Project by My Thrifty Life by Cassie Fairy, Photography by Andy Greenacre

If you’re renting a property, it makes sense to keep the interior looking lovely and in a good state of repair – not only so that you can enjoy living there but also so that your deposit will be returned to you at the end of your tenancy. This can be tricky if the house has flooring that can easily be damaged such as carpet, laminate flooring or lino, because high-traffic areas often lead to more scuffs and stains over the months and years.

So, why not cover up those thoroughfares in the hallway, by the back door or through the living room with a runner rug? This will help to keep the flooring beneath it in pristine condition plus it allows you to add a little personality to the interior with a pop of colour and pattern.

You can create a design of your own to coordinate with your other decorative items, such as a cushions, bedding or curtains, making it an easy way to make a rental home feel like your own without having to decorate the walls or change the flooring.

An added bonus is that this project allows you to upcycle an old rug: if you have a runner or doormat with marks on it, you can carefully position the shapes in order to cover up the stains – making it look as good as new again!

If you would like to have a go at decorating your own runner rug simply follow our step-by-step guide below.

You will need:

Protective mask and gloves

A natural jute or sisal runner rug

Thin card

Cutting mat, ruler and craft knife

Rust-Oleum Universal spray paint

Step 1

Decide on a pattern for your runner rug design: it could be stars, diamonds, circles, triangles or a combination of these or any other shape you fancy. Draw the shapes onto thin card and carefully cut them out using a craft knife and a cutting mat. We cut out triangles in two different sizes. You can also buy ready-made stencils online.

Step 2

Make sure you’re working outside in a well-ventilated area and cover any surfaces you’re working on to protect them. Lay out the rug so that it’s flat, then you can use the shapes you’ve cut out of the card to plan a layout for your design. We arranged the triangles at different angles to create a scattered effect, but you could mask out a grid if you wish to create a more geometric design.

Step 3

Cover up with a protective mask and gloves before beginning to paint. Use weights to hold down your stencil and use spray paint to colour the shape. We used Rust-Oleum Universal spray paint, which is suitable for all surfaces including wood, brick, plastic, concrete, metal and more. It has a 360° any-angle spray so you can spray directly downwards onto the stencil, which makes it less likely that the paint will spray under the edges. You could also use any other multi-surface paint in a can and stipple it onto the shape.

Step 4

Carefully remove the weights and the stencil. While the first shape is drying, you can use a second stencil to spray paint a second shape on another part of the rug. We decided to use multiple colours but you could stick with one or two paints to co-ordinate with your decor, or go for a metallic finish if you prefer.

Step 5

Continue spray painting the shapes onto the runner rug until you have covered the entire length. It’s a good idea to use spray paint in a can or paint from a tin for your upcycling project because metal is fully recyclable. No matter what type of product is inside a can, once you’ve used up the paint, the metal from the container can be recycled, making it a more environmentally-friendly approach for DIY projects like this. Once you’ve finished painting your pattern, allow the paint to dry thoroughly before using the rug in your home.

And that’s it! Position your new-to-you patterned runner anywhere that gets a lot of traffic to protect the flooring in your home. If you want to customise this project further, you could use different colours and shapes or mask off a border around the rug and paint it in a solid colour. Also, if the pattern on the runner becomes scuffed in the future, you can simply refresh the design by putting the stencil over the shape and spray painting it again for a quick tidy-up.

Please take care while using tools, materials and equipment and all projects must be completed at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for any harm or injury that may occur. Be safe!