DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug

Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Well, I like to think that being broke is also the mother of invention. Like the year after college when I figured out fill nail holes with toothpaste. Or during grad school when I would cook an entire lasagna and live off it for at least two weeks.  Those years were pretty lean and even though things are much better these days, I can still appreciate the art of creatively saving a buck.

With the recent studio move and accompanying rent increase, I wanted to add some bright color to the space without reliving my two-week-old-lasagna days. I needed a large area rug but all the cool options were way too pricey…in the $800 range…no, thank you. So I tried my hand at making my own using a few yards of home decorator fabric…and I’m here to report that it worked splendidly! Like, no joke. This rug is 100% funtional, stylish, durable and completely customizable since you have all the control over the pattern you select. It’s a great DIY and rings in at about $130 for a 5×8 rug. Much cheaper than the rugs I wanted to buy. Here’s how you can make your own DIY Mod Podge fabric rug.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

You’ll need:

  • Fabric – I opted for home decor fabric which usually measures about 54″ wide which is a nice size for a rug. The length will depend on what size rug you want. I purchased 2 yards and of course I used my 50% off coupon to save some serious dolla dolla billz. The fabric alone came in at $30.
  • A rug pad that is big enough to fit the final dimensions of your rug.
  • A canvas drop cloth that is big enough to fit the final dimensions of your rug.
  • duct tape
  • a paint roller
  • polyeurethane
  • a few bottles of fabric mod podge. I went through 6 bottles for my 5×8 rug
  • you’ll also need a big working space – the garage floor or maybe the living room. Enough space to stretch out the full length of fabric and drop cloth.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

First, turn the fabric so the wrong side is facing up. Plop down the Mod Podge and start spreading it around with the paint roller. You’ll want a decent coat of Mod Podge on the entire piece of fabric.

TIP: do this step on top of the drop cloth! As you roll the Mod Podge onto the fabric, it may see through and without a protective layer underneath, you may end up with a sticky floor!

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Set aside the fabric and immediately start rolling out more Mod Podge onto the top of the canvas drop cloth. You don’t have to be meticulous about covering every inch, but do your best to cover most of it with a thin coat of Mod Podge. Remember, when working with fabric and Mod Podge, you need a Mod Podge-to-Mod Podge layer for the best adhesion. Make sense?

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Lay the fabric on top of the canvas drop cloth and smooth it out with your hands to get out any creases.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

At this point, the two layers will be well adhered to one another. Now, flip the whole thing over and fold down the edges and secure them with duct tape.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Now cover the entire bottom with a rug pad and cut to size. Tape the rug pad down with duct tape and your rug is almost done.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable. To protect to the top of the rug and make it super durable, use the paint roller to apply at least one coat of polyeurethane. You can apply two coats if you’re feeling worried about the durability. The polyeurethane will create a slightly slick surface that makes this easy to clean with a damp towel.

Full disclosure: This rug has been in my “office” area for two months. The “office” sits smack dab between the craft room and the photo studio which means I walk across it at least 50 times a day. So far, I’ve had zero issues with it getting dirty or smudged! I’m pretty impressed with how well it’s worked!

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

To finish off the edges of the rug, I added a bit of pom pom trim – because – uh..pom poms make everything way better.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Large area rugs can be pricey! Follow this tutorial on how to turn a regular piece of fabric into a DIY Mod Podge Fabric Rug. It's totally customizable and afforable.

Photography: Devlopz

Jumpsuit by Melissa McCarthy Seven7

shopthisproject

Keep on crafting with these other posts

About Amber

Hey, I’m Amber Kemp-Gerstel - the crafty brain behind Damask Love, where creativity, color, and a little chaos come together. I’m a suburban mom of two, known for turning up the volume on everyday DIYs and showing up like your colorful, crafty BFF. Over the years, I’ve gone from psychologist to full-time content creator, TV host, and brand partner, with appearances on Making It, Today, and HGTV. When I’m not making stuff or on set, I’m chasing around my two boys, Markus and Maxwell, and laughing my way through the mess.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

161 Comments

  1. 9.30.25

    I’m in awe of the author’s ability to make complex concepts understandable to readers of all backgrounds. This article is a testament to her expertise and commitment to providing helpful insights. Thank you, author, for creating such an engaging and illuminating piece. It has been an absolute pleasure to read!

  2. 9.30.25

    Cleaning is needed cleaning services toronto eco-friendly supplies, vetted cleaners, flat pricing, online booking, same-day options. Bonded & insured crews, flexible scheduling. Book in 60 seconds—no hidden fees.

  3. 10.2.25

    The post brought a sense of clarity that was enjoyable. Though my opinion is not identical, I still liked the insights. Learn more at Z7Live1.

  4. 10.3.25

    Практика ремонта https://stroimsami.online и стройки без воды: пошаговые инструкции, сметные калькуляторы, выбор материалов, схемы, чек-листы, контроль качества и приёмка работ. Реальные кейсы, фото «до/после», советы мастеров и типичные ошибки — экономьте время и бюджет.

  5. 10.3.25

    you are in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The website loading velocity is amazing. It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a wonderful job in this subject!

  6. 10.3.25

    Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your blog. You have some really great articles and I think I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an e-mail if interested. Many thanks!

  7. 10.3.25

    I’m not sure why but this blog is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.

  8. 10.3.25

    The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a twenty five foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  9. 10.4.25

    I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it?s rare to see a nice blog like this one these days..

  10. 10.5.25

    This post kept me engaged from start to finish with its clear points. I may see parts of it differently, but I respect the perspective. Learn more at Vivamaxwin Boost.