DIY Canvas Floor Cloth

Learn how you can recycle old fabric to make a DIY canvas floor cloth. Make your own painted canvas floor rugs!

By Lisa Curry Mair
Updated on November 12, 2022
article image
by AdobeStock/New Africa

Learn how you can recycle old fabric to make a DIY canvas floor cloth. Make your own painted canvas floor rugs!

Hand-painted floor cloths are a great alternative to area rugs. Not only are they economical and simple to make, they’re also a perfect combination of beauty and practicality. Custom canvas floor cloths allow you to create designs in any size and color to match both your home and your budget.

Floor cloths add warmth to cold floors and won’t collect dust or dust mites like high pile rugs and carpeting. Plus, they can stand up to years of heavy traffic and will wipe clean with a damp mop. Floor cloths have a thick polyurethane finish applied over several coats of paint, which strengthens the surface, yet keeps it flexible.

The same basic steps are used in every project: 1. Prepare the canvas. 2. Paint the floor cloth. 3. Seal the finished piece. The essential supplies are inexpensive and easy to find at paint, craft and hardware stores — you probably already have many of the things you’ll need in your basement or garage.

How to Make Floor Cloths

Before you begin, set up a workspace where you can leave the floor cloth to dry undisturbed for several hours. This space should be dust-free, well-lit and well-ventilated. To allow paint fumes to dissipate, plan to leave windows open, or consider choosing an area in a garage or outbuilding. A card table works well for small projects, though you may need to use 8-foot tables or the floor for larger floor cloths. Cover your work area with plastic and tape the edges down to prevent it from slipping.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368