How to Paint a Rug With Chalk Paint

Painting a rug isn’t much different than painting anything else: you need the object to paint, the proper paint for your kind of surface and an instrument to apply the color, as a brush or a sponge.

My rug was pretty textured, but you should choose a flatweave cotton rug for the best results. Actually, any rug would work as long as is has a short loop pile ori a flat texture like sisal, jutta or cotton.

I prefer Annie Sloan Chalk Paint for the great coverage on any type of canvas, and this paint was my choice for the rug project too. You will not find this brand in stores, but only at Annie Sloan’s stockists, so you should check her webpage to see which stockist is closer to your location.

STEP 1

I wanted to keep a small portion unpainted, to make de colors look more vivid, so I used a bit of masking tape to protect this area while painting.

STEP 2

Use the darkest color (Country Grey, in this case) first, and add lines here and there, starting from the edge. Spread gently the color around the main line of color till you lose all the paint from your brush, to create a distressed effect. Remember to do it GENTLY.

STEP 3

Continue with the next color – mine was Paris Gray. Keep the balance between color and negative space and don’t overcrowd the rug with lines. Leave room for the next colors, and continue with gold - 148 Rich Gold from Maimeri.

STEP 4

After three shades that you might take as neutrals, an accent is needed. Greek Blue was my choice, as it reminds me of the summer holidays I used to spend on the Greek Island of Thassos. Ad it here and there, like waves on a serene sea.

STEP 5

In the end, add a few touches of Original white to keep the balance and the inner light of this summer inspired rug.

STEP 6

Thought this step is not mandatory for Annie sloan Chalk Paint, I prefer to take it just to accelerate drying. Remember to use a piece of cloth and NEVER iron painted the rug directly.

That's it! This is my new rug, and I love it! It's going to fit my bedroom perfectly, once I completely shift to a new color palette. But this is a totally different story!

I share more tips and pictures of this rug on my website RIGHT HERE, along with many other DIY projects that many people never thought of.