Back story and my ramblings:
Sleeping outside on the screen porch was nice until I woke up with a sore neck. So, I won’t be doing that again for a while. But, I won’t complain because we are lucky to have a screened porch and I am really loving it after the recent makeover.
The makeover was spurred on by this Pier One bamboo rug that I scored for $25 while thrifting!
It’s nice isn’t it? Especially with the splashed paint on it. Yes, I was the sloppy culprit who dripped paint while repainting my garden bench. But, no big deal, I had bigger plans for that rug.
So I sat down at my computer and spent a few minutes hours on Pinterest to research some patterns for my rug – seriously addictive site! But, it is also proving to be a huge organizational tool for my blog. I can pin ideas I want to create. Or I pin other bloggers projects that I want to make sure I give credit to when I steal borrow their ideas.
Once I narrowed down the designs I liked, I used my photoshop skills to change color palettes and design to create a sketch for my painted rug.
Then I ran over to Ace Hardware to purchase some paint. I ran into my good buddy, Mr. Paint Dept Guru – and guess what he did! He told me he had just finished going through the mistinted cans and hadn’t even priced them so he let me have my pick of some cans for….FREE! That is why I love my Ace Hardware. They are a small neighborhood store and all the employees know my face. The cashier and I even have a running joke. She couldn’t remember my name once (how can she, there are only 300 customers in there a day), so I told her that I’d give her a hint. I told her that I share the same name with a famous pop singer. She laughed and said, well, I keep thinking Beyoncé but I know that isn’t your name. So, now she calls me Beyoncé everytime I walk in.
Tutorial:
If you just came here to find out how I painted the rug, I’m sorry about my story-telling. Anyway, here is the tutorial, you found it!
Materials:
- Kilz Clean Start Primer
- Stir stick
- Drop cloth
- ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape
- Gloves
- Paint brushes (thin and thick)
- Paint roller
- Butcher paper
- Chalk
- Scissors
- Latex paint colors
- Minwax Polyurethane
MaskYeah! No need to wear a mask with the new KILZ clean start primer!
The good people over at KILZ recently sent me a gallon of their new eco-friendly primer* (yeah, I thought that was an oximoron too.) I’ve used KILZ 2 latex primer for years and have been very happy with the product, so I had serious doubts that some “green” primer could perform the same. Well, I stand corrected! Love this stuff!!! No face mask necessary, no need to worry about off gassing. The primer had no smell that I could determine.
And it sticks like glue to the surface that needs to be primed. It worked just as well as the regular “stinky” primer. I even scouted out my local Home Depot to see if they stock it (for when I run out) and they do! (My local Lowe’s hasn’t received a shipment yet.)
Just in case you didn’t see this: Zero VOCs!!! I like that!
Sorry, I get side tracked easily.
Start by laying down a drop cloth and putting on rubber gloves.
Stir your primer well. Roll on the primer onto the bamboo rug.
Then smooth the primer in the direction of the slats with a brush.
Tape off the inside edge of the canvas border using your painter’s tape.
Roll on the border color. Yup, that pretty blue gray paint was a mistint and therefore FREE!
After the border color dries, remove the painter’s tape and then put tape on top of the border.
Roll on the base color for your rug. Then use a brush to drag the paint between the slats. You may need to apply a second coat of paint.
Using the chalk and butcher block paper, draw out your rug design.
And lay the design on top of the rug.
Cut out the largest shapes first. And trace inside the cut outs onto the rug.
Paint inside the chalk lines with the flower color.
Next draw the vines and branches onto the rug using chalk. Chalk can easily be wiped off if you wish to work with the design a little bit.
Continue tracing flowers, vines and leaves and fill them in with paint.
When your rug is completely painted and dry, wipe it off with a damp rag. Then roll on at least 2 coats of water based polyurethane. I prefer Minwax, but use what works for you.
One word of advice when painting on bamboo slats. Don’t try to be a perfectionist. Just relax and have fun. The inconsistencies will make your rug look more authentically hand-painted!
