Whether you’ve stockpiled them over the years or are just on the hunt for an innovative way to redefine your space, rugs might be the most versatile and underused weapons in the interior design toolkit. Read on to learn how you can unlock the full potential of your rental with a little help from the lowly, humble rug.
Upgrade your upholstery
Not all rugs are created equal. But the comfortable ones are great for repurposing into a chair or ottoman upholstery. If you’re working with a more durable fabric, think about reupholstering something like an ottoman. If the material is more comfortable and luxurious, think about applying it to a chair or barstool.
Be aware, that some fabrics will be easier to work with on a larger-scale project like this. If you’re a novice DIY-er or simply looking for a little extra guidance, make sure you know what you’re doing or reach out to someone at your local hardware store. There are also a number of YouTube videos that will help you based on the specific project you have in mind.
Throw some shade
On a smaller scale, an old or currently unused rug can also be repurposed into a lampshade. This striking design choice will act as a statement and conversation piece. Beyond that, applying rug material to a lampshade is a practical way to dim an overbearing light. Less light will penetrate through the shade with the extra rug covering it up.
Respect the wood around your apartment
If you have a near-new rug that’s just lying around with no place to go, take on a fun DIY project and turn that rug into a matching set of placemats and coasters. Lay your rug face down and draw out your plan on the bottom beforehand. Then, you can make all of your cuts confidently and know that your finished product will turn out exactly as planned.
Note: Do not try this with an old and well-worn rug. Dinner guests may find this off-putting.
Create the headboard of your dreams
Fabric headboards have been in vogue for a while and there’s no sign of that changing anytime soon. Create your own custom headboard by repurposing a rug into a uniquely upholstered and artistically inspired headrest. What better way to sleep at night than under one of your creations?
This project, like the chair and ottoman mentioned above, may require an elevated level of handiness, but again, your local hardware store and YouTube are your best friend for these larger DIY projects.
Think beyond the floor
Whether a rug is handmade, factory produced or anything in between, if you find it as aesthetically pleasing as a piece of art, you should treat it that way. Don’t be afraid to reframe the way you think about rugs. Some rugs are meant for more than the floor. Some rugs, (pause for dramatic effect) are meant to be used as art and displayed on the wall.
Large or small, there’s no limitation to the ways in which you can approach displaying your rugs as art. If you have a blank wall and a great-looking rug either lying around or awaiting in an online shopping cart, now’s the time to bring that piece of art to its full glory. Display that beautiful rug on the wall and enjoy the compliments that come your way for your design savvy and ingenuity.
Center yourself
Few activities align more with the principles of yoga than creating your own yoga mat. Channel your inner-DIY expert and create your own at-home yoga mat out of a lightly used or new rug. A roll-up-size rug can be a great alternative to a traditional (and expensive) yoga mat.
Because rugs absorb moisture more than the average yoga mat, it’s best to limit the use of your rug yoga mat to just yourself. That said, if you’re looking for a home yoga mat that is always ready for you when you need it, consider a rug.
Note: Regardless of the condition of the rug when you start its transformation into a yoga mat, it will be worth giving it as thorough of a clean as possible before putting it to use.
Pamper your pet
One great way to put an older rug to use is to repurpose it as a bed for your pet. Cat, dog, ferret, bunny or anything in between, it doesn’t matter. Your pet will love cozying down on something that feels like “people furniture” to them.
Do you know how your pets love scratching the things they aren’t supposed to? Use that to your advantage and create a custom scratching post for your cat out of your used carpet. Your feline friend already loves tearing into the material, so why not give them a designated place to do so? Save the rug you love now and let the cat go to town on one that has already served its purpose for you.
Don’t brush these tips under the rug
Regardless of the exact aesthetic, you wish to achieve, if you are looking for a change of scenery that doesn’t involve packing up and moving to a new place, consider throwing a rug at the problem. Whether you’re reupholstering a chair, creating coasters for your breakfast nook table or making a throne fit for a king for your furry friend, a simple rug can accomplish it all without asking you to break the bank.
