Erin Spain

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How to Stencil a Rug {on the cheap}

August 7, 2012 By Erin Spain 122 Comments

How to Stencil a Rug {On the Cheap}

Today I’m going to show you exactly how to stencil a rug, without spending a ton of money! I have wanted to stencil something for quite some time now, and I finally got around to it this weekend. I mentioned before that I am working on a dining room makeover, and that we really needed a rug.

I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to challenge myself and see just how little money I could spend on this project. (P.S. Stay tuned for another stenciling project coming up soon!) 

I won a stencil on a friend’s blog a while back, and I’ve been trying to figure out exactly how I wanted to use it. A Moroccan-patterned rug seemed like the perfect use for this stencil. But are you ready for the best part? This rug cost $18.00.

That’s right, a 6×8 rug for $18.00! The entire project cost me around $28.00 since the stencil was free. (I used a wall stencil, and these can be pretty pricey, but you could always make your own for free or tape off a design using painter’s tape.)

All I had to buy was some acrylic craft paint and fabric medium, which set me back about $10.00.

And as for the rug? It was a Home Depot find. It’s a cheap, flimsy indoor/outdoor rug, but I knew I could make it look like a million bucks (minus $999,900.00).

My husband wasn’t so sure about it — in fact, he may or may not have almost gagged the first time he saw it rolled up on the living room floor before I worked my magic on it. To say it was ugly is a massive understatement. It kinda resembled gray AstroTurf.

How to Stencil a Rug

Ok, let’s get down to business. I’m going to tell you exactly how I did this.

I had never stenciled before, so this was quite an adventure. If you want to make sure your stencil pattern is exactly the same around all of the edges, you can take the time to measure it out.

I just decided to wing it because I’m impatient and I kind of didn’t care about it being totally perfect since it’s going to live under the dining room table.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Disclosure: Affiliate links included. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Solid colored rug
  • Stencil
  • Painter’s tape
  • Acrylic craft paint (I used white)
  • Fabric medium
  • Paint roller or stencil brush
  • Paint tray
  • Plastic drop cloth
  • Stir Stick
  • Wet wipes or wet paper towels
  • Dry paper towels.

How to Stencil a Rug (on the Cheap)

How to stencil a rug (on the cheap)

Step 1

First, lay your rug out flat on top of your plastic drop cloth.

Mix your craft paint with fabric medium (2 parts paint to 1 part fabric medium). Pick a corner and line up your stencil, taping it down. If it won’t lay flat, grab random objects and weigh down the edges (I used toys).

I know these instructions are very technical (“grab random objects?”) but that’s just my style. Please just go with it.

How to stencil a rug (on the cheap), a step by step tutorial.

Step 2

Apply your paint.

I attempted to use a paint roller which would have made this project go about 5,000 times faster, but it just wasn’t working out for me. I think the combo of the thin rug and the foam roller wasn’t a good match – maybe a roller with thicker nap would have worked better, but my roller wasn’t pressing the paint into the rug properly.

I ended up using a 2-inch stencil brush for the whole thing. (I know, I’m crazy.) It took a while, and I got a nasty blister on my finger, but it was the most effective method under the circumstances.

If you use a brush, use circular motions and do not slant the brush. Hold the brush vertically the whole time to avoid having your paint seep under the edges of the stencil. If you do smudge it, use a wet wipe to blot it immediately. (I always keep wet wipes handy when I paint.)

Always blot your brush or roller on a dry paper towel before painting.

It’s best to use very little paint and go over it a couple of times if necessary, rather than slopping on a ton of paint and having it seep through the edges.

You will also have to periodically wipe down your stencil as it becomes covered in a thick layer of paint. You can always lift a corner of the stencil and take a peek at how things look to see if you need to make it darker.

How to stencil a rug (on the cheap), a step by step tutorial.

Step 3

Move your stencil and repeat the process. After you’ve finished one section, lift the stencil, move it over – match up the edges and follow the same steps until your whole rug is complete. Allow ample drying time before plopping furniture on top of it, but it won’t take too long. Acrylic paint dries pretty quickly.

How to stencil a rug (on the cheap), a step by step tutorial.

How to stencil a rug (on the cheap), a step by step tutorial.

