HOW TO MAKE AN EASY DIY RUG OUT OF A DROP CLOTH AND CHALK PAINT

This easy and inexpensive DIY rug project will add style to your home or outdoor porch in no time.  Follow these steps on how to make a rug out of fabric using a drop cloth and chalk paint.

I love layering rugs at my front door but finding the perfect rug to go under my mat has been a challenge.  So I decided to create a DIY rug using a drop cloth and chalk paint.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you make a purchase using the links below.  All opinions are all my own.

DIY Rug Using Drop Cloth and Chalk Paint

This rug making project is so easy.  If you have some basic sewing skills and a few other supplies, I promise you can make this fabric rug.

So lets cut to the chase and jump right into the step by step tutorial on how to make a rug using drop cloth fabric and chalk paint.

Supplies

• Drop cloth
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Chalk paint (I used Dixie Belle Cotton)
• Cup of water
• Paintbrush
• Different width painters tape (I used 1 inch and 2 inches)
• Long metal ruler
• Paper or vinyl to protect the table from getting paint on it

Step by Step Instruction on How to Make a Rug Out of Fabric

After you have determined the size of your rug, it is time to cut and sew the drop cloth fabric to the desired size.

Cut and Sew the Drop Cloth

Cut the fabric an inch wider than your dimensions.  Next, fold under the edges two times and sew the fold down.

I sewed the first fold down and then the second fold down.

Prepare Work Surface

Now lay some paper or vinyl down if you are working on a surface you do not want it damaged by the chalk paint.

I used my dining table, so naturally, I wanted to keep it safe.

Create Stripes with Painters Tape

It is time to create your stripes on the drop cloth rug.

Begin by taping one long piece along the edge.

This is where the long ruler comes in handy.

Lay the ruler down next to the blue piece of tap and put another piece of tape next to the ruler.

You can alternate or mix up the widths of the stripes.  You can add three widths of tap side by side to make an extra large line or just one strip and so on.

And there you have all the stripes on the drop cloth.  Now it is time to start painting.

Chalk paint the Stripes

So far so good!  Making your rug is easy.

Okay, grab that cup of water and wet your brush.

Blot the brush on a paper towel and paint on your first stripe.

Continue painting on the stripes.

Work from on top of the tape towards the center.  This way you will not get paint under the tap.

Notice how there is a great deal of chalk paint on the tape?  That is an excellent example of working from the top of the tape and then dragging the brush onto the drop cloth.

Remove the Tape

Before the paint dries, start removing the tape.  Be very careful not to let the tape accidentally hit the drop cloth and get chalk paint onto the non-painted areas.

Let it Dry Overnight

If possible leave the drop cloth rug in place overnight to give the paint time to dry.

I even gave it a couple of days to let the paint cure.  Because my rug is going on the porch, I figured the more time, the better.

Layered Rugs

Here is the final product of my layered rugs using the drop cloth and chalk paint DIY rug project.

I made both these rugs for my Christmas front porch.

Here is the front porch design so you can see how the whole space worked out.

And if you are not the crafty type and would rather purchase a rug, I have a post of some favorite rugs that might help you.

Conclusion

So now you are probably wondering if this rug will last very long.  I thought the same thing when I was making it.

It has been out on our porch for about a month now, and it still looks brand new.  We have had lots of rain which concerned me, but it still looks new.  However, keep in mind the rug is covered on my porch by three sides.

The last time I layered a rug I purchased a braided rug from Target.  Here is the post so you can see that rug.

The braided rug was great, but it faded a great deal from spring until fall.  I do get a lot of sun on my porch in the afternoon.

So far this DIY rug hasn’t faded.  Are you as surprised as I am?

I hope you have enjoyed learning how to make a rug out of fabric using a drop cloth and chalk paint.  It has been fun to make and teach you.

Happy Decorating!

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