How to Stop Your Rugs From Curling Up at the Corners

Finding the perfect area rug is difficult enough already, so when you finally bring one home and its corners refuse to lie flat, it can drive you crazy. Not only is a curling corner a tripping hazard, but it’s an eyesore and a beacon for a chewing pup or a shredding vacuum roller. Before you return it to the store, we have some tips to stop the roll and help your rug lie smoothly at every corner.

Start With the Flattest Rug Possible

It’s hard to focus on just on a turned-up corner if the rug has ripples and creases in the middle. To increase the hope of smooth corners, start with the flattest rug possible. To help smooth out a rug that has been rolled tightly, try rolling it up in the opposite direction. Rolling the carpet the reverse way for a few hours or a couple of days can help relax the fibers—even the corners.

Or, if you have the space in an unused room, turn the rug over in let it lie backing up for a couple of days. This allows the backing to relax, but you shouldn’t walk it on it while it’s resting.

Depending on the size of the rug and your outdoor space, take it outside and leave it in the sun for a couple of hours. The warmth of the sun and the humidity will help the backing fibers relax and decrease creases.

Teach Corners to Roll Correctly

If you’ve trained your rug to lie flat but the corners still won’t behave, try manually bending the curled corner until it is flat against the floor. Tuck it in under the rug and let it stay for 24 hours. Don’t crease the fold or you’ll create another problem.

Use Ice and Something Heavy

A few ice cubes along with some heavy books or a planter can work wonders. Adding moisture helps the rug fibers relax and the weight flattens them out. Start by putting down some plastic (a heavy-duty trash bag works well) to protect any flooring that can be damaged by moisture. Place the ice cubes on the rug and let them melt. Cover with some additional plastic and place the heavy object on top of the corner. Let it stay for at least 48 hours (or 72 hours if you can). Repeat if needed.

Use a Handheld Steamer

Set a handheld clothes steamer on high and hold it at least 6 inches away from the carpet to add moisture. Add something heavy to weigh down the corner and let it dry for 24 hours. Don’t forget to protect your flooring, if needed.

Iron the Rug

The heat and moisture from a steam iron can smooth out a curled-up corner. However, you must use caution because some rug fibers will melt under high heat. Always use a dampened piece of cotton fabric or a cotton towel between your iron and the rug.

Set the iron to steam and high temperature. Place the towel over the corner and press down with the iron. Hold the iron in place for about 15 seconds and repeat until the corner lies flat. For the best results, use something heavy to keep the corner weighed down while the rug dries.

Use Commercial Adhesives

Double-sided rug tape is an easy, effective method to hold rolled-up rug corners in place. Simply cut the length of tape you need, and use it to adhere the rug corners to the floor. (Be sure the flooring is free of dirt and debris before placing the tape down to ensure it will stick well.) One note of caution, the tape can leave a sticky residue on your flooring that can be difficult to remove successfully, especially from some hardwood finishes.

Another option is to use velcro rug anchors. These work well for washable rugs that need to be removed and replaced often.

The Last Resort

If you have an area rug over carpeting and subflooring, you can use a screw to secure the corner. We only recommend this if the rug is a tripping hazard in a high-traffic area or on stairs.