How to stencil a rug (on the cheap), a step by step tutorial.

How to stencil a rug (on the cheap), a step by step tutorial.

And here she is in the dining room!

How to stencil a rug (on the cheap), a step by step tutorial.

How to stencil a rug (on the cheap), a step by step tutorial.

The last step: Admire your hard work and allow your husband to tell you how awesome you are for saving a zillion dollars on a rug. Rugs are expensive!

This one may not be top of the line quality, but you can’t beat $18.00! Especially since I have kids who are just going to throw food on it anyway. I’ll invest in a nice one when they go to college. For now, cheap but pretty works for me thankyouverymuch!

Would you ever stencil a rug? If you try it, let me know!

You Might Also Like:

  • How to Paint Furniture: A Beginner’s Guide
  • How to Stain Furniture: The Basics
  • How to Paint a Striped Wall
  • DIY Geometric Pendant Light

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Filed Under: DIY, Home & DIY Blog, Popular Posts, Tutorials

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Comments

  1. Jessica Kielman says

    August 7, 2012 at 12:34 am

    Love, love, love it! I just jumped on the whole stenciling bandwagon…rug is next on my list!

    Jessica @ Mom 4 Real

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 7, 2012 at 1:42 pm

      Same here, Jessica. This was my first attempt at stenciling but I love it!

      Reply
  2. Karen @ Dogs Don't Eat Pizza says

    August 7, 2012 at 2:02 am

    I love it!!! It looks great. I think I need to hone my stenciling skills before trying this!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 7, 2012 at 1:42 pm

      Thanks, Karen!

      Reply
  3. Donna @ My Sweet Things says

    August 7, 2012 at 2:37 am

    I recently painted a cheap outdoor mat using acrylic paints and frog tape. Very cute, easy makeover. I love your rug Erin! I’d like a larger rug for my office and I’ll have to look at Home Depot for a great deal like you found!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 7, 2012 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks Donna! It’s amazing what paint can do to transform just about anything.

      Reply
  4. Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} says

    August 7, 2012 at 3:28 am

    Fantastic! This is something I want to do in the future and your tips are going to save me a lot of trial and error. It turned out beautifully!!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 7, 2012 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks Michele! It’s really not difficult, just a bit tedious. But worth it!

      Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    August 7, 2012 at 6:53 pm

    how much walking on can it take before it starts to wear down

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 7, 2012 at 6:56 pm

      Good question. I’m not sure since I’ve never painted a rug before! Mine isn’t located in a high-traffic area, but I’m not sure how it would hold up to lots of traffic. I suppose you could always touch it up with a small brush as time goes on. I’d love to hear from someone who has done this before and see how theirs has held up over time! I’ll update you all as time goes on and let you know how mine is doing.

      Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    August 8, 2012 at 4:22 am

    If I were 40 years younger, I would try to stencil a rug. Yours is so pretty. I love the way your dining room looks. I was always a do-it-yourselfer. Wish we had computers and access to smart people like you when I was a newly wed and a new mom. I really enjoy your blog. Keep up the good work!!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 9, 2012 at 7:29 pm

      LOL! It was definitely a workout, and my whole body was sore the next day. Thank you for the nice comment!

      Reply
  7. SJ@SweeterStill says

    August 8, 2012 at 8:21 pm

    Found you on Pinterest and this rug is fabulous! I can’t believe it was only $18. We’ve purchased several rugs from HD over the years for our kids rooms because when it inevitably gets thrashed, it’s not a big deal. Ours were more expensive but I’ve been looking for something for under our dining table and this might be just the thing! Great tutorial.

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 9, 2012 at 7:29 pm

      Thanks so much!

      Reply
  8. Sarah @ 20 State says

    August 11, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    I love how this turned out, it looks gorgeous! One day I will be motivated enough to try this, in the meantime I will enjoy yours! Sharing over on Sunday State weekly roundup.

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 12, 2012 at 6:08 pm

      Thank you, Sarah!

      Reply
  9. Nourishing says

    August 12, 2012 at 2:12 am

    Amazing!! Where can I buy that stencil?? And was it hard? Would you do it again??

