Can You Paint Outdoor Rugs? Check Out How to Stencil A Rug

Do you have a plain outdoor rug you are willing to revamp, and you wonder if you can do that by painting your rug to give it a new look? Yes, you can paint outdoor rugs; adding extra colors and style to your outdoor rugs is possible. And to do this, there is a process to follow, and you need to put in place various tools to get this done; the materials needed include:

• Paint (Any color or several colors of your choice)
• Tape measure
• String
• Plastic wrap
• Paintbrushes
• Painters Tape
• Knee pad
• Stencil
• Mini paint roller tray

How to Paint an Outdoor Rug

After deciding to add more colors and style to your plain rug and putting in place all the needed materials, the next question is, how do you paint your outdoor rug to make it more appealing? Highlighted below are steps to follow to paint your plain outdoor rug

Clean the rug 

Before painting your carpet, vacuum it thoroughly to ensure that no lumps or debris will distort your design. It is ideal to have your rug cleaned before the day of painting. Also, remove as much pet hair and crumbs as possible from the rug. 

Measure your rugs and plan your layout

This is the most crucial step in any design. The more care you take with the details in this step, the less complicated the rest of the process will be in the future. Additionally, take advantage of this time to gather all of your materials.

Choose the right paint color and type

Avoid using acrylic or oil-based paints on your carpet because they will leave a crunchy, clumpy residue on the fibers of your carpet. You can either use a paintbrush or spray paint to make your work easier. 

Using spray paint is easier; however, if you are not good at applying it, you may apply too much, getting the paint under your stencil, which will disrupt your design. For this reason, it is best to use a paintbrush. 

It is also a good idea to pick a color that goes well with the rest of your outdoor decor. For example, you can use blue spray paint to brighten up a room with light brown walls or use maroon paint for a more striking contrast to blue, black, or white walls and furnishings.

White carpets look their best when painted in bold, vibrant colors. However, a rug with yellow undertones will show up in the paint if you’re painting over a light-colored carpet. If you find that you need to apply more than one coat to get the color to look as close to the can as possible, stock up on extra cans.

If the paint you’re using is darker than the carpet’s existing patterns, they may still be visible. Prepare for extra coats of paint, accept the shadows, or cover them with furniture if that’s the case.

Check out: How to keep outdoor rugs from lowing away.

Organize Your Design in String

Now it’s time to paint your rug according to your chosen stencil. The design outcome of your rug will be determined by the style and layout of your chosen stencil. Follow the process below.

• Start from the corner of the rug (a corner edge of the rug). You may leave some inches for the border. 
• Hold down your ideal stencil with tape to keep it in place.
• Start painting the inner space of the stencil using a stencil brush. This prevents color from sipping under your template. 
• Move your stencil template to other areas of the rug and paint. 
• If you leave space for the border design, use a stencil edge design, and paint to give your rug that appealing appearance. 

You can as well use a spray painting. However, the paint will come out bold on your rug with spray paint.

Find Out: If you can put an outdoor rug on a wood deck and what type of rug to use.

How to Maintain Your Colored Outdoor Rugs

Keeping your outdoor rug looking like new doesn’t take much effort. Although most outdoor rug paints are designed to dry quickly and resist fading, it doesn’t hurt to perform routine maintenance on your outdoor area rug to ensure it lasts as long as possible. Keep your outdoor rug’s color vibrant, and it will look as new as the day you painted it by following these simple instructions.

Check out: How to prevent and keep outdoor rugs from curling. 

Never allow dirt to settle for long.

Dirt is attracted to outdoor area rugs in particular. To remove all of the dirt, don’t just clean the rug’s surface; turn the rug over and clean it from the other side. Rinse the rug with a garden hose after you’ve scrubbed it thoroughly. Washing the rug on a sloped surface, such as your driveway, is the best option because it allows the water to drain correctly. Mold can grow on rugs if they are allowed to soak up too much moisture.

To remove visible dirt and dust, shake out your rug now and then. Shaking it once a month should suffice. Also, make sure that you check under your rug. Finally, flip your rug over now and then because debris tends to sink into natural fibers. This will also ensure that it is worn evenly.

Wash stains with household cleaning agents           

Scrubbing with vinegar and baking removes dirt and eliminates stains. You can also gently blot rug stains from the outside in. However, sometimes, stains will entrench themselves deeper into your rug if you scrub. Here is a detailed guide on cleaning and washing your outdoor rugs.

Also, as a super absorbent, salt can remove stains. It is a win-win situation for pet owners because it also kills fleas. Sprinkle on the rug before blotting. You may also apply dishwashing detergent in place of salt. 

Note that most outdoor rugs are bleach-proof; the same applies to paints designed for outdoor purposes. Therefore, you can safely use bleach to remove tough stains from your outdoor rug.

Painting your rug is not just possible but straightforward if you can carefully follow the steps outlined above. The best part is that you can maintain your rug paint color over a long period by doing some care and due diligence.