You Can Hand Paint a Sisal Rug!

Sandy Henderson

You don't have to be Picasso to paint your sisal rug. Sisal Painting is easy and fun. With a little imagination and effort, you will have flooring that you created yourself!

Supplies

You will need a finished sisal rug. It is available in pre-made sizes from stores or catalogs like Pottery Barn. You can also purchase and have it custom sized and cut from stores like Rug Rats.

Stencil

- You can easily make this yourself. We use poster board and draw the pattern directly on it, or use an overhead projector (some libraries and schools have these) to copy the pattern on it. Stencils are available for ordering at companies like www.stencilease.com, which specializes in floor stencils. You can also send your pattern idea, scanned image, wallpaper, picture or anything else that you want for a pattern to www.panedexpressions.com. Let them know the size you want and any other specifications. They will send you a rendering by e-mail. The actual pattern will be sent to your size.

Instructions

If you are making your own stencil, cut it out and lay it on the sisal using pushpins to keep it in place. Now you're ready to paint!

Rug Rats uses acrylic paint available at art stores or even Wal-Mart's craft department. These paints are slightly thick. Add a little water to it until it has the consistency of gravy.

With a regular, inexpensive paintbrush, paint your cut out areas. The sisal will drink the paint, so it may take several coats to get the color depth that you want.

Let the paint dry, or become tacky, and set.

Lift your pattern up and place it at the next section. If you are making a simple stencil, like a single flower or design that is repeated along the edge, make several repeat designs about a foot long. You will paint one foot, let it dry, then lift the pattern and paint it again, on the next section until you have completed it all around.

Visit www.rugratsva.com for pictures of handpainted sisal rugs.

Sandy is owner of Rug Rats, a retail store featuring Fine Carpets and Custom Rugs. She has been operating this store on Main Street in Farmville, VA for 20 years.