How to Create Your Own Floorcloth

Customize Your Floor Covering

Feb 16, 2009 Mary Welling-Bonney

Have you been looking for something a bit different to cover your floors, only to find you are limited to what is carried in your local stores?

Why not create your own floorcloths? These are a creative way to cover your floor with an original design.

If you have traveled from store to store looking for an area rug you will often find they all carry a similar line and the ones that do break away charge exhorbitant prices for their floor coverings. Floorcloths are an inexpensive solution that anyone can make. You can even let the children design and make their own floorcloths for their bedrooms and make it a family project.

If you have a college-age child and you want to make them something special for their dorm room, this is perfect gift. Take one of their favorite music DVDs to use as a design. They will go back to school and brag about you every time someone comments on their floor.

The amount of fabric you need depends on the size of the rug you desire. That is usually determined by the area you wish to cover. For the example, the floor cloth will be four by six feet.

Floorcloth is a canvas fabric that comes with a rubberized backing. You can purchase it primed or unprimed. One is not better than the other; It is really a simple matter of personal preference. The most cost-effective way to purchase it is by the bolt. You can make rugs for all areas of your house and use the pieces left over to make gifts to give to friends. Search online for floorcloth fabric to find a dealer or use this link.

Materials Needed:

  • Floorcloth
  • Acrylic paint and brushes
  • Polyeurathane-satin finish
  • White latex Primer
  • Paint roller or brush for priming
  • Scissors
  • Measuring Tape
  • Ironing board
  • Iron
  • Pencil

Preparation

  1. When beginning your floorcloth, cut the piece of fabric four inches wider and four inches longer than your desired finished size.
  2. Cut a 2" by 2" square out of each corner.
  3. On one side of the fabric, fold back two inches of fabric so the rubber touches rubber.
  4. With the floorcloth facedown on the ironing board, press the canvas without touching the iron to the rubber. The rubber below the canvas will fuse and create a hem for your floorcloth.
  5. Repeat on the other three sides.
  6. Prime with white latex using a paint roller or brush. Apply at least three coats of primer, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly.

Designing Your Rug

You don't need to be an artist to design a rug. You can sketch out something you have seen somewhere making sure to alter it into your own design. You can draw anything from a couple of child-like daisies to a geometric pattern. Think about turning your favorite quilt into a painting. Simply block out the floorcloth into squares and sketch the patterns into each block. Use a picture in a child's coloring book for a pattern; they have simple line drawings. If you are new at painting just keep it basic to start. Try a small one first until you gain comfidence if you like.

Completing Your Floorcloth

  1. Use the acrylic paints and outline your design.
  2. Fill in each area with color.
  3. Once the paint is complete and dry, apply at least three coats of polyeurathane, making sure to allow each coat to dry.

That's it. You now have an original floorcloth to grace any room in your home.

The copyright of the article How to Create Your Own Floorcloth in Crafts is owned by Mary Welling-Bonney. Permission to republish How to Create Your Own Floorcloth in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
floorcloth, Mary Welling-Bonney floorcloth
   
What do you think about this article?
NOTE: Because you are not a Suite101 member, your comment will be moderated before it is viewable.
post your comment
What is 5+1?