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 12, 2012 at 6:09 pm

      Thank you! I believe this one is from Cutting Edge Stencils, although Royal Design Studios sells really great ones too. I wouldn’t say it was hard, but tedious for sure. And I had to do a lot of squatting so I was pretty sore the next day! But totally worth it, and yes I’d do it again. I actually bought another rug exactly like this one which I plan to stencil for the back screened in porch – I’m just going to wait a while before going at it again!

      Reply
  10. nest of posies says

    August 12, 2012 at 4:36 pm

    this looks fabulous!
    i’m so scared i’ll mess one up. but it’s on my to-do list once the kids go back to school!

    thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 12, 2012 at 6:11 pm

      Thank you! I was afraid to try it too, that’s why I used such a cheap rug. But it was a lot easier than I thought it would be! Just a bit tedious.

      Reply
  11. Dee says

    August 12, 2012 at 7:25 pm

    HI Erin, found you on Hometalk and love what you did with the rug! When you are choosing your rug does it matter what it is made out of? I mean they have pretty cheap rugs at the $ store and wondered if they would work just as well.

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 12, 2012 at 7:30 pm

      Hi Dee! Thanks for stopping by. I don’t think it matters what it is made out of. Mine was super cheap-looking and felt cheap too. I bet dollar store rugs would work just as well. It remains to be seen how well this one will hold up in the long-term, but for $18, I don’t care! LOL.

      Reply
  12. Julie says

    August 12, 2012 at 7:33 pm

    Erin this is so amazing!! You really did a great job…loved the fire trucks too! I am sharing this on my fb page today 🙂

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 15, 2012 at 11:47 pm

      Thanks so much, Julie!

      Reply
  13. Four Marrs and One Venus says

    August 12, 2012 at 7:52 pm

    Love it! I did one a couple weeks back with spray paint! LOVE IT! Great job lady..looks fantastic!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 15, 2012 at 11:47 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  14. Debbie says

    August 13, 2012 at 1:37 am

    Erin this is amazing. I found you on Hometalk. Hope to do this project some day as I like to change out my rugs often and they are very expensive. Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 15, 2012 at 11:48 pm

      Thanks Debbie! This is definitely an affordable option – and fun too!

      Reply
  15. Sue says

    August 13, 2012 at 2:55 pm

    Hi, found you off HomeTalk/Facebook. Love the rug. I am impatient and would wing it like you too. Thanks for the great idea!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 15, 2012 at 11:48 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Sue! I appreciate it.

      Reply
  16. Johnnie says

    August 13, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    You did a fantastic job. I love it!
    Saved By Love Creations
    Printable Decor

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 15, 2012 at 11:46 pm

      Thanks Johnnie!

      Reply
  17. Christina says

    August 13, 2012 at 7:28 pm

    Found your blog through out local Atlanta bloggers group 🙂

    Love this rug, Erin! And love that stencil. I wish we had wood floors as I just am not sold on the rug over carpet look. BUT we do have tile in the kitchen and I was thinking I might want to try to find a rug for under our kitchen table. Will check this rug out when I am at Home Depot next.

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 13, 2012 at 9:56 pm

      Thanks Christina!

      Reply
  18. Kelly @ View Along the Way says

    August 13, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    Looks amazing! Totally like a million bucks. 🙂 Pinned!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 13, 2012 at 9:57 pm

      Thank you Kelly!

      Reply
  19. reFresh reStyle says

    August 14, 2012 at 1:21 am

    Erin, I love your new rug! It’s awesome!
    Debbie

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 14, 2012 at 11:22 pm

      Thank you Debbie!

      Reply
  20. Kristin says

    August 15, 2012 at 8:58 pm

    LOVE this! I won a $50 gift certificate at a stencil place and bought two stencils and haven’t done anything with them yet. This would be perfect for my new house =)

    Found you via Tip Junkie’s linky party =)

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 15, 2012 at 11:46 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Kristin! This was definitely a fun, affordable stencil project. Can’t wait to see what you do with your stencils. There are lots of fun possibilities!

      Reply
  21. TheSewingLoft says

    August 16, 2012 at 7:16 pm

    Love the way it turned out!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 17, 2012 at 1:17 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  22. W and J says

    August 18, 2012 at 12:22 am

    This is amazing!! I’m currently on the hunt for a new rug for our living room…AND have two little boys to boot. This would be such a great, guiltless option! 🙂

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 18, 2012 at 1:01 am

      Thank you! I have 2 boys also so cheap was a must!

