Is Memory Foam Carpet Padding Good? Yes. (Here's why)

Let's face it: there's only so much comfort you can bring with extra throw pillows and indoor plants (as much joy as they may bring you).

So what do we do to bring a little more comfort in a time where so many of us are home more often?

Give our feet some sweet relief with a little extra foam padding by way of a viscoelastic memory foam rug pad.

While most of us associate memory foam with mattresses, it can also be used as carpet padding for your hard floor-- if it feels good enough to sleep on, why not use it on your floors?

Since one of our most popular products is memory foam rug pads, we know a thing or two about memory foam. (And we may be a little biased.)

Here's why we love memory foam rug padding and why you will too.

What is a memory foam rug pad?

A memory foam rug pad is made from 100% viscoelastic memory foam. Viscoelastic memory foam was developed by NASA in the 1970s to provide astronauts with cushioning in space crafts. It is a blend of polyurethane foam.

It’s got the ability to bounce back to its original state after your weight exerts pressure on it. And that’s exactly why we use it to make rug pads.

We use natural minerals and soybean oils in the manufacturing process. The minerals and soybean oils are an eco-friendly choice that emits very low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) chemicals.

The memory foam rug pads are compatible with most floor types, including hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile, stone, concrete, and polyurethane finishes.

Below are the benefits of using a memory foam rug pad.

1. It protects your floor.
2. It prolongs the durability of your rug.
3. It enhances the comfort of your home.
4. It improves the soundproofing factor of your floors.
5. It helps to insulate your home.

(We’ll talk about the last three in-depth further below.)

It protects the floors

The memory foam rug pad does this by acting as a moisture barrier.

Secondly, it is breathable. It allows vapor to escape and subsequently keeps your floors dry. Therefore it prevents moist retention that can cause molding and discoloration on the floor.

It enhances the durability of the rug

The thickness of the memory foam rug reduces the friction that a rug encounters when we walk on it. So it reduces the rate of wear and tear and lengthens their durability.

Note: Memory foam rug pads are not non-slip. So, they’re not suitable to use in high-traffic areas that are prone to slippage. For a firm grip, go for a rug underlay with anti-slip instead.

They’re best to use under large area rugs — that don’t require grip — that need extra padding for a plush underfoot feeling.

It’s got a comfortable underfoot feeling

The memory foam in the rug pad provides pressure relief. The foam material acts as a cushion to soften the hard floor surface.

The Cloud Comfort Memory Foam rug pad comes in either ¼ inch or 7/16 inch thickness to give you the maximum level of cushioning.

It improves the floor’s soundproofing capacity

Memory foam is a thick material that can absorb sound waves. When you double-layer the memory foam rug pad with a carpet, the room becomes peaceful.

It helps to insulate your home

The thick cushion provides a barrier between your bare feet and cool floors during the winter. It also works in a similar fashion during the summer, providing a barrier between you and the warming Earth’s surface. The breathability of the memory foam ensures that even as it works like a barrier, it never traps air particles or spores that could lead to mold or mildew.

Why memory foam rug pads will up the comfort factor

A memory foam rug pad improves the comfort of your home because of the following reasons.

1. It provides pressure relief on your walking surface.
2. It improves the soundproofing factor of your home.
3. It acts as an insulation material.

Pressure relief

The primary reason memory foam rug pads enhance comfort is their ability to relieve pressure.

Unlike felt or rubber, the memory foam pad absorbs the impact of your footstep because it has the ability to retract after impact. That means, once you step on it, it sinks to redistribute your body weight. Later, it returns to its original shape waiting for your next step.

Once you step on it, the thick memory foam contracts according to your body weight. By doing so, it forms a 'cloud' to cushion the pressure of your weight against the floor.

As you can imagine, it gives you a comfortable underfoot feeling. Ultimately, the plush cloud landing helps to reduce walking fatigue.

Soundproofing capacity

Soundproofing is important especially if you live in two-level homes, apartments, or condos.

Sharing walls and floors with loud neighbors can disturb your peace. The noise of footsteps or loud music easily transfers through the floors, especially a hardwood floor.

