10 Doable Designs for a DIY Rug

Though not always considered essential, area rugs provide comfort and warmth for hard floor surfaces, while adding aesthetics to a room’s design. But the hunt for the right rug is not always easy. Whether you've been holding back on buying one because you haven't found the right style, size, or price range, we've got good news: You can make one to fit all of those parameters. If you’re DIY-ing your rug, you can customize it for your own tastes and needs. Choosing a color is the best place to start. If you already have lots of bold patterns in the room, a more subtle, single-colored rug might be the right counterpoint. If you want your rug to have as much personality as a piece of furniture, let the colors and patterns sing out. When it comes to size, there are a few general rules to follow. An area rug’s dimensions should be based on the seating area, not the entire room. When you’re sitting on the furniture, you want the rug to provide cushion and coziness for feet, so make sure at least the front legs of sofas and chairs are on the rug in a living room. In a dining area, center the rug under the table, with enough space to pull the chairs out on top of it. At the entryway of a home, open the door fully, and plan to place your rug about 6 inches beyond that. Aim to make your rug the width of the door, or slightly greater. Finally, texture may be overlooked, but it plays a huge role in creating layered and lush room design. A rug can provide a necessary element of texture, whether it’s a chunky rag rug or a smoothly painted sisal. No matter the space you’re working with, you're bound to load up on inspiration from these 10 smart makers and the DIY rugs that now dress up their floors. From a handwoven kitchen mat to a painted area rug, click through these DIY designs to find the style that speaks the most to you.

By Tracy Anderson

Updated on Dec 1, 2020

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Piece it Together

If you’ve your shopped for a large area rug, you know sticker shock—it’s what happens when you read the tag for a runner and then one for its room-size counterpart. A clever solution? Gather two or more small rugs and place them together with single-sided carpet seaming tape, just as A Beautiful Mess did.

If You Fancy Faux Fur

No animals were hurt in the making of this rug. In fact, Heather behind The Decor Fix crafted hers by drawing a zebra skin freehand on a large sheet of faux suede. The gold leafing from a acrylic paint and gel pens adds an extra luxe touch to this faux-fur design.

Have a Ball

For a fun and cheery addition to any room—but definitely
the playroom—string together a fuzzy floor covering out of felt balls, just like this project from CATHERINEGRACE. This soft rug is sure to make you pass on traditional seating for a spot on the floor.

Twist Up Some Tees

No need to run out to the store for your rug materials; instead, start by looking at the stockpile of clothes you’ve saved to donate. You can transform an excess of plain T-shirts into a DIYed rug by cutting them up into strips and using the slices as “yarn” in this crochet pattern from One Dog Woof.

Cut a Rug

For a crocheted look without learning the skill set, try your hands at a simpler weave. This project from A Beautiful Mess is another designed to use only what you already have on hand: a set of old bed sheets and a cardboard structure to hold the ends of your fabric strips while you weave. Don’t worry if your fabric supply is rather eclectic; the colors and patterns will blend together beautifully in the final product.

Know the Ropes

In the store, sisal and jute rugs can run a pretty penny. But with a roll of rope and some creativity you can easily mimic the look on a much more affordable budget. Using rope and a plain mat as the base, Cami from the DIY-blog TIDBITS shares the tutorial for making this charming rug.

Related: The Best 10 Doormats Under $50

Copy a Classic

On the occasion that you do find the perfect rug but it falls outside your budget, consider recreating the coveted design with a little fabric paint, just as Katie from Mountain Modern Life had. Just start with a plain, lower-cost rug or carpet remnant and stencil on your desired design to make it unrecognizable.

Roped In

What if we told you all you need to make a stylish and sturdy sisal rug is a whole lot of rope and glue? That’s all that’s used in this project from
The Honeycomb Home
. On a flat surface, coil the rope around itself, using dabs of hot glue to secure it. Continue round and round until you’ve hit your desired width.

Crochet A Clothesline

Try your hand at crocheting a rug. For just $16, Jessica from Mama In A Stitch used a clothesline to make this simple bathmat. Whether you’re a newbie or expert crocheter, the design can be modified for any skill level.

Put A Cork In It

Got a collection of wine corks building up in your kitchen? While you might need to ask friends and family for a few more, you can easily use the lightweight material to make your own rug. Crafty Nest has the tutorial for making this fairly straightforward—and inexpensive—rug for the bathroom.