(sigh) I love this rug. Is there any easier way to update a rug than with a little paint?! I think not! This is also one of YOUR fave projects from Hailee’s Makeover.
The reason that its taken me so long to post it is because the stencil for it was originally one of a kind custom. But Melanie from Royal Design Studio and I decided that we love you guys lots and wanted you to have the chance to make something awesome with Houndstooth too. Sooooooo I had to wait to post this project until you could buy it!!
You can buy it here for only $39.00 and make sure to use the code VINTAGE10 to get 10% off!
First things first, you need a rug. The one that I used is from Ikea. It is an 8×10 sisal rug and will run you about $120. I measured the width of the stencil and marked with painters tape where each row needed to line up. If you look closely in the picture below you can see the little blue dots. By doing this you can get your stencil centered on the rug.
I used about 5 big bottles of Americana Snow White. Trust me, its better to buy a bunch before your start your project then to have to run to the store in the middle of it….
Then its time to start stenciling. We used stencil brushes to stipple the paint onto the rug. One trick that I learned (after I took this pic) is that if you mix a teeny bit of water in with the paint it will make it so that it spreads evenly and gets into all of the tiny woven cracks.
Use the markers on your stencil to line up the next row. And just like I do every time I talk about Royal Design Studios I am going to tell you how fantastic the quality of product that they put out is. The plastic that they use is different than other products that I have used and it is SO MUCH BETTTER! Trust.
So in the title of this post I am sure you have noticed that I called the rug Ombre. Its really hard to tell in the final pictures because it just looks like a shadow from the coffee table is being cast but in all actuality the pattern fades…its sort of fantastic.
To get this effect dilute your paint by 1/2 and stencil your next row.
Continue diluting it more and more until you get the level of color that you want. This is sort of a trial and error process but the good news is that if you make it too dark, or your stencil is splotchy you can use a spray bottle to dampen it and a towel to blot up the excess paint.
This is what it looked like when we were finished! Don’t you love it!?!
Once we were done and everything was dry the rug (I think because of the nature of the sisal) started to become wavy on the edges. If this happens to you it is a really easy fix. Use your painters tape to tape it down to the floor really well. Then get the edges wet with a spray bottle or cup of water (obviously make sure that your paint has had adequate time to dry) leave it for a day or so until you know that it is 100% dry and then take your tape of! If it is still wavy then you didn’t use enough water.
Make sure to check out these other projects from Hailee’s Living Room Makeover:
Hailees’ Living Room Before and After
Custom Built-ins For Less Than $30.00
And if you need more rug makeover ideas you will love my Zebra Rug tutorial
![DSCN4780[3][1]](https://lh6.ggpht.com/-sGlsZL5YgQY/TrgSytR70uI/AAAAAAAAE6Y/maZnqO71EPE/DSCN4780%25255B3%25255D%25255B1%25255D%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800 "DSCN4780[3][1]")
and Compass Painted Sisal Rug.
I am inspired because I have a sisal rug under my kitchen table that has a beautiful red popsicle stain I didn’t see immediately. I already told my husband how I can salvage the rug with a little stencilling. Thanks for the inspiration.
Love the rug. You have the best ideas.
You never cease to amaze! I love the ombre look with the Houndstooth. Thanks so much for the stencil love!!
i love this rug xxx
That rug is amazing!!! SUCH a huge undertaking. Obmre AND a stencil. Whew.
Oh I’ve been waiting for this one! Definitely making this one after my next trip to Ikea…4 hours away…I know it will be totally worth it!
I love the rug! Thanks for sharing.
~Mrs. Delightful
ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com
Thanks for the tutorial! Love that rug!
Love, love, love this rug. Fantastic project, Mandi! Happy Monday!
That rug is amazing!!! I have got to get the guts to try something like that. I should probably practice first on a really, really cheap rug….
Could you do a tutorial of how you add the batten (I think that’s the proper name) to the walls in that living room. It looks so great, and I would love to do that in my own home.
o wow! def way too cute and such a gr8 idea!!!
https://infinitelifefitness.com
https://mscomposure.blogspot.com
Just wanted to let you know about this link to you: https://www.shelterness.com/how-to-decorate-a-dresser-or-any-other-storage-unit-using-pvc-pipes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Shelterness+%28Shelterness%29
You are given credit, but it still seems like a bit of a steal…just wanted you to know in any case…
I want to stencil a bathroom rug, my rugs on my tile floor are white and boring…Do you think it will work on a carpet type rug or do I need to use a sisal rug?
Love your ideas Mandy!!
Oh man you’re just awesome. This rug kicks some major rug butt! I love the faded effect.
This is fabulous! Mr Potato Head is just in pieces over it! I just really love that picture so had to say something cheesey about it 🙂
Mandi,
I love your blog SO dang much, it’s crazy 🙂 and this rug is no exception. Great call on the houndstooth, I really haven’t seen that pattern around in rug world. Also, I’ve never seen craft paint used on rugs, great idea! I bet it’s a little easier to work with… less crunchy?
heyhomeslice.blogspot.com
I would love to win this for my daughter for Christmas. She is asking for tools!! So fun. Thank you for your blog. Love it!!
kt
Your rug is gorgeous! I’ve got the same Ikea sisal and thinking about doing something similar, thanks for posting yours! Oh, and I’ve got this linked to my stenciling post too today – for inspiration!