You walk into the store and find the perfect rug. It's the exact rug you were looking for. It's the color, the exact size, the exact shape you have been dreaming of. It will fit perfectly in the middle of your living room. It will go great with the furniture. You bring the rug home and put it in the place you have for it. Everything is fine until a few days later when you realize that it slips, it moves, it will never stay in place, and it's always in the way.

How could such a perfect rug have gone bad?

Well actually there is nothing wrong with the rug. It is still the perfect rug, but it is missing a rug essential, the rug pad. Most people don't think about buying a rug pad when they buy a rug. They just put their rug in its place not realizing that they need this overlooked accessory.

What does a rug pad do anyways? Is it worth the expense?

One of the best things that a rug pad does is that it keeps the rug on floor. There are times when a rug tends to 'creep' along the ground as people walk over it. A rug pad will keep the rug from moving around. This also helps the rug not wear out as quickly. When a rug does not move around, it won't wrinkle up and wear out extending the life of the rug.

A rug pad can also add some thickness to the rug. Some rugs are very thin, especially Oriental and Persian rugs. Rug pad can be made up to around a half inch thick not only giving the rug support but also a nice cushion. This helps especially while vacuuming. You will no longer have to worry about sucking the rug up into the vacuum.

What do you look for in a rug pad?

The first thing to consider is the size of the pad. The rug pad needs to be about as big as the rug itself. If it is too small, part of the rug will not be help down properly while a larger pad would look ridiculous on your floor. A second consideration is the thickness of the pad. If the rug is already rather thick, you might want to get a thin pad. Lastly, if the rug is going to be on a hard or slick floor, make sure that you find a non-slip pad. This not only adds to your comfort but also to your safety.

Next time you find yourself putting your perfect rug back in its place, it might be time to go shopping for a rug pad.