DIY Canvas Rug

Canvas can be easily painted to create a decorative rug.

Canvas area rugs, or floor cloths, have been used for centuries. Canvas is an inexpensive, durable material that can be easily painted or stenciled to add a decorative accent to almost any home decor. Hand-painted canvas rugs and floor cloths can be purchased, but they're often costly. Tackling a DIY canvas rug project is a fairly simple process that can be accomplished with a few supplies, minimal time and little cost.

Things You'll Need

• Pre-primed canvas
• Artist acrylic paints
• Paintbrushes
• Stencil brush
• Stencils
• Paper towels
• Carpet tape
• Masking tape
• Ruler or tape measure
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Clear acrylic waterproof sealer
• Nonslip mat

Instructions

1. Decide what size you'd like your canvas rug to be. Measure a piece of pre-primed canvas and add 2 inches. Cut the canvas to this size.

2. Mark a 2-inch border all around with a ruler or tape measure on the back of the canvas. To miter each corner first make a small pencil mark 2 inches out from each corner. Draw a diagonal line to connect each pencil mark. Cut along the diagonal line to cut away the corner. Fold the border over on all sides and secure with carpet tape.

3. Create a 2-inch border on the front of the rug with a ruler and pencil. Paint the border with artist acrylic paints. Allow the paint to dry.

4. Center the stencil inside the border, and tape it in place with masking tape. Dip the stencil brush in the paint and blot off any excess paint on a paper towel. The brush should be almost dry. Swirl or pounce the brush to fill in the stencil. Continue until the entire stencil has been painted, and allow to dry.

5. Apply three or four coats of clear acrylic waterproof sealer to protect the canvas rug. Display your new canvas rug in the desired location. Place a nonslip mat under the canvas rug to prevent it from slipping.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process, if you like.

• Choose a non-yellowing acrylic varnish, unless an aged, vintage finish is desired.

• Wash the surface of the canvas rug periodically with mild soap and water.

• Refinish with additional clear acrylic sealer as needed.

References

• Sandpoint; Creating a Floor Cloth -- Four Ways; Diana Blake Gray, Master Rugmaker
• Creativity Portal; How to Make a Canvas Rug Floor Cloth; Joy St. Germain
• Cut Out and Keep: Stencil Canvas

Resources

• Folk Art Life; The Floor Beneath Our Feet; Jante Blokhuis-Mulder