      Reply
  23. Stacia Liechty says

    August 18, 2012 at 10:25 am

    Goes to show that everything has potential! Even “plain jane” generic rugs! I just took your home “tour”, WOW! Beautiful home. Can’t wait to see it once you’ve worked your magic on all the room. And I’m so jealous of that pool house!
    come say “hi” sometime over at my brand new blog- http://www.feathersandsushine.blogspot.com.
    Have a good weekend!
    ~Stacia

    Reply
  24. The Prudent Pantry says

    August 18, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    Amazing! I can’t wait to try this. Stylish rugs can be so expensive, this is a very smart solution.

    I would love it if you would share this at the Smart Solutions linky party. You can link up here:

    http://theprudentpantryblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/prudent-projects-smart-solutions-week-7.html

    Have a great day!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 19, 2012 at 2:55 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  25. Anonymous says

    August 18, 2012 at 8:26 pm

    where do you get stencils from?

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 19, 2012 at 2:55 pm

      If you google “wall stencils,” you will find several sources. I like Royal Design Studios – they have lots to choose from. You can also make your own with a vinyl cutting machine.

      Reply
  26. A Lived in Home says

    August 19, 2012 at 2:56 pm

    This is fantastic! Love the pattern and how it turned out! Would love to have you join my Get Social Sunday party and link up your homepage. Come promote your awesome blog. http://alivedinhome.blogspot.com/2012/08/get-social-sunday_18.html

    Reply
  27. Erin {Home Everyday} says

    August 24, 2012 at 2:08 pm

    Oh my goodness! I am so excited to try this! This is a great tutorial, and I absolutely loved how it turned out. The pattern is so cute. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  28. Laurel @ Ducks in a Row says

    August 24, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    Wow – it looks so good. I love it!

    Reply
  29. Barbe @ Beez Rental Designs says

    August 28, 2012 at 6:53 am

    Hi, I found you on facebook and spotted your rug! This is so awesome; great job! I’m your new follower via email and like on fb. I’d love if you’d share your rug at Frugal Treasures Tuesday.
    Barbe

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      August 28, 2012 at 1:08 pm

      Thanks Barbe!

      Reply
  30. Me says

    September 15, 2012 at 6:34 am

    It’s beautiful! I’m going to try this for sure!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      September 27, 2012 at 8:54 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  31. Colleen says

    September 27, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    I found you through google when looking for tips on painting furniture! I love this rug! Have you tried cleaning food from it yet?

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      September 27, 2012 at 8:53 pm

      Hi Colleen! Yes! I actually have cleaned plenty of food off of it thanks to my 2 year-old and 4 year-old sons. It’s held up great! I actually thought about posting a follow-up about that. I have one of those swivel sweeper vacuum things that I use on it almost daily and it works like a charm for crumbs, and the few times I’ve had to spot clean it, it has come clean very easily. Thanks for stopping by the blog!

      Reply
  32. Felicia Price says

    October 15, 2012 at 3:28 am

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  33. hilda says

    November 6, 2012 at 4:21 pm

    Finally, an issue that I am passionate about. I have looked for information of this caliber for the last several hours. Your site is greatly appreciated.

    installation

    Reply
  34. Anonymous says

    November 16, 2012 at 8:07 pm

    Ahhhh…I bow at the altar of ANYTHING in a Moroccan pattern. I ♥♥♥ this look!! (^_^)

    Reply
  35. LadyChic says

    November 25, 2012 at 7:39 am

    Hello Erin, I love your stenciled rug project! I would like to make one myself, as this will help me to save money because the ones in the stores and the web are are so expensive. I am not understanding a few things though. Please explain to me…..what happened to the paint that is on the outside of the stencil? What did you remove the excess paint with? Did you put something on the rug in between the stenciling because I see paint on the outside of your the area that you traced with your paint brush? What is paint medium and what does it do? How did you remove the paint from the areas that look like you would not want paint to be? Thank You for answering my questions so that I can make this rug.
    Sincerely,
    Kiaty

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      November 25, 2012 at 3:19 pm

      Hello! The medium helps the paint adhere to fabric. I used it because I was using regular craft paint and not fabric paint. As for the stencil, no I did not put anything between the stencil and the rug. The stencil is clear, so you are seeing paint all over the outside of the actual stencil which I could then just wipe with a wet paper towel. When I was finished, I washed the stencil with warm soapy water.

