How To Decorate a Rug Beater
A rug beater is a device for hand-beating dust and dirt out of a rug. Popular from the 1880s through the 1920s, the rug or carpet beater was a common domestic tool. The carpet was taken outside, hung over a line and repeatedly hit with the rug beater. Beating the rug was a good chore for active children or stressed adults. Carpet beaters are still manufactured both for practical and decorative use. Here are easy ways to turn that carpet beater, old or new, into a home decoration. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Rug beater Paint Optional decorations such as beads, feathers, artificial flowers Optional ties such as raffia, ribbon, floral tape, yarn
Instructions
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Select a rug beater for the project. A rug beater is usually shaped like a tennis racket with a handle for swinging and a head made of twisted wire or woven wood strands. It often has a hole in the handle for hanging the carpet beater. Old rug beaters are found at auction, collectible shops and garage sales. New rug beaters are available at many craft and hardware stores.
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Frame a photo with a rug beater. Choose a paint color for the carpet cleaner. Protect the wood handle with paper or painter tape and spray or paint the head. Let it dry thoroughly. Use plastic clips or spring clothespins to mount a picture on the rug beater. Hang it on the wall for a nostalgic picture holder.
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Make a wall bouquet. Choose paper or silk flowers for the rug beater. Lay the cleaner on a table and arrange the flowers as desired. Use florist tape or fabric ribbon to tie the flower stems to the beater. Wrap the stems and wire together for 1 to 3 inches. A simple knot rarely holds the flowers in place. Check for florist tape and artificial flowers in craft and sewing stores.
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Weave a feather and bead catcher. Use yarn to thread beads and make a design across the face of the beater. Lay out a design and knot each bead in place to keep it from slipping. When the beads and yarn are securely tied to the beater, add feathers. Use glue to tuck each feather quill into a bead and hold it in place.
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Use the rug beater for kitchen display. Choose raffia, twine or fine wire to tie old measuring cups, strainers, serving utensils or other small kitchen accessories to the beater. Collectible kitchen gadgets such as can openers and corkscrews are easy to hang on a wood or wire rug beater.
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Tips & Warnings
Rug beaters are handy for beating dust out of pillows, braided rugs, runners and blankets. Make a rug beater by twisting wire into an elongated oval or heart shape and adding a wooden handle.
Hang a gadget-decorated rug beater away from a child's fingers.
Resources
- Photo Credit Courtesy of University of South Florida, Wikimedia Commons
