A well-chosen rug has the power to transform a space, adding texture, colour and warmth to an area of the room that’s usually overlooked.
Whether it’s an edge-to-edge living room rug, a stain-resistant one for the kitchen, or something cosy to scrunch your toes into when you swing your legs out of bed, floor coverings are the easiest way to add interest from the ground up.
However, with many British homes favouring hard floors over carpets, throwing a rug onto bare planks poses an element of risk. Even with a non-slip backing on the underside, area rugs have been known to slip underfoot or gather or curl at the edges, creating a dangerous trip hazard - especially for the over-65s. Without the right backing, you’ll end up spending more time cursing your rugs instead of admiring them.
There are multiple solutions. Double-sided carpet tape can be applied to the edges to keep the rug secure to the floor, but they can leave a residue on wood and laminate flooring when the time eventually comes to move them. Another option is to buy an additional underlay to position your rug on so that accidental slips and skids are less of an occurrence.
It’s an additional expense that you might not feel great about, especially if you’ve forked out triple figures (or more) on a vintage rug, yet it’s a measure worth doing. Better to invest a little in an anti-slip underlay than have to cough up to replace all the home electricals, cherished heirlooms and expensive furniture that could be damaged if you tumble into them after stumbling on a curled rug edge.
Rubber non-slip underlays are inexpensive things and many can be trimmed to fit. If you’re someone with many rugs, buying a bigger one that you can portion up to go under each design may be a more cost-effective exercise than trying to source perfectly proportioned ones for individual rugs.
We’ve rounded up the best anti-slip underlays for rugs to help make shopping for your next one easier.
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Top Home Solutions 120 x 180cm Rug Anti Slip Rug
Ideal for use in high-traffic areas of the home, this anti-slip layer from Top Home Solutions offers an excellent level of grip, even with kids and pets scampering over the top. The durable design is best applied on hard floors and is lightly padded, so will stop scratches from marking your floors. They're available in various pre-cut sizes but can be trimmed further with household scissors to ensure a glove-like finish.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Dunelm Rug Anti-Slip Mat
Crafted with polyester fleece to help your rug stay put, this anti-slip mat is ideal for all designs, even slimmer flatweave styles. It can go on all types of flooring, even if you have underfloor heating, and is super slim so won't add to the height of your pile much.
Buy now £15.00, Dunelm
Home Techpro Rug Pads Grippers
Keep your rug's corners in check with these sticky grippers that can be cleaned with the rest of your laundry in the washing machine. The pack of four will ensure square and rectangle rug corners stay flat, making tripping over them less of a likelihood while also making vacuuming straightforward. Each pad offers an excellent level of grip to stop the rug from slipping too.
Buy now £9.98, Amazon
IKEA STOPP FILT Rug underlay with anti-slip
IKEA's rug-slip solution will stop wayward coverings in their tracks. The slim layer acts like glue to prevent skidding while protecting the floor underneath from scratching. It also makes thinner rugs more comfortable to walk over.
Buy now £6.50, IKEA
Lakeland Rug Grip
Sold as a 150 x 80cm size, Lakeland's underlay can be cut to size to fit your rug. It will stop rugs and mats from moving over both carpets as well as hard floors and is machine washable, so you don't have to worry about dirt and dust buildup.
Comes with a three-year guarantee.
Buy now £12.99, Lakeland
JVL Rug Safe Carpet Gripper
A super-slim gripper is all you need to prevent your rug from wrinkling and slipping underfoot. Made with 80 per cent polyester, the L180 x W120cm size underlay is designed for indoor use and can be trimmed to fit under your rug perfectly.
Buy now £20.79, Robert Dyas
MAIYADUO 60x150 cm Rug Anti Slip Non Slip Rug Mat Liner
One of the top-rated anti-slip mats at Amazon, this PVC-made layer sports an open grid pattern. It works to increase friction and grip. The waterproof design can be easily cut to size using scissors. It works best on flat surfaces so avoid using it on stairs and stone floors.
Buy now £5.09, Amazon
Shudyear 14 Pieces Rug Grippers
As cute as the heart-shaped grippers are, they're not for looks alone. They fit perfectly into corners, allowing you to take them right to the edge of rugs for extra safety. The super sticky adhesive can be used and reapplied multiple times, making them easy to move if you decide to reposition the rug.
Best of all they can be used on all types of flooring, including bathroom tiles.
Buy now £15.99, Amazon