      Reply
  36. Anonymous says

    January 6, 2013 at 6:06 am

    Wow you did a great job! Thank you soo much for sharing. Myself I love to do things as thrifty as I can it makes me feel good. You have the right idea, when you have little ones don’t spend a lot of money, it may get ruined or you will constantly saying be careful.

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      January 8, 2013 at 5:14 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  37. Anonymous says

    January 7, 2013 at 7:12 am

    Awesome! Been looking for a diy like this for weeks. Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      January 8, 2013 at 5:14 pm

      Thank you! Glad you like it.

      Reply
  38. Shelly Rubas says

    January 8, 2013 at 2:30 am

    Love this so much! I’m totally going to try it! 🙂

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      January 8, 2013 at 5:15 pm

      Thank you! I’d love to see pics if you do try it!

      Reply
  39. Anonymous says

    January 24, 2013 at 1:44 am

    very nice. very earthy. very me. thanks bunches
    the fabric medium was the key I needed.

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      January 27, 2013 at 11:47 pm

      You’re welcome! I’m glad I could help. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  40. Anonymous says

    January 24, 2013 at 1:47 am

    needed this info for making seasonal door mats with the grandkids and for game mats in their bedroom. hopscoth to the paint store, thank you

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      January 27, 2013 at 11:48 pm

      Oh, fun! Those projects sound great. I’m sure your grandkids will love that!

      Reply
  41. MommaLuv says

    February 23, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    Brilliant. This gives me so many ideas for future projects. Thank you!

    Reply
  42. kelly arent-Copper Roof Interiors LLC says

    March 8, 2013 at 12:25 pm

    Just found your site from Hometalk!!! Love this rug tut!! I have made this type of rug before and love them….especially LOVE that they are cheap to make!!!! Great job…love you site…will be following…going to look you up on FB now.
    [email protected]

    Reply
  43. Jess @ Lesniak Oriental Rugs says

    May 30, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    This is a great idea, yours came out really nice! I definitely want to try it!

    Reply
  44. Jyllian says

    July 23, 2013 at 8:38 pm

    Did you find that the edges of this rug frayed at all? I’m wondering if I should buy the same rug as you, or go to a flooring store and get them to bind the edges of a remnant.

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      July 24, 2013 at 10:19 pm

      Nope, no fraying! 🙂

      Reply
  45. Rose says

    August 13, 2013 at 2:25 am

    Great job on the rug!! I want to do the exact thing, just on a smaller scale! Where can I get a good cheap stencil? Or can I make one?

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      August 13, 2013 at 12:07 pm

      Thank you! You can try to make your own, but with a rug it’s a little more tricky than a wall. I used a good quality wall stencil and unfortunately those aren’t super cheap. Royal Design Studios and Cutting Edge Stencils are a couple of companies that sell them. You may be able to find discount codes online.

      Reply
  46. Christa says

    January 21, 2014 at 4:28 pm

    Found this post through Pinterest. That rug looks awesome. Great job. Love the white on the gray. Your dining room is really coming along.

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      January 22, 2014 at 12:30 am

      Thanks so much Christa!

      Reply
  47. Old New House says

    January 29, 2014 at 3:11 am

    Wow – We’ve seen a few of these DIY’s but none so well done and intricate!!!!

    Thank you so much for sharing!

    M+D of Old New House
    Specializing in small rugs

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      January 29, 2014 at 6:39 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  48. Tobi says

    March 6, 2014 at 3:41 am

    Score! I purchased the same rug at Costco tonight and want the same morraccan design!!! Thanks for the instructions!
    I bought beige to match our living room, but I adore your striking grey rug!!

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      March 6, 2014 at 4:10 pm

      Thanks Tobi! So glad you are going to try this project! Let me know how it goes 🙂

      Reply
  49. Tobi says

    March 6, 2014 at 3:41 am

    P.S. I found your blog on google!

