When I get a home project idea in my head, I have to find THE perfect items to complete my design. My living room has been a work in progress for some time. (I’ve literally been searching for side tables for years!) But at the present moment, I’m focused on replacing the area rug.
My style has evolved from an ultra-traditional one to a traditional/transitional throw-in-a-few-random-items-to-confuse-people style. My current rug boasts the deep reds, taupe and blues of the “everyman’s” Persian rug. I still love the rug and will use it again one day. But for now, I’m in the mood for a touch of unexpected….an animal print or a fun geometric. Problem is I can’t find a rug I love in the right colors! Sound familiar?
I’ve decided that I might paint or stencil my own rug and thus, have been on multiple late-night painted rug Google benders. Thought I would share some of my favorites and some really adorable ideas that might work in your house too.
Front Door & Foyer:
Lest we forget our outdoor spaces now that the cold winds blow…..try these cute front door mats and rugs on for size!
Living Spaces:
Homes are personal because of the unique touches that people add to their décor. A one-of-a-kind rug is a wonderful way to not only make your home special, but also save some bucks for the upcoming gift-giving season! The ideas are truly endless…..make a neutral rug that can travel from room to room or go for a 100% custom colored rug that will perfect your personalized space.
Kid’s Spaces:
Kids can be really tough on rugs. Why not use an inexpensive stenciled rug that can be recycled or sent to the garage when it gets too trashed for indoors?! I love the idea of RE-painting these rugs to cover up old dirt marks and smudges. Good for your pocket-book and the environment!
The upcoming winter days may be long and dreadfully gray. But I imagine a cheery outdoor rug peeking through the piles of leaves or occasional snow flurry on my back deck. Many DIYer’s SWEAR that their painted and stenciled rugs last through season after season of winter wear and tear.
The Nuts & Bolts:
- The type of rug can vary from a memory foam bath rug to a natural grass rug to a simple remnant of interior carpet. The key is to keep a flat pile and a low nap. This will save you bleeding paint headaches in the future! Mohawk has a great paintable mat that would work for the front door or laundry area. There are several wall-to-wall carpet options that could be cut to size and painted too….like Mohawk’s Sisal Impressions line, below right.
- Make sure you have blue painter’s tape on hand (and use your fingers to tightly crimp the tape to the rug). Nothing worse than working for hours on a design only to find the paint has run underneath the tape…..ARRRGGGHHH!
- Rollers, brushes and sponges are all great rug painting tools. If you go with a roller, use a mini-roller for better control and stick to foam rollers as they are less likely to run and drip.
- If your rug is a grass, like jute or sisal, use a latex paint. If your rug is cotton or a similar soft material, use acrylic paint. (Softer rugs will bend and move –acrylic paint is more resistant to cracking.)
- If you use a stencil, be sure to tape the stencil to the rug and work slowly. Allow each section to dry a bit before you move on to avoid smudging. And keep plenty of wipes on hand to clean the stencil as you work.
- When your rug is complete and very dry, apply fabric protectant like Scotchgard.
If you have a painted rug, or create a new one, I’d love for you to share with us! Best of luck with your DIY rug project!
Written by:
Cecilia Staniec
InteriorDesigner & Stager, adarlingroom.com
What a great roundup of rugs! I’m pinning this! 🙂