Home » Uncategorized » Make a Floor Cloth from a Drop Cloth : ORC Week 5
Make a Floor Cloth from a Drop Cloth : ORC Week 5
Well, we are plugging along here; thankfully with much less drama than last week.
Flora avoided all poisons and my phone continues to limp along. We made the trip to pack up Kate and bring her and all her possessions home from college for the summer. And…of course, I continued to work on my laundry room for the Calling It Home One Room Challenge.
As a recap, I changed out the countertops, refinishing them myself; painted the walls,and added some art. And can I just tell you how glad I am to not have to see those green walls when I come and go?! For this week’s installment of the One Room Challenge, I decided to make a floor cloth from a drop cloth as the search for a suitable runner was proving to be fruitless.
Table of Contents
One of the key elements of my plan was a rug to cover to a good portion of the tiled floor. This room is the room that we enter and exit our house, 99.5% of the time. As such, several years back I chose a dark grout to that wouldn’t show the wear (and o.k. let’s just say it…the dirt) that was inevitable. While the tile and grout have served their purpose, it has proven difficult to find a runner that coordinated well with them. I mentioned in the last post that I felt like the Prince in Cinderella trying on all sorts of runners in the room. They were either too dark, too light, too busy or too small. The tile, being so geometric, made me think I wanted a rug that was less so…more free-flowing. So, what’s a crafter to do when she can’t find what she needs? Yea, she makes one. So that’s just what I did…I made a floor cloth for my laundry room using a drop cloth and paint.
What You Need to Make a Floor Cloth from a Drop Cloth:
Heavy Duty Canvas Drop Cloth, mine was 6′ by 9′
Latex primer
Latex/Acrylic paint in the colors of your choosing
An acrylic sealer. Acrylic is less likely to yellow than oil-based polyurethane. I used Polycrylic.
Assorted paintbrushes and rollers
2-sided carpet tape (The tape in my roll was about 3″ wide, so I cut it in half vertically)
How You Make a Floor Cloth from a Drop Cloth:
This was the second floor cloth I’ve made. For the first one that I made several years ago I purchased the gessoed cloth, but this time I decided that I could prime the cloth on my own. After much research, I purchased a Heavy Duty Canvas Drop Cloth from Home Depot and went to town. The one I purchased was 6′ by 9′, which allowed me plenty of room to tailor the size I wanted.
After I washed and dried it, I primed the drop cloth with several different brands of previously opened latex primer that I had in my garage (another plus of this project was the modest depletion of partially opened cans of paint…less to move). I applied 2 coats of the primer and then let it dry. Once the primer was dry, I applied two coats of an interior latex paint that I also had on hand.
N&N TIDBIT: a box of chalk is something I always keep on hand. It comes in handy on so many occasions when I need to make measurements or marks that I want to completely disappear after they’ve served their purpose.
The next step was to ‘hem’ the rug. I turned under 1 1/2″ all the way around. I marked the fold with chalk all the way around, turned the rug over and then began to fold, using the chalk guide. You can use a variety of methods to secure this ‘hem’. I found that 2-sided tape works the best.
Once the paint was dry, the real fun started…the design on the ‘rug’. As I said, I wanted a design that tended more organic/free-flowing rather than geometric. Basically, I just started doodling and came up with a design on a piece of paper which I then transferred to the canvas with a pencil.
I then went over the pencil markings with some all-purpose white acrylic paint. Here’s a quick little video set to a jaunty tune showing some of my floor cloth doodling.
I loved how it looked, but when I put it in my laundry room, the white was just a little ‘too white’. I yanked it back out, mixed up a very watery white that had a little more tan in it and very lightly went over the original white. I did not try to hide the white, I just ‘de-whited’ it a tad. Although this picture didn’t turn out great, you can see the added tan on the right side of the photo.
Once I was happy with my simple design, I sealed the whole rug with 3 coats of a polyacrylic sealer.
You know I’m a big believer in Kismet, things happen for a reason. While I had initially planned on purchasing a rug for this area, the floorcloth really proved to be the better option.
I was able to make it the exact size I wanted
I was able to tailor the colors to just what I needed.
