DIY Painted Rug

3 Materials
$20
2 Hours
Easy

When hunting for the perfect rug for my son's room, I kept coming up short in the style and budget categories. Better said I didn't have enough money to match my style. So I created a modern rug pattern using tape and paint (well primer because that's all I had on hand).

Nothing special to see with the before. I grabbed one of those cheap single color rugs you see everywhere for $20. Walmart or Big Lots is a great place to look.


There are two different naps. Get the one with the loops versus the on with the plush texture. The softer texture one soaks up a lot more paint.

Determine your pattern first. An easy way to do this is by drawing it out on a sheet of paper. Then measure where you want to put your pattern. I used simple modern stripes and wasn't too concerned about centering, but the sky's the limit for your design.


I like to take short cuts so instead of measuring every line, I added layers of tape then removed the extra tape to reveal my pattern.


I also suggest choosing a simple pattern. You don't want an entire rug painted with latex because it will be a bit scratchy underfoot.

For crisp lines, press tape strips firmly onto the carpet.

Paint your pattern with gentle strokes. Don't apply too much pressure and follow the seam of the tape. Going against the tape edge will cause seepage.

Allow your first coat to dry and add a second coat.

Remove the tape when your second coat is still wet. This will give you a crisp line.

Stand back and admire your work! This rug is super cute and takes little effort. I had all the supplies on hand and just needed to buy the rug. While this isn't a super high end look, it's great for kids rooms and playrooms and perhaps even a door entry.


You can check out all my tips on how I decorate for next to nothing by reading my free guide.

Resources for this project:
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Kenyatta Harris
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Frequently asked questions
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  • Alisa Lyles Alisa Lyles on Aug 29, 2019

    this is such a great and inexpensive way to get a new rug I truly hate shopping for rugs I’m wanting to change the color of my decor from red to grey but am having a very hard time finding a rug that my partner and I both agree on so your ideal is wonderful but my question is did you mean to remove the tape after the second coat is applied


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