A system and method for forming an area rug (10) using at least one replaceable wear surface (14) positioned on a floor or subfloor (24). The system includes a base (12) and at least one replaceable wear surface (14), of which both may be cut to fit a floor space of almost any shape. The system may be attached to the floor (24) using an adhesive, a double-side tape (29), or a cloth (28), with or without adhesive, or not attached at all. The cloth (28) can be applied coextensive to the base and replaceable wear surface, or intermittingly, such as only at intersecting corners. The system can be sold to consumers as a self contained kit or as a group of components that can be separately selected.