What's the difference between "carpet" and "rug"? Are they interchangeable?

Rebecca

They are mostly interchangeable! I'd say the difference is that a "carpet" can cover wall-to-wall flooring, whereas a "rug" only covers a small area. However, a "carpet" can also refer to material that covers a small area. Ex: I like the rug in your bedroom! = I like the carpet in your bedroom! Ex: We just got new carpets put into our house. Now I want to buy a few area rugs.