How to Make a Rug From Canvas Drop Cloth

Iron the canvas drop cloth to eliminate as many wrinkles as possible. Large wrinkles in the canvas can make applying the paint difficult, resulting in an uneven finish.

Tape the plastic drop cloth on a smooth floor surface using painters tape to hold it securely in place. Lie the canvas drop cloth over the plastic drop cloth. Use additional painters tape to secure it to the plastic drop cloth on the edges and corners to prevent movement. The plastic drop cloth should be several inches larger than the canvas on all sides, so your floor is protected.

Paint the canvas drop cloth in a desired pattern using regular latex house paint or acrylic paint. The drop cloth can be painted over the entire surface, or left with some of the natural color of the canvas to show. Stripes are an easy design to apply on the canvas. Mark off stripes either vertically or horizontally with painters tape, and fill in the stripes using foam paint rollers in one or more colors. Remove the tape after the paint is almost dry.

Apply additional painted designs on the canvas cloth with stencils if desired. Floral, leaf, animal or geometric shapes are just a few of the varieties of stencils available. Secure the stencils in place on the canvas with painters tape to prevent slippage. Use a paintbrush to fill in the stencil design with a small amount of paint, using a light tapping motion. Build your stencil design by applying more layers of paint as needed. Do not allow the paint to seep under the edge of the stencil. Allow all paint to thoroughly dry.

Paint the surface of the canvas drop cloth rug with five to six coats of water-based polyurethane, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next coat. This protects the canvas rug and makes it water-resistant and durable. After the final coat is applied, allow the rug to cure for a minimum of four days before using it.

Attach a nonskid carpet pad to the back of the canvas rug with carpet tape. Adhere the rug to a nonskid carpet pad to prevent the canvas from sliding when walked on.