Painted Canvas Dropcloth Rug

Painted canvas rug

This project became a little more in depth than I anticipated. Usually I have my husband around to help me simplify my ideas but on this particular weekend he was out of town so I took on a much more intricate project than I anticipated. My suggestions for the future: Choose a simple design and only 2-3 paint colors for your rug otherwise it becomes very time consuming.

Supplies:
1 painters canvas in the size you desire (I used 6x9)
Acrylic paint or water based interior wall paint in your choice of colors
Paintbrushes and rollers
Plastic sheeting
Stencils, sponges or any other medium you wish for your pattern
Polycrylic (optional)

Step One:
Lay out your canvas and iron it as best as possible. This will help your design go on straight once you start painting. If you need to you can use hem tape or sew any uneven edges at this time. I laid my canvas out and placed a towel underneath as I ironed it.

Painted canvas rug step 1

Step Two:
Tape off the design you want. I free-handed my design but wanted to make sure that my lines were straight so I taped them out.

Painted canvas rug step 2

Step Three:
Begin painting your design making sure to use a thick coat of paint since it will absorb into the fabric. don't worry about it going through to the backside because the plastic sheeting will protect your floor/ground from getting paint on it. Allow it to dry at least 1 hour before doing any touch ups.

Painted canvas rug step 3

Step Four: Optional
Cover in two coats of polycrylic letting it dry between coats. This is great for rugs that will be in high traffic and outdoor areas. It also allows you to sweep your rug easily.

Painted rug step 4

Whether you cover your rug in polyacrylic or leave it as is you will be able to throw it in the washing machine whenever you need to and the paint will remain in tact. Keep in mind though that the rug may shrink a bit as most canvas is 100% cotton.

I love our rug and feel like it really pulled the room together. I was able to use some paint colors that I had already used on furniture in the room to really unite the space.

Here are some of the pins I drew inspiration from:

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