Finding the Perfect Area Rug

Hometalker TheHoneycombHome offers some sound advice when placing an area rug in your room. As pictured, she says that ideally, you want all of your furniture to fit on the rug. If your rug isn’t big enough, there's no cause for alarm - she says front legs only are also acceptable. This Hometalker also shares that there's no need to be afraid of light colors when choosing area rugs, as a good stain remover can protect any rug. Get tutorial here

Area Rugs for Less

As a key element to a room, an area rug can cost a pretty penny; however, as Hometalker Meredith Greenberg has pointed out, they don't have to. She’s shared some cheap area rugs that don't sacrifice function or style. Pictured is an area rug from Walmart costing just $109, which is a great deal compared with some rugs that can cost anything from $400 to $1000. Get tutorial here

Layering Area Rugs

Traditionally, an area rug is used on its own to section off a room or bring a space together. Hometalker Christine – Decorated Life shares a different way to use area rugs – through layering. To add a new designer look to a room, simply layer area rugs on top of each other to create a large rug. The finished project most certainly adds a focal point to the room and an additional layer of variety to your decor. Get tutorial here

DIY Painted Area Rugs

Hometalker Katie Nathey spent just $20 to create her very own Aztec-inspired area rug. This DIY calls for fabric paint and cardboard to be used as stencils. To ensure everything looked great, Katie started off by tracing the stencils in sharpie and filling the shapes in with paint, before going over the edge in a lighter color paint for the full effect. Get tutorial here

A Rope Area Rug

While many rugs may be rectangular or square, round area rugs can work just as well! Here, Hometalker Katie Bookser shares how to make a round rope area rug, which can usually cost anywhere from $50 to $100, for just $16. To make your own rope rug, you’ll need a piece of fabric for the base, rope, and a glue gun. Put it together by gluing the rope to the base and around itself until you’ve reached your desired size. Get tutorial here

Braided Large Area Rugs

It’s always a good feeling when you can point to something in your home and say 'I made that'. If you’re looking for your next project and something to be proud of, why not braid your very own large rag area rug? To create her rug, Hometalker GrandmasHouseDIY cut up blankets and a drop cloth into strips and then braided it all together, gluing the strips to a rubber mat as she went. Get tutorial here

How to Stencil a Custom Area Rug

A patterned area rug is a perfect accent for an otherwise neutral room, and while there are many options, it can be hard to find the right one for you. It was for this reason that Hometalker Royal Design Studio decided to make their own. To do so, they found a stencil of a design they liked and painted it onto a neutral rug. For this particular rug, they used a Rabat Allover Moroccan stencil and Tray Border Moroccan stencil and filled it in using Graphite Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan. Get tutorial here

A Modern Area Rug

A bold area rug can bring the wow factor to a room and is a great way to add some color to a space if accent furniture is not your style. Hometalker Placeofmytaste wanted to make a statement for the fall and did so by creating her own painted rug with a combination of oranges and browns. It’s no secret by now that the numbers can add up when decorating your home. That’s why the best part about this painted area rug is its low price — you won’t feel bad about switching it out when the season is over. Get tutorial here

Easy and Cheap Area Rugs

Area rugs can be made in many ways: there can be painted, braided, or even glued! This Hometalker took a different approach, as she simply chose a fabric she liked, in this case, a fuzzy white fabric, and sewed it onto a non-slip rug pad. Becky at Flipping the Flip was able to cut the rug to size and for $15 created an area rug that she loves! Get tutorial here

A Drop Cloth Area Rug

Cost effective, simple, and stylish, this drop cloth area rug is a great addition to any room and is so easy to make! The idea came to Hometalker Vineta @ The Handyman's Daughter when she needed a temporary rug for her master bedroom. Using a drop cloth, fabric paint, and a simple design, she created a modern design that looks great in her space. Get tutorial here

Decorative Outdoor Rugs

Area rugs don't have to be limited to the indoors. When looking to put together an outdoor living space, an outdoor rug is a great addition. Hometalker Margaret Swanton shares some tips with the community on what to look for in an outdoor carpet. She says to think carefully about style; for example, a shag carpet would not work well outdoors. Another factor to take into consideration is to choose UV-stabilized colors as to not have a faded area rug. Get tutorial here

Wall Art Area Rug

This DIY isn't an area rug; however, it is inspired by one and is another way to creatively add a pattern into your room. Hometalker Rich Radtke has created a painting that mimicked his area rug and placed it on the wall. This Hometalker has come up with a truly unique idea that creates cohesiveness in the room from the floor to the ceiling. A+ for creativity! Get tutorial here