Any rug in this room will be subject to much wear and tear. I wanted a lighter color rug, but a white fiber rug would not have been practical. This floorcloth can easily be wiped off or mopped as needed. And when the day comes (which shouldn’t be for a long time given the 3 coats of sealer) that it is beyond salvage, it won’t be the end of the world as I have only invested $24 in this rug ($13.98 for floor cloth and $8.97 for the 2-sided tape).So, there you have it. Week 5 IN.THE.BANK…mic drop! I really am glad that I decided to make a floor cloth from a drop cloth. It proved to be a low labor and minimal time demand project (unless you count waiting for paint to dry, which I don’t because if I did that would be ALL I ever did). And so you ask, what’s in store for Week 6? Well, I’ll be organizing the cubbies and putting the finishing touches on my laundry room; and because I am me you can be sure it’ll involve painting something.
Be sure to check out all the other great bloggers showcasing their talents at the Calling It Home One Room Challenge. The weeks have flown by, but I am thrilled that I actually have a finished room at the end…that rarely happens. In fact, I still haven’t repainted the chandelier from Kate’s room remodel 4 months ago!
Thanks again for stopping by today. I really appreciate your company more than you’ll ever know and hope you’ll stop by again soon. If you want to make sure you don’t miss future content, pop your email in the beige box up on the right. I usually send out 2-3 emails a week, so I won’t inundate your inbox.
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Lynn I adore the sneak peeks and I can’t wait for the reveal! I love the direction the space is going in. As a fellow ORC participant it’s been wonderful to gather some fantastic inspiration. I’d love for you to share your progress at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. Our readers would love to see it. The gathering is at http://www.decortoadore.net
Hi Laura…thanks so much for stopping by today. This is the first time I’ve participated in a One Room Challenge and I am really enjoying, and appreciating how it is keeping me on task. And you’re right, it’s awe-inspiring to see what our fellow bloggers are achieving. I will absolutely pop over to your party…I love a party!!!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Hugs, Lynn
Hi Friend…Thanks for the sweet words. I’m plugging along.Keeping tabs on your progress and can’t wait to see the whole room when done. It’s going to be stunning I’m sure.
How clever and so pretty Lynn! It’s fantastic, I can’t believe the price tag and that it’s dropcloth! You know i’ve never used drop cloth, I don’t even know if we get that here, we should but I’ve never seen it. I would have not thought of using it for a rug though, I had no idea you could! How awesome, I want to make one now! I love rugs! Your design is lovely, bright and just my style!
This was Kismet for sure, you didn’t find the right rug cause you were supposed to make this one!!! Have a fabulous Friday!
I’m sure you can find a drop cloth in your paint store or the paint department of your hardware store. They are sometimes called painters drop cloth as they are used to cover floors and furniture when painting. I can see you making one very easily with all your talent.
Hugs and wishes for a great weekend.
Lynn
Hi Jessica…I am always looking for things that I can make myself…always have been. My family has always laughed at my willingness to spray paint just about anything. Thanks for swinging by today.
Hugs, Lynn
This looks awesome, my friend! I’ve used drop cloths for drapes and I’ve made a rug out of canvas that I painted, but never a drop cloth for a rug. Very clever! Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Carol, I think the drop cloth must be very similar to a canvas. I like the idea of using drop cloths for drapes, I’ve never done that before but I am thinking of using them in my son’s room. Hope your weekend is wonderful as well.
Many thanks for swinging by.
Hugs, Lynn
Wow, your room is really coming along! I would never have thought to use a drop cloth for a rug. Very creative! I love the swirls you put on it. Can’t wait to see the room entirely finished.
Hi Erin, thanks for swinging by. I am so pleased with my laundry room primarily because the GREEN IS GONE! Just a few more to-dos on my list.
Have a wonderful weekend Erin.
Hugs, Lynn
Very clever Lynn, your drop cloth rug looks great. I never would of thought to make a rug out of a drop cloth. I will have to show my daughter your rug, she recently made curtains out if drop cloths. I love the pattern you chose for your rug. Thanks for showing how it’s done.
