Download ArticleDownload Article

Making rugs from carpet remnants is an easy, inexpensive way to unique floor covering that match your room décor. Carpet remnants can be purchased from carpet stores at greatly reduced prices, or you can use carpeting that you have pulled from your own home or from a friend's home too. All you need are a few simple tools that you probably already have in your home.

  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Choose the carpet from which you will make your rug.
    If you want to make a patterned rug, choose the colors you will use.[1]
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Cut out the...
    Cut out the background rug, placing the carpet on corrugated cardboard or other surface that cannot be damaged if cut with a blade. Use a utility knife to cut out the rug, pressing firmly. You may have to make 2 passes with the knife.[2]
    • The carpet used for the patterns should be of the same type and texture as the background carpet.
    Advertisement
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Make a template of the shapes you will use by drawing the shapes on paper.
    Brown paper bags or butcher's paperwork well for this.[3]
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Place the templates on the underside of the appropriate carpet pieces and trace the outline of each with a felt tipped pen.
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Move the carpeting to be cut on to corrugated cardboard or other surface.
    Use a utility knife to cut out the shapes, pressing firmly. You may have to make 2 passes with the knife.[4]
  6. How.com.vn English: Step 6 Pull the shapes from the carpet pieces and set aside.
  7. How.com.vn English: Step 7 Lay the rug, pile side down, on the corrugated cardboard and lay out the template for the pattern.
    Trace it with a felt tipped marker.
  8. How.com.vn English: Step 8 Cut out the pattern with a utility knife, pressing firmly.
  9. How.com.vn English: Step 9 Remove the cut out areas from the rug and replace them with the pieces you cut previously.
    Work from the underside of the rug, pressing the cut out pieces firmly into the base.
    • You will probably have a lot of carpet fibers showing on the underside of the rug. They can be integrated into the rug by taking a flat head screwdriver and running it around the edges where the carpet pieces meet.
  10. How.com.vn English: Step 10 Cover all of the seams with carpet tape.
    You can also use duct tape.[5]
  11. How.com.vn English: Step 11 Cut a piece of binding long enough to reach around the entire perimeter of the rug.
    Lay down a 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) line of carpet glue along the edges of the rug.
  12. How.com.vn English: Step 12 Press the carpet edging into the line of glue with enough overlap to wrap around the edges of the rug.
    Allow to dry thoroughly.
  13. How.com.vn English: Step 13 Turn the carpet...
    Turn the carpet right side up and apply a bead of carpet glue to the edges and approximately 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) onto the top of the rug. Pull the edging firmly up the side of the rug and onto the bead of glue on top, pressing firmly.
  14. How.com.vn English: Step 14 Allow the glue to dry, and place the home-made rug on the floor.
  15. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I cut off a piece of carpet from my large carpet and make an edging where I cut it off?
    How.com.vn English: Community Answer
    Community Answer
    I like to use a sharp box cutter. You can then use a yard stick or T-square to make an edge. Cut down that edge along the ruler from the back side of the carpet. When finished, take a big lighter and run it along the cut edge to keep it from fraying.
  • Question
    How do I make a rug from scratch?
    How.com.vn English: maria abid
    maria abid
    Community Answer
    Start by selecting your materials, such as fabric or yarn. Then design your pattern and gather the necessary tools like a loom or crochet hook. Begin weaving or crocheting, following your pattern, and continue until your rug reaches the desired size. Finally, secure the edges and trim any excess material.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • If you're making a large rug, consider having it professionally bound at the edges to prevent fraying.
      • When making a rug with a design that flows in a certain direction, take this into account when laying out and cutting the pattern on the reverse of the rug.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Use a non-slip pad under your rug to prevent accidents.
      • Rugs made from carpeting must be cleaned in the same manner as carpeting. They cannot go into a washer.
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Carpet remnants
      • Duct tape or carpet tape
      • Utility knife
      • Paper for templates
      • Felt tip marker
      • Flat head screwdriver
      • Carpet glue
      • Edge binding
      • Corrugated cardboard

      About This Article

      How.com.vn English: Sarah Fogle
      Co-authored by:
      DIY Specialist
      This article was co-authored by Sarah Fogle. Sarah Fogle is a DIY Home Improvement Specialist and the creator of Ugly Duckling House. With over a decade of experience, Sarah specializes in beginner-friendly home remodeling projects. Sarah holds an MBA from Georgia State University. She has been featured in multiple publications including Better Homes and Gardens and Make Magazine. She has also partnered with brands such as Lowe's, Home Depot, and Martha Stewart Crafts. This article has been viewed 196,771 times.
      How helpful is this?
      Co-authors: 13
      Updated: January 13, 2023
      Views: 196,771
      Categories: Carpets and Rugs
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 196,771 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • How.com.vn English: Barbara Blue

        Barbara Blue

        Mar 3, 2017

        "Step-by-step directions helped. Please include a tape measure to perfect the area you're trying to cover."
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      ⚠️ Disclaimer:

      Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
      Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.

      Notices:
      • - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
      • - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
      • - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
      • - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.

      Advertisement