Hello friends! I am super excited to share with you how I recently “broke the rules of paint” and painted a RUG! Gasp… Yep, it can be done! Join me and learn how to paint a rug!
First, let me share with you why I decided to paint a rug. One reason is that Ace Hardware challenged me and its other bloggers to complete a paint project that “breaks the rules.” I was happy to oblige :) I've painted pretty much everything, from our kitchen tile backsplash {see that here} to our vinyl floors in our laundry room {see that here}. But I have NEVER painted a rug! The helpful folks at my local Ace Hardware were intrigued by my project–it's always such a treat to talk to them about my projects and get their input on what supplies I will need :)
I have wanted a rug in our girls' playroom for a while, but I just didn't want to drop a ton of cash on one. So, I decided to paint an inexpensive rug to get just the look I wanted. This is what the sad, drab rug looked like before I got started.
Okay, enough talking, let me show you how I did it.
How to Paint a Rug:
Materials Needed:
- Loop pile rug. Mine is a 6 x 8 that I found at a local store for only $40.
- Latex paint. I used Valspar Optimus paint from Ace Hardware. It's contains zero VOCs and provides fabulous coverage. My project required 1 quart of each color {the green is called Farm Fresh and the blue is called Blue Fedora}.
- Foam paint rollers
- Paint trays
- Drop clothes
- Painter's tape
Steps:
1) Lay your rug down on top of a drop cloth. Then, use your painter's tape to tape off squares. Based on the dimension of my rug, I did some math and realized that 22.5 inch squares would result in 3 squares on the 6′ side and 4 squares o the 8′ side. Gotta love it when a plan comes together {and thank goodness it did, because I am no good at math and could not have figured it out if it was more complicated}! Be sure to firmly press your tape onto the rug to help keep your lines really crisp.
2) Now you are ready to paint! I painted all of my green squares first and then followed with my blue squares. I used two coats of each color. When you paint your squares, be sure to roll AWAY from the tape. To paint the edges, put your roller on the paint and then roll away from it. This will prevent bleeding under the tape.
3) Remove your tape. I removed my tape while the paint was still wet. I allowed the rug to dry overnight. I am still amazed by how PERFECT the lines are. No bleeding at all!
It took me less than an hour to complete this project and I love how it turned out! It looks fantastic in my girls' playroom. Check it out for yourself!
I am still debating adding some red accents, but time will tell on that one :)
What do you think? What paint rules have you broken in the past? Have you ever painted a rug?
I am a member of the Ace Bloggers Panel and have been provided with materials for this project. I was also compensated for my time and this blog post. All opinions and positions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Ace Hardware. 
My questions is you did a fantastic job, but doesn’t it feel stiff? I think you would need the stuff they use with painting Tshirt, that makes it soft.
hi there – I love this rug!!! I am curious about this tho, and also when painting furniture. Does the rug feel hard and crunchie?? It seems to me it would. But, probably not.
thanx a bunch…Wendy
Hi Wendy! It was a little stiff, but softened back up to how it felt before the paint after we vacuumed it and walked on it a while!
Thanks for the tutorial! I’ve loved browsing through your blog and now have a whole list of inexpensive updates I want to try (painted rug, painted vinyl, painted tile….).
If you want to add red to your rug I think it would look really nice with small red squares at each of the 6 intersections; just enough for a bright pop of red. I may try this same pattern only using teal and green with coral “pops”.
Love that idea, Shalah! Thanks so much for reading my blog!
Love it! This is such a good way to spruce up those boring rugs that go on sale at big box stores all the time. I love knowing that there’s a way to use those deals to my advantage now!! Dropping in from Think & Make Thursday.
Thank you, Carole! I am so happy with how it turned out. Thanks so much for stopping by and for linking up at Think & Make Thursday!
Question, it Looks wonderful, but how does it feel? Is it rough and scratchy?. Can dyes be used to keep the pile as soft as possible?. I don’t like the feel of painted fabrics on furniture.. ..
Hi Claudia! It is an indoor/outdoor rug that I painted, so it wasn’t really soft to begin with. So, the paint didn’t change the feel much at all. I am not sure how it would affect a soft pile rug. Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
Amazing! This is such a cool idea! The colors are so great for a kids room!
Thank you! I am loving it!
I made a rug for our patio using a 9×12 canvas drop cloth, outdoor paint, and clear marine grade sealer. We’ve used it 3 summers in a row and it still holds up to the elements.
Great idea, Monica! I’ll have to try that!
Neat. Nice to hear it only took an hour.
BRILLIANT!!! LOVE the colours!!! I’ve been meaning to try painting an inexpensive outdoor rug for some time now! Thanks for the inspiration Tasha!
Hey! This looks great! Love the playroom and the colour your rug adds! Is the rug stiffer now? I was wondering if the paint makes it less comfy for your feet? Thanks!
Lindi @ http://www.lovecreatecelebrate.com
Hi Lindi–thank you! The rug I painted is an indoor/outdoor rug, so it was stiff to begin with and the paint did not significantly change the texture. I am not sure how it would affect a soft rug. Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
WOW you’re awesome! LOVE it!
Thank you, Monica!
How durable is the color, how does it wear with foot traffic? Does the painted areas flake off any?
Hi Thomas! I just recently finished the rug, so I do not yet know how it will hold up over time, but I will post an update in a few months!
Wow. I might have to do this one. It turned out fantastic!
Thank you, Karin!
How fun, Tasha! Love the colors you chose! Pinned!
Wow! That’s incredible. I’ve heard a lot about painting rugs but hadn’t tried it yet. I’m impressed that the ain’t didn’t bleed at all. Does the rug feel hard at all where it’s painted?
Hi Emily! The rug I painted is an indoor/outdoor rug, so it was pretty rough/hard to begin with and the paint didn’t change it much. I am not sure how it would affect a soft rug. I hope that helps!