I love my new porch rug! Even better, I love the price!
It looks fabulous with my beachy coffee table I made last year.
I promise – a photo tour of our screen porch will be coming soon.
* Disclaimer: I was sent a gallon of Kilz Clean Start Primer for my honest review. I was not paid or compensated for the review other than with a gallon of primer. My thoughts and opinions are authentic and my own. In other words, I respect you and will not lead you astray with false product information.
Sharing this project with:
Oh that is FABULOUS. Thanks for the inspiration! And now I’m going to go pin all those rugs in your pinboard and try to resist buying them. Or, painting them now that you’ve showed me how!
Carrie, yes, you need to paint one. Save the $$$.
I absolutely LOVE IT! This is perfect for a porch and I can’t believe you hand painted the design. Huge talent. 🙂
Heather, well I have a little secret. I went to art school for 4 yrs. But, I still think you can do it too.
That’s tremendous! It looks fabulous.
I saw all your pinterest rugs and was thinking you were up to something! It’s really beautiful! I’m so impressed!!
Becky B.
http://www.organizingmadefun.com
Organizing Made Fun
Damn, y’all are on to me. I have to be more secretive when I pin. LOL!
The rug looks amazing! You did a fantastic job!! I can’t wait until you show us the finished porch. Lesa
Lesa, thank you. My porch reveal is up now ;0)
Okay, now THIS is a great project that I may not be scared to tackle! It’s beautiful, Brittany! I’m going on the hunt for a bamboo rug…
Good luck and it isn’t difficult. The hardest thing is figuring out a design. But, you can always do stripes.
What a transformation! Your rug is similar to a floorcloth except the base is canvas. Beautiful. Did you put more than one coat of poly on the rug?
Monique, yes, I used two. I would put that much or more if I were you.
Amazing!
very pretty! super tute, you make it look so easy!
gail
You’re an artist! Love the design you chose for your rug, it’s a perfect porch design – makes me smile. Thanks for sharing!
Mary, actually, yes, I am an artist. Little known fact, I went to a 4 yr. University for illustration ;0)
Ah Ha! I guess I get your email feed a day later. Love the rug. The design is darling! As are the colors.
Am so excited about Kilz! Can’t wait to try it.
Nah – you didn’t need poppies. Yours is just perfect!
I love it, it’s gorgeous! You always do the best tutorials, very easy to follow.
I like our local Ace too, even though they’ve never given me free paint, I may have to work at that.
Can’t wait to see you Friday 🙂
This was the first time they gave me paint, but hopefully not the last. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!
What a GREAT Idea. Not sure if I have enough talent to make something like that but I just might give it a try! Love the colors too, so relaxing.
If the design makes you nervous you can always do stripes or chevrons 😉
I love your rug. And the paint was free…. I am amazed at your end results. If that was purchased in a store it would cost big bucks. I’m going to share this with my daughter for her inspiration for the perfect rug for their screened porch. Thanks for the tutorial.
I hope your daughter finds a good rug to paint ;-).
Just gorgeous! I love how this turned out! Thank you for being such an inspiration.
Did you imagine how this would look when we found it Caitlin?
Found you via TT&J FB post. What a fantastic idea!!! I LOVE it and may have to do some of my very own. I wanted a pair of rugs for my front porch that didn’t cost a lot. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you. And how sweet of Jen to mention my rug on the fan page. Good luck with your rugs. I’d love to see the results if you do paint them.
This is fantastic! What a clever idea! Though I’m not very good at coloring in the lines 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Aww, I bet you could. And actually the imperfections make it look hand-painted so don’t stress coloring in the lines 😉
Just sent you an email – shows you that I have never blogged before. I am blown away that you have already done what my family says is crazy – paint a bamboo rug! I am sooo excited about this project. My daughter who just graduated from college with a Studio Art degree will be doing the work – starving artist. Will let you know how it comes out.