That is so smart and pretty! You are so resourceful!! This is such a good idea that I think I’m going to have to give it a try once we move. Right now, my puppy keeps insisting on vomiting on every rug we have. 🙁 So none of those for now! Haha, but one day we’ll have a cute drop cloth floor cloth like this. It looks so good in the laundry room too!!
Hey Girlfriend…thanks for your kind compliments. Oh, hate to hear your puppy has been vomiting…hope she/he’s o.k. The beauty of this rug is that you can just wipe it off when it get dirty. Just perfect for puppy vomit!
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
Hugs, LYnn
Lynn- I can’t wait to see the reveal and your drop cloth rug is genius.
Thank you for sharing this at Thoughts of Home on Thursday.
We are so glad you are here.
Hi Laura, thanks for visiting today. Well…I am done! And pleased with the results As a first time ORC-er, I am glad I tackled a fairly easy project (relative to some out there). But, I’m already thinking ahead to fall and what room I’ll do then. The thoughts are swirling I tell ya! See you next week.
Lynn
Hi Ilka…I’m pretty pleased with it and glad to say I’ve finished this room. Now my mind is starting to ponder the next One Room Challenge in the fall. Thanks for swinging by.
Hugs, Lynn
I’m so excited about this one. I love this idea and I am going to make one because I so need one for my kitchen. Can’t find the right size, but this way I can make it the right size.
Thanks, I am always so amazed at your creativity.
Hi Celeste…these drop cloth rugs are the perfect solution when you just can’t find the right size or color! I can’t wait to see what you make. Do come back and share it. Thanks for swinging by today. I hope you know how much I appreciate it.
Wishing you a lovely spring week.
Hugs, Lynn
Lynn this is such a clever idea. I never in a million years would have put polyurethane on fabric. But it just goes to show that you can always teach an old dog new tricks. If you can do it, then it must be doable. I’m guessing that it is soft and not stiff. I’m really liking the pattern you have drawn on there too. The whole vibe of the room is soft serene and calm. You may want to spend more time in there than you actually need too, laundry or not!
Hi Mary…Thanks for swinging by. I’m really loving my ‘new’ laundry room. And the rug is really very soft and flexible. But, just so there is no confusion, i used polyacrylic and not polyurethane. The polyurethane may be less flexible, but will also yellow while the poly acrylic won’t yellow. Many hugs and wishes to you for a lovely weekend.
Lynn
Hi Carol, thanks for stopping by. I am very happy with how my laundry room turned out…so much more relaxing and unified than before. The One Room Challenge was a lot of fun…looking forward to the next one.
wishing you a lovely weekend.
Hugs, Lynn
Lynn, I love your rug! It fits beautifully into this room, and it will be easier to clean too. Brilliant idea! Years ago I bought a few books from Kathy Cooper on her floorcloths, I was a bit obsessed with them. But I never painted one. Yours reminded me of hers. I love it.
You did a great job in your laundry room, it’s so calm and peaceful. What a great room to not only do the laundry but to relax in mentally. Each piece in the room fits so well with the others, the countertops, the art, the windowpane of memories. I really love it all.
Hi Nikki…Thanks for the Kathy Cooper link. I did enjoy making this, it really was so easy, so I can definitely see making one again in the near future. I’ll check her link out for some more ideas. And I am enjoying the room…SO much better than before.
Wishing you a great day.
Hugs, Lynn
Good Morning!! I wanted to stop by and let you know that your post has been selected as a Feature post for the Welcome Home Wednesdays Link Party!! Stop by this morning to see your post linked up and don’t forget to grab your Featured Button too! ~Lisa~
Wow, this looks awesome! DIY projects can sometimes be intimidating, and sometimes it’s hard to figure out from what angle you should tackle it. Simple, thorough tutorials like this are always great finds and make it much easier! Thanks so much for posting!
Good day Morgan…I appreciate your kind words. I do try to make my tutorials easy to replicate, so your positive feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks for swinging by today.
Wishing you a lovely day.