    Reply
  50. Ag says

    March 18, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    It looks awesome 🙂 fantastic job. I have a quick question i recently made a fabric headboard its geometric octagon shape , grey and kemon yellow shade. my guest room wall is light lemon yellow. can you please suggest me how can i convert my existing old rug into some thing like yours. and what colors would you recommend :). your suggestions are highly appreciated. thanks much

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      March 18, 2014 at 7:55 pm

      Thank you! I would do a gray rug — you could do gray and white like mine. What type of rug do you have? This method really works best with a flat rug with very little “shag”. If your rug is already a color, I would roll it with paint (or paint with built-in primer depending on existing color of rug). I’d probably paint the whole thing gray and then stencil over it in white. Good luck!

      Reply
  51. Ag says

    March 18, 2014 at 8:02 pm

    Thank you appreciate your comment 🙂 .

    Reply
  52. Vanessa says

    April 23, 2014 at 9:22 am

    I just stumbled upon your site when googling “first time diy step by step furniture painting” and after reading your tutorial (and wondering if I am cray-cray to attempt such a task having never done anything so advaned before) I then saw this post. While the rug came out.lovely, I was more interested in your dining room set – may I say, I LOVEEEE your chairs. Would you mind sharing the company/style of this set? As ofr the furniture, I will let you know if I can convince myself to ever take the leap and refinish a piece of furniture. It’s been a dream of mine to buy old/vintage, solid beautifully crafted pieces and give them new life. Because, as we all know, trying to find craftmanship like that nowadays is impossible! And forgive me, but I refuse to spend $1000’s upon $1000’s on this veneered MDF crap they sell in these high-end stores! But I digress, I would love to gain the courage to tackle such a project; I am looking for a new hobby, so perhaps this was the inspiration I needed to finally take the leap! Now I just need to find some good old-fashioned furnutire in need of some TLC (believe it or not, Craigslist has not been a fruitful place to find pieces – I’m in NY so either its too expensive for a DIY 1st timer, or all the ‘good’ stuff gets swooped up by antiques dealers). I wouldn’t want to spend/waste a lot on something I am petrified I will forever ruin…..thanks again!!

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      April 25, 2014 at 7:26 pm

      Thank you, Vanessa! The dining set came from Z Gallerie several years ago. Bummer that Craigslist hasn’t been successful for you — you could try yard sales or flea markets. Small towns (if there are any near you) often have lots of hidden treasures. I definitely think you should give furniture painting a try! It’s really not as difficult as it may seem, and if you mess up you can always just paint it again! I’m sure you’ll do just fine and then you’ll be hooked and painting furniture all the time. Good luck!

      Reply
  53. Lisa says

    June 10, 2014 at 1:31 am

    I followed a link from the blog “From Woo to You” about stenciled rugs. I too have children and want a cool rug that costs very little and has a Morocan pattern. Cheers!

    Reply
  54. Dee says

    August 4, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    Came out lovely! Do you think this would be difficult to do on a cheap low nap rug? I just want to do one stencil in the middle of an anchor in deep blue to match my couch in a nautical room. Tx, Dee

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      August 4, 2014 at 5:03 pm

      Hi Dee! It should work fine. Low nap is definitely important — I don’t think it would work on a really shaggy rug or one with higher nap. You could try a roller first although I found that the brush in circular motions worked best for me.

      Reply
  55. Michele says

    August 17, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    I found you via your spot on Headline News.

    Reply
  56. Nancy says

    October 8, 2014 at 5:21 pm

    just want to know if the paint bleeds? Looks great btw

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      October 8, 2014 at 6:58 pm

      Thank you! I didn’t have a problem with it bleeding on the top of the rug, however it did seep through a bit in a couple spots which is why I used the plastic drop cloth underneath. It wasn’t a problem though.

      Reply
  57. Lindsey says

    November 9, 2014 at 11:58 am

    Where did you find your cheap rug? I’ve been looking everywhere for a cheap rug to paint, but I can’t seem to find a large one that will take paint well and isn’t too expensive.

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      November 9, 2014 at 12:42 pm

      I found this one at the Home Depot.

      Reply
  58. natalie says

    December 31, 2014 at 8:14 am

    WOW– Gorgeous!! Thank you for the How to tutorial. AAHH going to try it!

