I recently discovered that you could paint a rug! Did you know that was even an option?
It all started this past fall for me when I was involved in The One Room Challenge. You can click on the link to see the whole project (pictures have been updated).
I participated in this event and had to remodel my foyer in six weeks. My biggest challenge was finding a rug that would fit under our front door when it opened. I was limited to a 1/2″ pile thickness and that is hard to find. 
I ended up buying the rug pictured above through Macy’s website just to get the project completed. I was disappointed when the rug arrived. The colors were much lighter than shown on the web but I didn’t have any other options so I made the best of it. I felt that I would find the “right” rug once the pressure of the event was over.
Fast forward months later and I came up empty handed. I didn’t want the rug to be too busy as it was next to my leopard stair runner.
Since my rug was the perfect size and fit under my door, I started to do some research for dying rugs to see if that was an option. That’s when I stumbled upon several articles that said I could paint a rug! That was news to me. I was so excited I couldn’t wait to get my project going.
The Best Part About Painting Your Rug is Choosing Your Own Colors
There are many great blog posts out there with tutorials on how to paint rugs using stencils and painters tape. (Please see below for some resources). You can create designs and be as creative as you want.
I already liked the concept of my rug which was like an abstract painting. I just didn’t like the colors. I wanted a deeper red to tie in with the rooms on each side of the foyer.
My dining room has a red and blue oriental rug and the walls in our den are red.
Materials Used for Painting Rug
Acrylic Paint
Fabric Medium
Sponge Brushes
Acrylic Spray Coating
I purchased Martha Stewart’s Acrylic Craft Paint and mixed it with her Tintable Fabric Medium. The fabric medium helps the paint to have a softer more flexible finish. You cannot skimp on the medium or you will end up with stiff carpet. Follow the directions on the bottle.
How to Paint A Rug
Once I mixed the paint and fabric medium, I just applied the mixture with a sponge brush. I didn’t want a solid red rug; I wanted the variations of different shades of red. This rug became my canvas to create my own design.
Once I finished painting the rug, I let it dry completely. I then sprayed the rug with a Clear Acrylic Coating by Krylon to protect it.
My Work of Art – My Newly Painted Rug
Products Used for Painting My Rug
Martha Stewart Fabric Medium
Martha Stewart Acrylic Paint
Krylon Clear Acrylic Coating
Other Resources for Painting Rugs
Do you have a rug you want to paint?
I love this idea! Your rug is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Pam! I hope you are having a good summer!
Great job, I’d be so scared! I love this idea!
Painting a rug is a great way to add your own unique design and really make it stand out. Although make sure your certain of the design you want before going ahead.
Great tips! How large was your rug? How much paint and medium did you end up using? I know it varies with design and rug material, but was curious.
Hi Kelly. My rug is approximately 4 x 6. I used approximately 4 bottles of Martha Stewart’s paint and I think I used two bottles of her fabric medium. Make sure you use enough medium to keep the rug soft and pliable. I love the transformation and am very happy with it.
How matte does the paint end up being? I have a light beige rug with some light brown pictures on it that I want to completely cover with a new pattern/color scheme. Is this feasible?
Hi Victoria. The rug that I painted I kept the design but changed the color. I have seen others that have completely changed the look of the rug. I would first try it on some carpet scraps that you can pick up from a carpet store.
Very Cool! You said to use the medium to keep the rug supple, but I am wondering about the Krylon Clear Acrylic Coating. Can you explain that part a bit more, why that step? Does the clear coating keep the rug colors from bleeding? Did it stiffing up the rug?
I can’t wait to try it on my rug this weekend!
Hi Mimi. The Krylon Clear Acrylic Coating adds a layer of protection to the painted rug. It did not stiffen up my rug. Good luck with your project. Let me know how it goes!!
Dear Elaine,
Thank you for your invaluable tutorial on rug painting. Like Mimi, I was concerned about the stiffness of the Krylon as a final step.
Your home looks incredible!
Thank you so much,
Grace
Oh my heavens. This is just what I was looking for. I have a large rug (9 x 11) and I know the Martha Stewart paint if kind of expensive when you have to buy that much. Can you use other types of paint and add the fabric medium to that? Thanks so much.
Angie – I would think any acrylic paint would work just as well. Ask for brand recommendations at your local craft store. Good luck!
I have a sisal rug with a RED border that I would like to change to a different color for my daughters nursery. Do you think that this same technique could be used to pain the border a different color? Once it is dry it does not rub off correct? I will be placing the rug on carpet and would hate for it to stain the carper underneath. Thank you so much for your help!
Anne
I have not painted a sisal rug before. Once my paint dried on my wool rug, it did not rub off. Sorry I couldn’t help more!
Good luck!
Do you have any experience on what happens to the color after shampooing it? I have four kids and it’s inevitable that someone will spill something on it. I would hate to do all that work to have it be undone. Thanks so much!-
Hilary, I am not sure what would happen if you shampooed it. I would test it on sample piece or a remnant. Let me know how it turns out.
I love this idea! I have a covered outdoor space where I want to use a rug. Are rugs that are synthetic fibers like nylon or polypropylene suitable for this project?
I am not sure Katie but would think it would be okay. Let me know if you try it!
Hi! Do you think this method would do well on a rubber backed shag type of bath rug?
No, I only think you can paint a low pile rug.