Lynn
Lynn I adore the sneak peeks and I can’t wait for the reveal! I love the direction the space is going in. As a fellow ORC participant it’s been wonderful to gather some fantastic inspiration. I’d love for you to share your progress at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. Our readers would love to see it. The gathering is at http://www.decortoadore.net
Hi Laura…thanks so much for stopping by today. This is the first time I’ve participated in a One Room Challenge and I am really enjoying, and appreciating how it is keeping me on task. And you’re right, it’s awe-inspiring to see what our fellow bloggers are achieving. I will absolutely pop over to your party…I love a party!!!
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Hugs, Lynn
I think it is fabulous. It really looks good Lynn! You are so smart. I can’t wait to see next week. Have a great weekend, Jenny
Hi Friend…Thanks for the sweet words. I’m plugging along.Keeping tabs on your progress and can’t wait to see the whole room when done. It’s going to be stunning I’m sure.
How clever and so pretty Lynn! It’s fantastic, I can’t believe the price tag and that it’s dropcloth! You know i’ve never used drop cloth, I don’t even know if we get that here, we should but I’ve never seen it. I would have not thought of using it for a rug though, I had no idea you could! How awesome, I want to make one now! I love rugs! Your design is lovely, bright and just my style!
This was Kismet for sure, you didn’t find the right rug cause you were supposed to make this one!!! Have a fabulous Friday!
I’m sure you can find a drop cloth in your paint store or the paint department of your hardware store. They are sometimes called painters drop cloth as they are used to cover floors and furniture when painting. I can see you making one very easily with all your talent.
Hugs and wishes for a great weekend.
Lynn
Wow – that turned out great!
Thanks Cathy…I’m pleased
This is really beautiful! It’s a good thing that you tell me that these projects are DIY because I would never know otherwise!
Hi Jessica…I am always looking for things that I can make myself…always have been. My family has always laughed at my willingness to spray paint just about anything. Thanks for swinging by today.
Hugs, Lynn
This looks awesome, my friend! I’ve used drop cloths for drapes and I’ve made a rug out of canvas that I painted, but never a drop cloth for a rug. Very clever! Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Carol, I think the drop cloth must be very similar to a canvas. I like the idea of using drop cloths for drapes, I’ve never done that before but I am thinking of using them in my son’s room. Hope your weekend is wonderful as well.
Many thanks for swinging by.
Hugs, Lynn
Wow, your room is really coming along! I would never have thought to use a drop cloth for a rug. Very creative! I love the swirls you put on it. Can’t wait to see the room entirely finished.
Hi Erin, thanks for swinging by. I am so pleased with my laundry room primarily because the GREEN IS GONE! Just a few more to-dos on my list.
Have a wonderful weekend Erin.
Hugs, Lynn
fabulous project, and it looks great.
Thanks Kellie…I’m pleased with it. So happy to have you swing by today.
Hugs and wishes for a great weekend.
Lynn
Very clever Lynn, your drop cloth rug looks great. I never would of thought to make a rug out of a drop cloth. I will have to show my daughter your rug, she recently made curtains out if drop cloths. I love the pattern you chose for your rug. Thanks for showing how it’s done.
Hey Linda…it surely fit the bill for my laundry room and was really easy to make. As always, thanks for coming today.
Happy Mother’s Day weekend.
Lynn
Hi Lynn,
This is awesome idea, only creative mind can think, like you. I am getting so many good ideas on your blog. XOXO
Thanks Sadhna…I’ll be your go-to gal for craft ideas and you’ll be my go-to gal for great Indian food! Deal?
Happy Mother’s Day
Lynn
That is so smart and pretty! You are so resourceful!! This is such a good idea that I think I’m going to have to give it a try once we move. Right now, my puppy keeps insisting on vomiting on every rug we have. 🙁 So none of those for now! Haha, but one day we’ll have a cute drop cloth floor cloth like this. It looks so good in the laundry room too!!
Hey Girlfriend…thanks for your kind compliments. Oh, hate to hear your puppy has been vomiting…hope she/he’s o.k. The beauty of this rug is that you can just wipe it off when it get dirty. Just perfect for puppy vomit!
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
Hugs, LYnn
Lynn- I can’t wait to see the reveal and your drop cloth rug is genius.