Your rug looks awesome…the colors and pattern look great.
Thanks Cindy. I love it too 😉 And good thing the oops paints went together so well.
What a great project, and thank you for making it seem so accessible. I’ve often thought about painting a rug or floor cloth, but I never can follow through to think exactly how I’d do it or pick a design. This’ll help inspire me – thanks!
Katie, I’m so glad I could inspire you. Good luck with your project.
I am having an awful case of porch envy right now…saw the tour an another post and came over to look at the tute…gor-gee-uss!
Super cute. I assume bamboo is a good outdoor rug choice? I’ve been looking for cheap ways to make a cute outdoor rug.
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I have a rug I want to paint, but I have 5 young kids, so it will definitely be walked on. How durable and cleanable is this? The one I want to paint is actually textured woven rug (I can’t think of the name right now, but think rope).
It cleans up GREAT! I just spritz it with a mild cleanser and wipe it with a wet rag.
Then I’m totally doing it! I love yours. I might try to do something like that. I did NOT spend 4 years studying illustration, but I will try. I already have most of the paint bc I’ve been painting rooms in my house and would use those colors. Now to find a design. I’m officially pinning this. Thanks! It also tempts me to do a big one for under my kitchen table. I love the look, but with 5 kids between the ages of 2 and 5, lots of food gets dropped, so it seemed so pointless to ruin a perfectly good rug. I wonder if the chairs would scrape it up though.
HI am sooo happy I ran across this.
I also scored a BAMBOO area rug (I work in a flooring store) for $25.00, and I plan to use it on my porch!!!!!
My outdoor furniture is a mixture of dark chocolate brown, a deep red, and lighter tan color. The bamboo rug naturally has the wider bamboo “strips” (not the little matchsticks you had)….so I was going to try and follow the natural lines of the rug, and paint stripes.
But NOW….you’ve given me the thought to stencil it.
IT CAN BE DONE!!!! Again, you cannot imagine the happiness I’ve found by finding this info!
Thank you so much! (I’ll try and post before and afters)
I have a bamboo rug that is ready for some paint. I am wondering how well this has held up over the year? Can it handle any foot traffic?
THANKS.
Laura, Do it!!! Mine has held up great and gets lots of little boy traffic. Plus, I left it on the porch over the winter and it did fine.
Nice job on your rug – it’s gorgeous and I have this linked to my rugs post too today, well done!
Gorgeous rug. Several questions: How does this feel on your feet? Should I expect to replace routinely if used on my patio beneath chairs that need to be pulled out to sit upon? Thank you!
It feels smooth under our feet. Nothing sticky or rough. If you are using it under a table where chairs will be pulled out a lot then yes, it might scratch over time. Our chairs aren’t moved much and the rug has lasted for three years and counting.
By chance do you think that I’ll be able to do something similiar to a bamboo chair mat – http://www.officemax.com/office-furniture/chairmats/product-prod3030444 I just repainted my office and have a new look. This mat will stick out like a sore thumb if I don’t replace it or do something to it. I’ll have my chair rolling all over it so I’m concerned about chipping the paint.
Thanks for your response!
Nicole, you could, but it will probably scratch over time. Office chairs are rough on mats.
Hello! Thank you for your blog and your explanations. I have a wooden house and aim to add some texture to my ceiling. Most of wooden panels are either very artificially looking or expensive. Plus majority of them are completely flat. I am thinking abt attaching bamboo mats to the ceiling and then painting them white (I leave in temperate climate far from the beach and tropics ;}) Would you think it would work?
I think you’ll have to do a lot of work to attach it to the ceiling. It would be hard to get it to lay perfectly flat on the ceiling, but go ahead and try if you want.
Hi Brittany, love your idea and would like to try it out for my patio. I am in northern Virginia and do you think it would be able to hold up the harsh winters? Please advice
As long as the “bamboo” is sealed on all sides, it should be fine, but you may need to clean it each season with soap and water.