from bleeding onto lighter carpets.
- For placing the rug on a hard surface like hardwood, select an on-sided non-slip coating rug pad. Then place the nonslip side on the hard surface so the rug can stay in place, avoiding sliding around on the floor surface. Otherwise, it can cause a tripping or falling hazard.
- A rubber-backed rug pad will easily grip the floor and lock the area rug in place. Rug pads made of natural rubber don’t react with floors and cause stains.
- Thicker rubber pads made of memory foam ensure luxurious cushioning and make the hard surface under the area rug more comfortable.
- A proper sized rug pad protects all types of flooring, whether it is laminate, carpeting, hardwood, or vinyl. So buy eco-friendly rug pads to keep them from deteriorating and to keep chemical reactions from ruining the floor.
The Importance Of Using A Rug Pad Underneath The Area Rug
Rug pads withstand all the heavy lifting underneath the surface to make the area rugs look good and make the floor comfortable.
The other benefits a rug pad brings are:
Safety
The area rug may curl and bunch at the edges over time. It happens when the homeowners don’t place the rug flat or the rug becomes damp.
An area rug can also move or slip around if placed over a hard surface.
Both of these cases carry the risk of slipping or tripping on hands. But putting a rug pad under the rug keeps the rug flat and properly in place.
Preserve The Floors
Rug pads perform as a buffer between the floor surface and the rug to reduce friction.
A rug pad also prevents spills, scratches, stains as well as wear, and tears. These also protect the floor against furniture.
Increase The Longevity Of The Rug
Padded rugs are suitable for breezy vacuuming as they don’t move much and stay flat.
Rug pads also ensure proper airflow between the rug and the floor to keep mold and mildew away and retain its longevity.
Sound Muffling
Rug pads are a highly effective way to dampen the sound of music, footsteps, and conversation, thanks to their cushion.
It means you can use this rug pad to avoid irking the downstairs neighbors.
Insulation
A sturdy rug pad blocks drafts to improve the efficiency of the heating and cooling system in the room.
It means using a rug pad is a great way to insulate the home as well.
Final words
Generally, Larger rugs measuring 8’x10’ are heavier, thicker, and remain stable.
But some larger rug comes in a thicker shape and tend to buckle and wrinkle where need to use rug pads.
But once you have learned what size rug pad for 8×10 rug and got all those tricks to pick the right type, you don’t need to worry about all those hassles.
Lastly, take care of your rug pads periodically to enjoy the most out of your rug.