Placing a heavy-duty memory foam rug pad helps to dampen the noise that will pass through the floor.

Besides the fact that a thick rug pad made of memory foam feels good on the body, it will also help keep keep the peace between neighbors.

Either way, foam padding can significantly reduce sound travel as it absorbs a lot of the sound that a wood floor may cause.

Best uses for memory foam rug pads

Memory foam rug pads are a great comfort solution. But they don’t work in any room in your home. The ideal area for using a memory foam rug pad is the living room or bedroom. However, they may not serve you well in the kitchen.

Living room area rug

For most families, the living room area is a gathering spot. And if you’ve got kids and pets, a plush rug pad is a must-have. Toddlers and younger babies are likely to sit and lay on the floor for many hours.

So it helps to have a thick rug pad under your larger rugs to soften the hardwood, tile, or laminate floor surfaces.

A rug pad, like the Cloud Comfort Memory Foam, has a supreme cushion. It’ll help to minimize harm by reducing the impact of hitting the hard floor. 

Kitchen and dining room area rug

The kitchen is one room where a memory foam rug pad isn't always suitable because it's a high-traffic section of the house and doesn't necessarily grip the floor.

Places with a lot of foot traffic require a non-slip carpet pad as a memory foam rug pad doesn't grip the floor to prevent slips. The best rug pads for slip prevention are those made with natural rubber, which many so affectionately call a rug gripper. A non-slip pad will keep your smaller area rugs in place in high traffic areas. They'll also have a lower profile than a memory foam pad, which will help prevent tripping.

However, memory foam rug pads will work perfectly in the dining area with a large carpet, especially if the area rug is held down by the dining table and chairs to secure it on the floor.

The memory foam rug pad will give you a comfortable dining space. You can walk on and sit at the dining table for meals or do homework with the kids while your feet rest on a plush and warm floor surface.

Hot and humid climates

Memory foam is breathable.

Did you know? One cause of discolored floors is the accumulation of moisture.

When air is trapped under rugs for too long, it condenses and forms dampness that can cause mold and stains.

So it’s best to use a breathable rug pad especially if you live in a hot and humid location. The Cloud Comfort Memory Foam rug pad has a moisture barrier and is also airy enough to allow vapor to escape.

Which rug types work well with memory roam rug pads?

Memory foam rug pads work best with rugs that don’t need an extra grip.

Such rugs stay put on the floor for two reasons.

1. Their own weight holds them down.
2. The surrounding furniture keeps them secured on the floor.

Heavy rugs

Heavy rugs are held down by their own weight so they hardly slip out of position, making them the perfect type of rug to pair with a memory foam rug pad. It enhances the underfoot plus feeling, comfort, improves soundproofing, and protects the floors.

Large wool rugs

A wool area rug is made by twisting wool into long pieces of yarn. The amount of wool that is added to the rug determines its thickness level.

A large and thick wool rug is a warm and cozy addition to hardwood floors, but it doesn’t add a cushion to the floor.

Depending on the size and weight of the rug, you may be able to opt for a memory foam rug pad instead of a non slip pad.

Read more: Why Wool Rugs Need Rug Pads (And Why Size Matters)

High-pile rugs

High-pile rugs are over 1.6 inches thick. They’re best to use in rooms with low foot-traffic such as guest rooms, a home office, or a reading nook.

A memory foam rug pad pairs well with high-pile rugs. That's because they don’t seem to raise the rugs too high compared to low-pile rugs.

Simply lay the rug pad and give it a precise cut, leaving a few centimeters along the edges. That makes it fit perfectly and prevents the edges of the rug from folding and causing tripping.

Final thoughts

So there you have it, a memory foam carpet pad is the warm embrace that we've all been waiting for this past year. No matter your floor type, your feet deserve to be comforted with a little extra foam padding. (Even carpets could use a little extra cushioning, amiright?) Whether you shop with us or try to DIY your own memory foam rug padding, your feet will thank you. And maybe your neighbors too.