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I’m SO excited to finally share my living room makeover with you today! In this post I’m going to show you how to make rugs with a little paint and also how to turn an old chest into a coffee table. It’s amazing what a little color can do to change the whole feel of a room. The blue rug and pillows really brightened up the entire area.
I’ve been looking for the perfect rug for… I don’t know… YEARS! I have searched and searched and could never find what I was looking for. I finally decided to make my own rug to get the exact look I wanted. I’ve seen friends paint some really neat rugs and was excited for the challenge. I absolutely love the pop this rug added to my living room.
How to make rugs with paint
Supplies:
- Rug (I purchased the ERSLEV rug from IKEA for $60)
- Paint (I used robin eggs blue in satin)
- Painters tape or stencil
- Roller brush
- Measuring tape
- Lazer
The first thing you’ll want to do is decide on your design. I find it easiest to draw it out on a piece of paper, so you can figure out the measurements. I’m not going to lie… I had my husband help me. The angles are a bit tricky with the diagonal stripes. I ended up spacing my stripes every four inches. Then I created a two inch spacer stripe with two pieces of tape. You could also use a stencil to make a neat design on a rug. The possibilities with patterns and colors are endless!
Taping is always the hardest part with any painting project. It probably took us 2 hours. Definitely GRAB A PARTNER to help you! We figured the best way to do the diagonal stripes was to measure 4 inches at the top (then mark it with a piece of tape) and then measure 4 inches at the bottom. Then we lined up our laser to pass through point one and two.
Then you’ll place your tape down,following the straight laser line. I promise it’s worth it to use the laser. ;) Borrow one if you have to! I may have taped half of the rug when I realized my lines were crooked. That’s when we went out and bought a laser!
Once your tape is all down, make sure to go over the edges and push them down. You don’t want any paint to leak through. I also ended up going around the outer edges with a piece of tape to create a finished look.
Painting is the easy part! Isn’t it always? Just roll your brush in the paint and then onto the rug. I found it best if I placed the roller in the middle first and then rolled it to the edges. Make sure the first coat is dry before you do a second coat!
After you’re done painting, carefully peel away the painters tape.
Once your rug is completely dry, make sure to protect it. Spray two coats of scotch guard for great protection.
Now onto the coffe table. Remember this old trunk I found at the junk yard? Here’s what I did with it. :)
How to turn an old chest into a coffee table
1. Drill a hole near each corner (on the bottom of the trunk).
2. Stain or paint your wooden legs (found at Lowes).
3. Add a strong glue (we used gorilla glue) around the holes and then screw your legs into the chest.
4. Allow to dry for 24 hours before flipping it over.
I LOVE the vintage charm this chest brings to the room!
So here’s the before (BLAH) and here’s the AFTER…
Doesn’t it look SO much better? It’s amazing what a new rug and pillows can do to a room! I’ll share the pillow tutorial in the next week or so. :)
So what do you think?! Have you painted a rug? If so… leave a link in the comments!
P.S. You can find the board and batten tutorial HERE.
Check out our project gallery for more craft ideas.
Erica J
wow!!! i love it!! i really want to paint the rug i currently have but i don’t think it will look all that great cause it already has a pattern on it. :(
i spray painted for the first time a couple of pieces of furniture today. i was freaking out the whole time but i love the results. i love paint.
Rachel
I love it! Really brightens everything up!
Jennifer Creviston
The rug is amazing! It brings so much beauty and color to the room!
Abbey
I love your makeover! What a huge difference that pop of color makes. Love it! Good job,
sherry
I adore that color on the rug! The diagonal stripe is nice too. The room is so fresh and cheery with the new rug and colors added. I have a plain jane green apple colored rug that I want to add white stripes to also. Maybe I’ll get up the nerve soon. Thanks for the inspiration.
Kaysi @ Keeping It Simple
That is awesome!!! I love that chest as a coffee table!
Stephany
I love it. It really looks great!! ♥ ♥
Carol
This turned out SO good! I love an inexpensive DIY that doesn’t look cheap!
Carol
antiquetexan.blogspot.com
Mauri
LOVE how your rug and trunk coffee table turned out!! I also am loving those turquoise floral pillows. I actaully am getting ready to paint a rug too so I’m happy to see your helpful hints :)
Allyson
Love the rug!
Lacey
Great job. I’m wondering though how you plan to clean it without the paint coming up. I’m thinking about painting a kitchen rug but am swayed away by the idea of not being able to throw it in my washing machine. Thoughts?
Victoria @obSEUSSed
I love the color and design on the rug and I’m tempted to add legs to my old chest after seeing this. My husband probably won’t let me though because it is his grandpa’s. I’ll have to look for another used one to do this to. The chest is perfect for holding video games and accessories.
nisha
unbelievable…… u really tured that chest into a table…. neat :)
northern cottage
This is a stunning AFTER – how fun and fresh! It is like a brand new brighter space. well done my friend!
