You finally found that oversized rug you’ve been dreaming of, the one that ties your living room together and makes the space feel cozier than a favorite sweater. You wrestle it into position, straighten it out, and then, the very first time someone walks across it, the whole thing bunches up like an accordion. Maybe you’ve even taken a tumble yourself when the edge curled up just enough to catch your foot. That oversized rug is a beauty, but it can become a tripping hazard and a constant annoyance if it doesn’t stay put. The good news is that anchoring a large rug to your floor is a simple DIY job that takes only a few supplies and a little patience, and it will save you from frustration, falls, and a lot of re-straightening.

Before you run out to buy anything, take a look at what kind of flooring is underneath your rug. The method you choose will depend on whether you have hardwood, tile, laminate, or carpet. For hard surfaces like wood or tile, your main enemy is slip. The rug’s weight alone often isn’t enough to hold it in place, especially if you have kids or pets who race across the room. The easiest fix is a high-quality rug pad. Don’t skimp here. A cheap, thin pad will disintegrate in a year and may even stain your floor. Look for a pad that is specifically designed for oversized rugs and has a rubber or latex grip on the bottom. You want it to be slightly smaller than the rug itself, about an inch in from the edges, so the rug’s fringe or border can lie flat. When you place the pad down and then the rug on top, the friction between the pad and the floor should be enough to keep everything from sliding. But sometimes, especially with very large, heavy rugs, even a good pad won’t hold against the constant shifting from foot traffic or from vacuuming.

That’s when you might turn to double-sided carpet tape. This is your heavy-duty solution. You can find carpet tape at any hardware store, usually in rolls that are a few inches wide. The trick is to apply it strategically. Don’t tape every inch of the rug’s perimeter because you’ll make removal a nightmare. Instead, focus on the corners and the middle of each long side. Peel the backing and press the tape onto the underside of the rug, then press the rug firmly onto the floor. For an eight-by-ten-foot rug, you might need only six to eight strips. The tape will hold strong, but it can leave a sticky residue on your floor when you eventually want to move the rug. To avoid a messy cleanup, try using a low-residue tape designed for rugs, or place the tape onto the rug pad instead of directly onto the rug’s backing. That way the pad takes the brunt of the adhesive, and the rug stays clean.

If you have wall-to-wall carpeting underneath your oversized rug, the situation is a little different. The carpet itself provides some grip, but large rugs on thick carpet can still wrinkle and shift because the rug and the carpet move independently. Here, a rug pad is still helpful, but you should choose one with a felt or non-slip top that won’t damage the carpet fibers. You can also use carpet anchors, which are small plastic or metal discs with prongs that you press down through the rug into the carpet. They look a bit like thumbtacks but are made for this purpose. Simply place them at the edges and corners, and they will hold the rug in place without damaging the rug’s weave. They are easy to remove and leave almost no mark in the carpet.

For a more permanent but still removable solution, consider using hook-and-loop tape, often sold as rug grippers. You attach one side of the tape to the back of the rug and the other side to the floor. This works especially well on hard floors because the loop side sticks to the rug and the hook side grips the floor. The tape comes in thin strips that you can cut to size, and it holds like a charm. Just be careful when removing it, as the adhesive can be strong. A little heat from a hair dryer can soften the glue and make peeling easier.

Whichever method you choose, take a few minutes to test the setup. Walk across the rug in different directions, do a few quick turns, and see if it slips. If it does, add another strip of tape or an extra anchor. You might also want to check the rug’s edges from time to time, especially after vacuuming, because the suction can sometimes lift the corners. A quick press with your hand will usually reseat them. Also remember that temperature and humidity changes can affect the grip of tapes and pads, so in very dry or very humid seasons, you may need to reapply or adjust your set-up. But once you have that oversized rug locked down, you can relax, enjoy your space, and stop worrying about the next time someone will trip over that wandering corner. A rug that stays put is a rug that becomes a true part of your home, safe and beautiful for years to come.