How to Turn a Carpet Remnant Into an Area Rug

Rugs from a furniture store come in a handful of standard sizes, and the room you actually have rarely matches any of them. A carpet remnant gets around that. You pick a piece of real carpet, decide how big the rug should be, and have it cut to that size. It's an old trick in the flooring trade, and it still makes sense for a spare bedroom, a den, a kid's play corner or the spot under a dining table.

What a remnant is, and why it works as a rug

A remnant is what's left of a roll after a job has been cut from it. The piece is genuine, full-width carpet, the same product that gets installed wall to wall, only in a length that's too short for most whole rooms. Because it's the same carpet, it was made to handle foot traffic, furniture legs and vacuum passes. That's a different thing from a decorative rug woven to sit in a hallway and look nice.

One customer wrote in a Google review that M & M Tile & Carpet has a large inventory of quality remnant carpet pieces. She picked out the carpet she wanted, and the store cut it to the exact size she needed. That's the whole idea, and it's how it works at the showroom on Highway 412 West in Tontitown.

Start with the room, not the roll

Before you look at a single color, decide what the rug is for. A rug under a coffee table does a different job from one at the foot of a bed. Sketch where the furniture goes, then lay down painter's tape to mark the outline of the rug on the floor. Live with the tape for a day or two. You'll know quickly whether the rug looks too small or crowds the walls.

These rules of thumb hold up in most houses around Northwest Arkansas:

• In a living room, either the front legs of the sofa and chairs sit on the rug, or every leg does.
• Under a dining table, the rug should reach past the chairs even when someone pulls one out to sit down.
• At a bed, the rug should extend beyond the sides and foot so your feet land on carpet when you get up in the morning.
• In a hallway, leave a border of bare floor along each side so the rug looks placed rather than wall to wall.
• Measure the length and the width twice, and write both numbers down.

Take those numbers, and a rough sketch, with you. A remnant only comes in the size it comes in, so it helps to know which dimension matters more. A piece that is generous in length but narrow might make a better runner than a room rug, and you'd rather learn that while you're standing at the rack than after you get home.

Choose the carpet for how the rug will be used

Construction and fiber change with the room. Tight, low pile carpet cleans easily and stands up to rolling chairs and toys. A plusher cut feels wonderful under bare feet in a bedroom, but it shows vacuum tracks and flattens where furniture sits. Dark and mid-tone colors forgive dirt in a mudroom or play area, while pale colors show everything.

M & M carries carpet from brands including Shaw, Mohawk, Aladdin, Dreamweaver and Stainmaster, with over 300 rolls in stock, so there's plenty to compare while you shop. The remnant selection changes as rolls get cut, which means the right piece may not be there on your first visit. Ask what's on the racks the day you stop in, and if nothing fits yet, come back.

Think about the pad and the edges

A rug on a hard floor slides, and a slick surface like tile or hardwood makes that worse. A pad under the rug keeps it in place, adds cushion and protects the floor beneath it. M & M distributes carpet pads, so ask which pad suits the floor you're laying the rug on. If that floor is hardwood, mention the finish, because the pad and the finish should get along.

A freshly cut edge of carpet can fray and shed over time. Binding or serging the edges is the usual cure, and whether that can be done depends on the piece and on who is doing the work. Don't assume it comes with the cut. Ask about it while the remnant is still on the rack, not after it's been cut, so you know the full job before you agree to it.

Bring what helps the staff help you

• Your measurements and the sketch of where the furniture goes.
• A phone photo of the room, taken in daylight.
• A fabric swatch or paint chip for whatever the rug has to live next to.
• A note about pets, kids, muddy boots or anything else the rug will have to put up with.

Carpet looks different under showroom lights than it does in your living room, so ask about taking a sample home. A color that looked right on the rack can turn gray or yellow once it's next to your walls.

Walk the racks on Highway 412 West in Tontitown and see which remnants are waiting. The store is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 5:00 and Saturday from 9:00 to noon. You can also call 479-361-2551 for a free estimate.