Upgrade Cheap Rugs With Shower Curtains

by Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team

8 Materials

$24

1 Hour

Easy

I'm currently trying to find MY style for my home. I have very eclectic taste but also love so many styles--from farmhouse rustic to modern--but we all know that too many styles in one space is just too much, and becomes a gaudy mishmash. I'm feeling lately that I'm gravitating more towards boho rustic-ish...so when I came across this funky shower curtain at Marshall's I HAD to make them into rugs for my kitchen!

Supplies:

-shower curtain

-carpet cutoffs or plain rugs

-fabric scissors

-paint brush or roller

-tacky spray

-glue gun/sticks

-Polycrylic water-based clear gloss

*Side note: my husband's family knows the owners of our local flooring store so one of them graciously gave me 7 scrap rugs. You'd be surprised at the generosity of store owners--before going out and buying rugs for this project, ask your local floor store owner if they have any scraps they're throwing out.

STEP 1: Measure

Flip your rug or carpet remnant and measure out where you'll want to cut your shower curtain (or other fabric). For my first rugs, I thought it was so nice how I could butt my rug right up to the strip where the shower rings go because it folded over perfectly. I wouldn't recommend this because while it's nice along the edge, it creates a thick fabric buildup at the edges...

...so I cut the thick(er) piece off of my shower curtain where you would normally hang it. Give yourself about 1-2" around the edge of your rug.

STEP 2: Cut the curtain

Cut around the rest of your rug--again, I cut my shower curtain so that I had a 1-2" border.

STEP 3: Spray on adhesive

Next, spray the FRONT part of your rug with tacky spray...

...and the BACK of your shower curtain.

STEP 4: Iron curtain on

Once you've laid your shower curtain on to your rug, quickly iron out any wrinkles you see. You can iron your entire shower curtain before you start the whole process of the project but I chose to do it this way.

STEP 5: Secure with hot glue

After you've ironed your shower curtain on your rug, flip your rug back over and hot glue the edges.

You'll want to fold your shower curtain edges tightly over the back of your rug--nice and snug.

Then, press down.

Continue step 5 all the way around your rug. I chose to do my left and right sides (the shorter sides) first, then fold over my top and bottom sides.

STEP 6: Seal with Polycrylic

I don't have a photo of me applying the Polycrylic but it's pretty simple. Once your edges are all glued down, flip your rug back over to where you are looking at the design. Brush (or roll) on a coat of Polycrylic and let it dry. Once the first coat is dried, apply 2 more coats. The Polycrylic will seal the rug and make it firm.

Don't pay attention to the floors and cabinets--I can't stand the light colors, but my husband would have a cow if I dare paint the cabinets so I'll just work with what I can for now.

I love the difference these rugs made to my kitchen! I may even use my old rugs (the blue ones in the top photo) to make more rugs out of this shower curtain I purchased (yes, I love it THAT much!)

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Frequently asked questions

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3 of 75 questions

Denise on Oct 24, 2021

Did you use fabric or vinyl shower curtains?

0
Snowdiva on Jun 17, 2022

Its not so much a question as it is a statement. Who is in YOUR kitchen the most? Who cleans the kitchen the most? Who cooks in the kitchen the most? Its your kitchen and you should be able to do with your cabinets what you want! Do you get into his truck/whatever, and tell him what he can do with it or what he can't? You do what you want with YOUR kitchen.

4
Kar67444598 on Aug 25, 2023

Can you do this with any thickness of rug?

0

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2 of 219 comments

Snowdiva on Jan 31, 2023

Then, I'd say, you are a lucky lady.

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Thatsagoodidea on Jun 19, 2023

Not a fan of painting cabinets either. I like the light natural wood look. We have oak cabinets in our kitchen and it seems like it would be a mistake to paint them. Great looking rug and good accent for the kitchen. Thanks for sharing the idea.

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