Are you looking for a new rug? Maybe some modern rugs or designer rugs? But what about your old one? Sure, you can just throw it away but where’s the fun in that? You may have heard of “reduce, reuse and recycle”, but how do you do that with a rug? The answer is “upcycling”. Upcycling is a fun variant of recycling!
“Upcycling” simply means to recycle your old unused stuff by putting them to use in creating new products. But why upcycle? Well, for one, it saves you money. You don’t have to buy what you’ve created through upcycling. It also saves resources that would otherwise be wasted. Best of all, you get to have fun doing a DIY project while holding onto something sentimental or creating something unique.
You can upcycle your old rug into a number of different things. Let’s look at a few things you can do with a rug.
Turn it into a bag
When someone says, “Hey, that’s a nice bag. Where did you get that?”, there’s no better feeling than saying, “Thanks! I made it myself”. You just need thread, needles and bag handles. Cut the rug into two squares to suit the size of the bag you want. Lay the two pieces of your rug on top of each other. Sew them on three sides and sew the bag handles to the fourth side and you’re done! You can also add a zip or fastener if you want.
Cat scratcher
Cat scratchers can be expensive to buy but they are a lifesaver for your furniture. You can use your rug to re-carpet your old scratching post or make a new one by simply wrapping a rug of appropriate size around a woodblock. This will save you lots of money. You can create as many cat scratchers as you want, depending on the number of rugs at your disposal. You could even give them to friends or sell them.
Reupholster furniture
Is your furniture in need of a makeover? You can transform them by reupholstering them with your old rug. Use your rug for the headboard to change up your bedroom. You can make use of metal studs to make it look more appealing. Change your living area by reupholstering an armchair.
You can also upcycle your rug to upholster your old ottoman. Smaller pieces of carpet or old rugs can also be turned into gorgeous throw pillows. You can even create a matching set of cushions.
Make mini rugs for dollhouses
How many times has your kid complained about you not playing with her? Now, you can get yourself involved in the mix by creating mini rugs for her dollhouses. Put your old rugs to good use as a mini one. This one works better with rugs that have small repeating patterns. Cut out pieces according to the required size and your kid can have plenty of rugs for their dolls.
Drink coasters
Turn your old rug into wonderful new coasters. The fibres are great at absorbing liquid and if you’re going to throw it out anyway, why not just turn it into coasters? Use a mug as a reference for size and cut the rug into squares or circles. You can also get creative with the shapes.
Car floor mats or doormat
Don’t you hate how dirty your car floor mats get? Just measure the size and shape of your old floor mats to cut out new ones from your old rug. These carpet floor mats are going to make you feel luxurious if you’re currently using plastic or rubber mats.
You can follow the same steps for creating your own unique doormat. You can complete this job in no time at all. Cut out the appropriate size and shape from the rug and you’re done. If you want, you can even add some personal touches. Try using a stencil to write a welcome phrase on your mat, like “Hello” or “Come on in”.
Wall hanging
Do you have an empty spot on your wall and can’t figure out what to do with it? You can hang an old rug on it. This work best with rugs that have beautiful patterns and a variety of colours. Depending on the type of rug, you can make your home look regal or a cosy and more inviting place.
You can also use turn an old rug into a modern tapestry. Just start with the carpet or rug as a base and then use a crochet hook to add colourful tassels with yarn. Just make sure the rug is cleaned before you hang it.
There is a lot of fun stuff you can do with your old rug besides these ides. So, get brainstorming and try new innovative ways to upcycle your old rug.
“Upcycling” simply means to recycle your old unused stuff by putting them to use in creating new products. But why upcycle? Well, for one, it saves you money. You don’t have to buy what you’ve created through upcycling. It also saves resources that would otherwise be wasted. Best of all, you get to have fun doing a DIY project while holding onto something sentimental or creating something unique.
You can upcycle your old rug into a number of different things. Let’s look at a few things you can do with a rug.
Turn it into a bag
When someone says, “Hey, that’s a nice bag. Where did you get that?”, there’s no better feeling than saying, “Thanks! I made it myself”. You just need thread, needles and bag handles. Cut the rug into two squares to suit the size of the bag you want. Lay the two pieces of your rug on top of each other. Sew them on three sides and sew the bag handles to the fourth side and you’re done! You can also add a zip or fastener if you want.
Cat scratcher
Cat scratchers can be expensive to buy but they are a lifesaver for your furniture. You can use your rug to re-carpet your old scratching post or make a new one by simply wrapping a rug of appropriate size around a woodblock. This will save you lots of money. You can create as many cat scratchers as you want, depending on the number of rugs at your disposal. You could even give them to friends or sell them.
Reupholster furniture
Is your furniture in need of a makeover? You can transform them by reupholstering them with your old rug. Use your rug for the headboard to change up your bedroom. You can make use of metal studs to make it look more appealing. Change your living area by reupholstering an armchair.
You can also upcycle your rug to upholster your old ottoman. Smaller pieces of carpet or old rugs can also be turned into gorgeous throw pillows. You can even create a matching set of cushions.
Make mini rugs for dollhouses
How many times has your kid complained about you not playing with her? Now, you can get yourself involved in the mix by creating mini rugs for her dollhouses. Put your old rugs to good use as a mini one. This one works better with rugs that have small repeating patterns. Cut out pieces according to the required size and your kid can have plenty of rugs for their dolls.
Drink coasters
Turn your old rug into wonderful new coasters. The fibres are great at absorbing liquid and if you’re going to throw it out anyway, why not just turn it into coasters? Use a mug as a reference for size and cut the rug into squares or circles. You can also get creative with the shapes.
Car floor mats or doormat
Don’t you hate how dirty your car floor mats get? Just measure the size and shape of your old floor mats to cut out new ones from your old rug. These carpet floor mats are going to make you feel luxurious if you’re currently using plastic or rubber mats.
You can follow the same steps for creating your own unique doormat. You can complete this job in no time at all. Cut out the appropriate size and shape from the rug and you’re done. If you want, you can even add some personal touches. Try using a stencil to write a welcome phrase on your mat, like “Hello” or “Come on in”.
Wall hanging
Do you have an empty spot on your wall and can’t figure out what to do with it? You can hang an old rug on it. This work best with rugs that have beautiful patterns and a variety of colours. Depending on the type of rug, you can make your home look regal or a cosy and more inviting place.
You can also use turn an old rug into a modern tapestry. Just start with the carpet or rug as a base and then use a crochet hook to add colourful tassels with yarn. Just make sure the rug is cleaned before you hang it.
There is a lot of fun stuff you can do with your old rug besides these ides. So, get brainstorming and try new innovative ways to upcycle your old rug.
Erika Rhein, the contributing author and the professional blogger by profession. With years of experience, I now focus on writing blogs on varied niches. Being a research enthusiast, I like to provide my readers with the useful and informative articles on the different topics they are looking for. I aim to create a difference through my writing.
