Living Room Sneak Peek (and my favorite Rug Pads)

So, you guys know I have a hard time showing you spaces in my house, right?? I don’t know why it’s so nerve-wracking for me. It’s like the Wizard of Oz. I’m pulling back the curtain and you’re expecting this amazingly decorated room… and THIS is what you get…

I’ve lived in our new home for over a year now, and this is what my main living area looks like! Haha, a little sparse don’t you think? The fireplace is just to the left of where the picture ends, across from the sofa, and I’m standing in my entryway where I have another large bench with pillows and an entry table (that still needs to be painted!) Also, there is a piano just out of the shot to the right, so it doesn’t feel this bare in person. But I still have a LONG way to go! The biggest obstacle for me in the design of this room was finding a rug! It’s a pretty big space so I needed something larger than an 8×10 but I had such a hard time finding what I wanted. I didn’t want to spend more than $300, and I wanted something in the kilim style, with a graphic black and white pattern, AND color.

After several months of looking online and in stores, I finally found this beauty at DownEast Home (I believe it’s a Pottery Barn rug) and I paid less than $300! It’s 8’x11′, so I had to compromise a little on the size, but now that it is in my space I think it fits perfectly. OK, so here was my next problem. I had never owned a really large flatweave rug like this, and on my hardwood floor it was slipping and bunching up like crazy! It wasn’t really safe for my family to be walking on all the time, and it was driving me insane. So I went to Home Depot and got some of that bulk carpet padding they sell on the huge rolls thinking that would at least give some cushion underneath. We had that under the rug for a few months and it would move around all the time! Finally, I decided to bite the bullet and look for a real rug pad. That’s when I found RugPad Corner…

They have the best non-slip rug pad for hardwood floors that I have been able to find, hands down. The one I got for my rug is the Ultra Premium pad, made of a solid felt surface and a natural rubber bottom to prevent slipping. I immediately loved this rug when I got it in my house because it didn’t have an odor like other cheap pads I’ve tried. RugPad Corner uses a Heat Press technology so there aren’t any glues, adhesives, or other chemicals in the pad. No toxic smell AND it’s safe for my kids to play on! Win-win!

The other side of the pad is made of real rubber and it won’t damage your floor, but my favorite part is how well it holds my rug in place. It’s like super glue for rugs, but without the glue. Haha! Seriously though, this pad has been amazing and I’ll never go back. I also got the Ultra Premium for this smaller rug, the IKEA Alvine Ruta, also a flat weave. I am kind of obsessed with this rug:

If you have any flatweave rugs in your home, the best way you can take care of them and extend their lives is to get a good pad. The pad will help keep them in place, eliminate wrinkles and extra wear. It’s also a good idea to anchor your flatweave rug with a piece of furniture, and rotate it every 6 months to a year to prevent uneven wear on your rug.

If you guys have any rugs in your home that are just dying for a new pad, it’s your lucky day! RugPad Corner is offering our readers 15% off your total purchase with this code: REVIEW15. You can also find out more about their Eco-friendly products and rug care tips by following them on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!

My next living room project… finding (or making) a new coffee table! Any suggestions?

*I received free product in exchange for my review of these rug pads, but I really do love and endorse them 100%!