Thank you for sharing this at Thoughts of Home on Thursday.
We are so glad you are here.
Laura
White Spray Paint
Hi Laura, thanks for visiting today. Well…I am done! And pleased with the results As a first time ORC-er, I am glad I tackled a fairly easy project (relative to some out there). But, I’m already thinking ahead to fall and what room I’ll do then. The thoughts are swirling I tell ya! See you next week.
Lynn
This is just such an awesome DIY idea, Lynn! Love it! Your laundry room makeover is coming along beautifully!
Hi Ilka…I’m pretty pleased with it and glad to say I’ve finished this room. Now my mind is starting to ponder the next One Room Challenge in the fall. Thanks for swinging by.
Hugs, Lynn
I’m so excited about this one. I love this idea and I am going to make one because I so need one for my kitchen. Can’t find the right size, but this way I can make it the right size.
Thanks, I am always so amazed at your creativity.
Hi Celeste…these drop cloth rugs are the perfect solution when you just can’t find the right size or color! I can’t wait to see what you make. Do come back and share it. Thanks for swinging by today. I hope you know how much I appreciate it.
Wishing you a lovely spring week.
Hugs, Lynn
Lynn this is such a clever idea. I never in a million years would have put polyurethane on fabric. But it just goes to show that you can always teach an old dog new tricks. If you can do it, then it must be doable. I’m guessing that it is soft and not stiff. I’m really liking the pattern you have drawn on there too. The whole vibe of the room is soft serene and calm. You may want to spend more time in there than you actually need too, laundry or not!
Hi Mary…Thanks for swinging by. I’m really loving my ‘new’ laundry room. And the rug is really very soft and flexible. But, just so there is no confusion, i used polyacrylic and not polyurethane. The polyurethane may be less flexible, but will also yellow while the poly acrylic won’t yellow. Many hugs and wishes to you for a lovely weekend.
Lynn
Lynn, I am so impressed with your laundry room rug. How creative and resourceful. Awesome job. Thank you for sharing at Your Inspired Design.
Hi Carol, thanks for stopping by. I am very happy with how my laundry room turned out…so much more relaxing and unified than before. The One Room Challenge was a lot of fun…looking forward to the next one.
wishing you a lovely weekend.
Hugs, Lynn
Lynn, I love your rug! It fits beautifully into this room, and it will be easier to clean too. Brilliant idea! Years ago I bought a few books from Kathy Cooper on her floorcloths, I was a bit obsessed with them. But I never painted one. Yours reminded me of hers. I love it.
You did a great job in your laundry room, it’s so calm and peaceful. What a great room to not only do the laundry but to relax in mentally. Each piece in the room fits so well with the others, the countertops, the art, the windowpane of memories. I really love it all.
BTW, here is a link to Kathy Cooper’s site, her rugs are made similar to yours and she is quite the artist. http://www.kathycooperfloorcloths.com/index.html
Hi Nikki…Thanks for the Kathy Cooper link. I did enjoy making this, it really was so easy, so I can definitely see making one again in the near future. I’ll check her link out for some more ideas. And I am enjoying the room…SO much better than before.
Wishing you a great day.
Hugs, Lynn
Good Morning!! I wanted to stop by and let you know that your post has been selected as a Feature post for the Welcome Home Wednesdays Link Party!! Stop by this morning to see your post linked up and don’t forget to grab your Featured Button too! ~Lisa~
Hi Lisa, Oh I so tickled. Thanks so much. Your party always has great features, so I am honored.
See you soon.
Lynn
Wow, this looks awesome! DIY projects can sometimes be intimidating, and sometimes it’s hard to figure out from what angle you should tackle it. Simple, thorough tutorials like this are always great finds and make it much easier! Thanks so much for posting!
Good day Morgan…I appreciate your kind words. I do try to make my tutorials easy to replicate, so your positive feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks for swinging by today.
Wishing you a lovely day.
Lynn
silly question but are you only painting 1 aide of the drop cloth????
thanks!
Hi Sonya,
First of all, there are no silly questions! And yes, I only paint the one side of the drop cloth.
Happy Crafting!
Lynn