Since 2007, I have had carpeting over padding designed for basements on concrete. For ergonomic reasons due to my short height, there are seven layers of interlocking mats on top of the carpet in front of the longarm frame. My arms are where they should be for quilting. Guess I did something right...there are no backaches, no hip or knee pains while I quilt away. I happen to wear Crocs instead of slippers inside the house, and they help, too.