Melissa @ No. 2 Pencil
I love the update! Super cute! We have a trunk similar to your, and I am loving this idea!!!
Windy
Love that rug. Think I may try something similar for our den so I can make it whatever color I want. Oh the possibilities!
Question for you, where did you get that awesome measuring tape in the pictures? :)
Tonya
@Windy. “Painters Tape” Traditionally it only came in a tan color. In recent decades it came out in royal blue, then yellow, then bright green. NOW…. I’m just noticing this week… painters tape is now in a variety of colors and even PRINTS!!!! Now we can really let our imaginations wonder! Purchase (basic colors) @ Lowe’s, Home Depo, True Value. (Fancy prints… not sure where to buy yet)
Jamielyn
thanks for sharing the tip! so excited they now offer patterned tape! :)
Kristyn
LOVE it!! It turned out great!!
michelle@somedaycrafts
Beautiful!!!!! Love the rug and the table!
Bonnie B.
Love the room. The colors are some of my favorites. Where did you get your couch if you don’t mind? It’s what I’ve been looking for.
Jean
No, I haven’t painted a rug, but I sure am going to now! I have a sisal rug and a bamboo rug that I need to paint. It’s on my list of things to do!
Karie
This looks amazing! Thanks for the inspiration, I hope to do something like this soon :)
Cheyenne Morris
Your room looks amazing!!! :-) Such a great project! I wanna do it today! And I luv the truck idea! And I’m luvin your couch also!!! All of it is perfect!!! :-)
Lynnette
Love Love Love it!! I just recently saw the idea of painting a rug on HGTV but you made it look so easy and actually DIYable (is that even a word?). Love the color you chose too. And I want that trunk! I’m hoping I can find that rug at Ikea because I want to try this for my grey and yellow dining room using that robin egg blue as the perfect contrast under the table!
mrs.iHB @ iheartbudgets.net
seriously going to IKEA to buy a rug now….awesome
NanaDoll
Love these ideas. Did you think about painting your existing rug? I wonder how it would work? If you “dispose” of the rug, it could be interesting to try painting the pattern or the space between? Love the way it turned out!
Fran
You did good! This was a very inspiring project, and I love the aqua blue!/Fran
Carina Mena
Hi Jamielyn,
Just wanted to share that we are converting our chest (which currently just sits on the floor and serves as a half-functional coffee table/storage chest) into a full coffee table thanks to this little inspiration! :)
For other readers that consider it too, we found that “wood bun feet” were the best bet for small, thick legs that could support the weight, and provided more options than just Googling “wood table legs”. We found some awesome ones on Etsy and I’m stoked to have it set up this weekend! If you’d like, I’m happy to send before/after pics for your blog.
Cheers!
Camille
I am so happy that I found this post! My trunk looks very similiar and I am turning it into a coffee table as well!! Woo-hoo!
:) Cheers.
Bridget from Refined Vintage
I love the Trunk coffee table, most people would just place the trunk and call it done, adding the feet really makes a difference, the rug is nice too, the aqua color goes nice with your furnishings,great post! I shared on my Facebook.
Jamielyn
Thanks Bridget, I really appreciate it! :)
Dee White
I love it! I have wanted my family/living room to look like yours for years. I have searched for the right sofa, rug, etc. My room has a beach/coastal theme. I’m wanting to know where you got your sofa. Thank you for these great ideas.
bügeleisen automatische abschaltung
Fantastic site. Lots of useful information here.
I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thanks to your effort!
Tara
Love what you’ve done! I just purchased a chest just like that one from the Goodwill today. I paid $5 for it and right now it’s purple. Trust it will not stay that color. As soon as I saw it I said to my daughter..”that’s going to be a coffee table”
Barley Mills
LOVE the rug and the old chest into a table!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have that exact same couch… same color and large-ness and cannot find the rug I want or the coffee table………… but I do have an old trunk. I am so doing this over the thanksgiving weekend!
Thank U! For the inspiration
Bridgette
I was wondering where you got the floral fabric for your pillows? I’ve been looking online for material and I find it really hard to imagine what the fabric drawings will look like it person :/ but I love love that material its perfect! ..heeelp
Jamielyn
Hi Bridgette! I got it from Jo-Ann’s last year. They may still have it. :)
Amanda A
I haven’t painted a rug but I’ve been trying to paint a chair. Do you think the Scotchguard stuff will work on the chair? I bought the stuff to turn my old trunk in to a table. Great idea :) I don’t have a webstie so it’s not letting me post without one.
Jamielyn
Hi Amanda! Yes the scotch guard will work on a chair too. Good luck! Have a great week!