staying put

The worst part about living in a brand-spanking new place is that you, and you alone, will be the one responsible for wearing things in. Every bump, scratch, nick, scrape, and hole in the wall will be because YOU did it. For some, that fact is quite exciting. For me, it is simply terrifying! I don't want to ruin a thing! I want to preserve every aspect of this place not just for re-sale value, but for my sanity. So naturally I did what any new homeowner / interior designer would do. I became anal about it. The thing I'm most anal about you ask? Our hardwood flooring! I've never lived in a home with new engineered hardwood floors, and I am super concerned about keeping them pristine condition.

One of the first purchases Brandon and I made for our new home was a brand new rug under our dining room table. Actually you can see it in the back seat of this post. We were both completely in love with it, and the price was very much a steal. The rug we purchased is a beautiful multi-colored Chindi rug which goes amazingly well with our our decor, but also came accompanied with a warning that the colors could possibly bleed and transfer to the floors underneath. Ouch! So two things here, one -  I didn't want any color transferring to our NEW hardwood flooring, and two - we had this little crumb snatcher running around.

Meet Chips, the newest addition to our family, and the sweetest, cutest Whippet / Boston Terrier blend you'll ever meet. She's a two-year-old rescue, and though she was fully grown at 18.2 pounds when we brought her home, one thing she was not was house trained. And by chance, do you know what dogs love to use the bathroom on when they're not yet house broken? Rugs. Yes, any rug you have really, but usually the most beautiful one you own. So between Chips running back and forth flipping up the corners of the rug, and occasionally relieving herself on it, we had to get a rug pad... and fast. It was basically a non-negotiable.

Thankfully I was contacted by the amazing folks at Rug pads USA who wanted me to try out one of their premium rug pads because let's face it, rug pads are an absolute necessity. Designers rarely talk about them, but they really are the unsung heroes. Because function-wise who wants their rug sliding all over, or even worse... transferring onto your beautiful floors???

Yes, rug pads are an investment, but so are your rugs and your floors! So it's best to keep them both looking great for as long as you possibly can. Do NOT skimp here! Poorly-made rug pads are often composed of chemicals that cause damage to your flooring. And let's not forget about the off-gassing. It's crazy bad, and most times unbearable. Who wants toxic air in their home? I don't, and I know you don't either. Also, stay away from rug pads that "stick" to your floors (PVC pads) instead of "gripping" your floors (like quality rubber pads) because the former can often leave a nice unwanted residue behind. There is a big difference in performance and durability if you choose appropriately the first time around, and you should purchase the best one your budget can afford. In summary, just treat yourself to a nice rug pad already! (Ok, I'll get off my soap box now).

The best choice for our Chindi rug and our engineered floors was an Eco-Solid pad. It's made from renewable materials and 100% plant-based oils which makes me feel great because the rug and carpet industry isn't one that is known for being particularly kind to the environment. It's also nice to see that someone out there is trying to create a better, more environmentally-sound product. 

This pad smelled surprisingly great coming out of the package, and at an 1/8" thick, it's incredibly cushy underfoot. I was most impressed by the fact that the pad fits my rug perfectly!

Rug Pads USA has every pad cut fresh for the size rug you specify, or you can even have it custom cut for no extra charge. Notice how mine is cut slightly smaller than the rug on each side to prevent it from peeking out and revealing all my business! :) Just believe me when I say that cutting rug pads on your own is not the jam (I've cut my share at work and it's not easy, nor especially fun).

The best part is when our little puppy scurries about, I don't have to worry about the rug flipping up and causing a tripping hazard for the humans in the house. Also, should another accident occur, I feel a little bit better about catching it before the rug dye (and other fluids) end up on the floor. If you're curious, or want to learn more about the best pad for you and your floors, click here.

Now that I have our dining space looking somewhat livable, I can't wait to start having some folks over. So much in fact that I may already be putting some things together. Next up is some art, possibly some open shelving, new window treatments, and a fabulous light fixture (you may be surprised to learn that the lighting that I have in mind is pretty atypical. Come back and visit me for more details! :)

*Thanks to Rug Pads USA for providing our new rug pad. All thoughts and opinions are my own*