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      January 4, 2015 at 7:02 pm

      Thanks Natalie! Good luck!

      Reply
  59. K Ross says

    January 19, 2015 at 2:56 pm

    How is the rug for walking over? I’d like to have a bit of resistance so it doesn’t let my foot, or any furniture leg make a dent in it. Getting on a bit and don’t want wrinkles that might catch my foot and cause a tumble. I do that enough on my own, lol. But this rug is exactly what I am looking for and can’t afford. I love the pattern.

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      January 19, 2015 at 3:00 pm

      Thanks for your comment! We have always kept a table or other furniture on top of it, so it’s been ok. It is thin and flimsy though so I think it would definitely wrinkle if it wasn’t weighed down by something. We’ve never had a problem with it though!

      Reply
  60. CherylsArt says

    February 10, 2015 at 4:54 pm

    I have stenciled any rugs as of yet, but I have painted floor cloths before. This looks like an awesome project, and you did a wonderful job.

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      February 11, 2015 at 8:38 am

      Thank you Cheryl!

      Reply
  61. Shannon says

    February 22, 2015 at 12:13 am

    love!! Going to try!! But I’m wondering how a spray paint might would work? And then spray the Rustoleum waterproofing spray over it?!?! Any thoughts?

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      February 22, 2015 at 5:04 pm

      Hmm, good question! I guess you would have to be careful about overspray, and I don’t know if it would absorb into the fibers as deeply and therefore might wear off faster? But I’m not sure. I’d love to hear about it if you end up trying it!

      Reply
  62. Melissa says

    April 1, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    Looks awesome. How has it held up from pushing the chairs in and out? Any fade marks?

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      April 3, 2015 at 10:23 pm

      Thanks Melissa! After a couple of years, there is some fading, but it seems to be pretty evenly faded. Could be more from our dog licking food off of it constantly than the chairs pushing in and out though. 🙂

      Reply
  63. Vicky B. says

    May 8, 2015 at 12:38 am

    I am so impressed how beautiful and chic this rug turned out. Tempted to make my own. Incredible job. 🙂

    Reply
    • Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says

      May 8, 2015 at 8:51 pm

      Thanks so much Vicky!

      Reply
  64. Nisha says

    June 29, 2015 at 8:22 am

    Hey thanks for sharing .. I Habe a sisal rug want to do random leaf pattern what if I mess up the paint or it bleads?? Or I want to change the color is there a way to start over
    Thank you

    Reply
  65. Katie says

    July 1, 2015 at 9:01 pm

    Found you on Pinterest!

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      July 1, 2015 at 10:10 pm

      Oh good! Thanks Katie! So glad you stumbled upon my blog. 🙂

      Reply
  66. Ashleyy says

    July 6, 2015 at 10:51 pm

    Hi there I was wondering where you got the stencil
    I know you said you won it but I cant find a stencil that you paint the outline
    Just ones you paint the inside
    Please help 🙂

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      July 6, 2015 at 10:57 pm

      This one came from Cutting Edge Stencils and it’s called the Marrakech Trellis Allover Stencil. I have also gotten stencils from Royal Design Studio.

      Reply
  67. Kinda says

    November 20, 2015 at 9:01 am

    Great job Erin! You made it sound so easy to do. Your instructions are very easy to follow on how to make this area rug. I think I am going to try my hand at stenciling an area rug for under my coffee table.

    Where do you think the best place is to buy a stencil with seashell,s on it?

    Thank you for sharing your amazing post.

    Kinda

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      November 20, 2015 at 7:36 pm

      Thank you, Kinda! I don’t know if I’ve seen one with seashells. My go-to stencil source is Royal Design Studio, so you could check with them. I highly recommend their products!

      Reply
  68. HAART galeria dobrych pomysłów says

    January 22, 2016 at 9:25 am

    Great idea. Hania

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      January 24, 2016 at 7:55 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  69. Francisco Javier says

    February 9, 2016 at 12:23 am

    Te felicito erin, eso es increible y gracias por la idea yo estoy redecorando mi casa y empeze por mi recamara, tengo una alfombra parecida pero clara y creo que le pondré ese acabado en negro ya que resaltara mas y conbinara con mi recamara que es negra 🙂 GRACIAS! mujer lista!

    Reply

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