I have a newly redesigned craft room and the old carpet did not fit, and it was really not appropriate anyway.
I hate to buy new for a craft room…paint will end up everywhere at some point, it always does. And I use the floor to layout quilts, patterns, large cardboard pieces, Gelli prints, etc. Best flat place in the house.
I’ve been looking at painted floor cloths, which seems to be a great way to go, flat, smooth, easy to clean. But I don’t like any of the ones I can afford. It’s just canvas, paint, and a sealer coat or two. What could be easier?
5x7 is the size I am considering if I can get canvas that size. Any comments?
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AIMR
(Linda -2024 Choose Projects that You Want to Do :us:)
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Do you think something smooth will slip around? I know I have that problem with my wooden floors…I have to buy the under carpet stuff to keep them from sliding and it is almost as expensive as the carpet!
I have some indoor/outdoor carpet from Wayfair that is really flat. When it gets dirty, you can hose it off. They are relatively inexpensive.
Most I’ve seen either suggest a non slip backing like shelf liner or use poster hanging putty blobs around the edges. My main problem is design. I’m very picky as I have to look at it all the time and I just haven’t found a rug I like at a price I’ll pop for.
I have done it. Many many years ago and it worked well. I used a heavy canvas, water based household paints and about three coats of varnish.
It’s actually a really old technique and paints and varnishes are much better nowadays than then. I’d say dive in, it’s easy and very satisfying and they are very hard wearing.
Painter’s dropcloths give you a lot of fabric pretty cheap, but quality varies. I just got one from walmart thats very loosely woven. I bet home depot has better quality.
When I planned to do a floor cloth*, I asked for paint on freecycle, and got a bunch of different colors of latex housepaint.
We painted the subfloor (the plywood floor you see when you remove the carpeting) in our last house, and I can attest that a good polyurethane finish made for floors holds up very well.
*I love planning, and research, and shopping, but sometimes don’t actually get around to doing the project.
Don’t judge me.
Harbor frieght is another source. 10oz to 12 oz is best. I bought a drop cloth cheap for a sign. Very loosely woven and didn’t hold up well in the weather. Also, they are sneaky about whether it’s 100% cotton or not. Apparently “cotton” includes anything that looks remotely like cotton these days. I got a polyester “100% cotton” shirt once. I returned it.
I’m not home so I can’t check, but I think there’s a paintable non-slip backing you can put in the back. I seem to remember buying a can way back when I also planned to make one (you’re not alone, @steiconi!) several years ago.
I have seen where people will used silicone caulking on the backs of rugs to give them the (non)slip.
I bought 2 pieces outdoor rug material-by-the-foot at one of the home center chains a couple years ago and then painted it with craft paint mixed with textile medium. They have held up quite well to all the weather and wear & tear. I cut stencils to get my design and they worked very well for that. Not sure they’d be a surface I’d want to do my crafting on, though. I also work quite a bit on the floor and these might have too much give for that.
I do second (third? fourth?) checking out canvas drop cloths and will suggest an actual paint store where supplies tend to be more serious/professional and staff tend to actually, really know their stuff. (former specialty painting contractor here)
I have not done floor cloths, but my go-to for painting tents is 50/50 latex paint & water, which works reasonably well instead of textile medium for large spaces that don’t have to be super flexible.
I have painted a couple Christmas floor cloths in the past. I used canvas from the art supply store and primed it with a few coats of Gesso before the final design. This was a project my tole paint chapter had going. We used the Americana craft paints for the design and sealed it with 2-3 coats of brush-on varnish. There is a backing you can get to brush on too that helps with the slippery underside. Also I have a tree skirt I started made the same way. That’s in the U.F.O. bin.
I found a strip of canvas in my stash. Got it thoroughly wet with hot water and laid out in the blistering 98 degree sun to dry. Was dry in a very short time!
Next I will paint a primer coat or two, sand, etc. Then try some paint techniques on it. I need to know what to expect when I do the actual floor cloth. I am getting excited about this. I need this kind of project right now. Useful, fun, messy, and new.
Update. I purchased all the material for a rug and then realized that what I really needed were fatigue mats for my counter and ironing board.
I think I will wait and make a couple of nice canvas rugs for our new 3 season porch if it ever gets built. We are on schedule for this fall, but who knows. It’s been a long process.
, worth a go