How to paint a laundry room stenciled rug. Well, it’s not really a rug, it’s more of a floor cloth.
Sometimes floor cloths are made from canvas, or scraps of vinyl flooring. Not this laundry room rug!
Using vinyl wallpaper as a floor cloth
Look! This laundry room stenciled rug is made out of vinyl wallpaper!!! I bought this a couple of years ago at my local ReStore. It’s good for all sorts of handy uses. I’ve used it as a photo backdrop, as a drop cloth and more.
I painted vinyl wallpaper and used a simple stencil to complete a new laundry room rug.
Paint vinyl wallpaper
I painted the wrong side of the vinyl wallpaper with a small roller using an oops gray I had on hand. Would you believe I put plastic down and actually painted this faux rug in the living room?
It looks okay, but let’s up the ante a little with a stencil.
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Create a cardboard stencil
I made a quatrefoil stencil on paper, then used an ink pen to dot trace it onto heavy cardboard. Poking the holes in the cardboard made it easier to cut with my scissors.
I marked the top of my stencil and traced it over and over again with an oil paint sharpie . This sounds easy, right?
Trace cardboard stencil with a paint pen
It seemed to take forever! It was probably a one Hallmark movie project. 
If you watch Home & Family, you know what that means.
I used a large t-square to keep me on track. I also used it when I made my faux hardwood floor for photography.
After I finished the last row of stenciling I trimmed the vinyl wallpaper. I suppose it could be bound somehow, but I just left it as is.
Vinyl Wallpaper Floor Cloth in Basement Laundry Area
The stenciled faux rug is perfect for my new laundry space.
Being vinyl, I expect it to hold up against wear and tear, and any other mishaps that might happen in the basement. 
Have you ever stenciled a rug? What did you use? Would you have thought of using vinyl wallpaper?
gail
Related Content:
Faux Hardwood Floor Photo Prop
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Murphy
I love this project, what a great idea! Side note; I have an opportunity to buy a washer and dryer just like yours in the pictures for $400. How do you like them/have they held up well for you? I hope asking this here is ok, I don't know how to contact you directly and I have been trying to find info on the machines for a while.
Gail Wilson
I emailed you. 🙂
Jeannie Wright
I have made several floorcloths, but have never even considered using a vinyl wallpaper! What a great idea! I have always used pieces of vin;yl flooring and done free-hand work for designs. Thanks for the great tips!
Gail Wilson
Jeannie,
I can't paint at all. But I have stenciled on vinyl flooring as floor cloths. I hope if you try the vinyl wallpaper as a floor cloth that it works for you.
gail
Barb
Gail,
I always enjoy seeing someone do a project that would suit my home. I, too, use my basement for laundry and it just has cinderblock walls and a cement floor. I work on most of my painting projects in the basement and while I appreciate having a spot inside that can't be "harmed", I also appreciate a cheerful place to work - iron, wash, dry, and fold laundry." This is a spectacular project! Thanks so much for lending your expertise and describing your steps in such accurate words!
Gail Wilson
Barb,
Thank you so much for your kind comment. I can't believe I've been doing the dreaded chore of laundry in the dark corner for over 42 years! I'm loving how much cheerier it already looks. 🙂
gail
Wendi@H2OBungalow
Wow..you never seem to run out of amazing ideas! LOVE the DIY floor rug and was blown away by your poking holes in the heavy cardboard to make it cut easier. Pinned!!
Gail Wilson
thanks for the kind words Wendi, and I appreciate you pinning!!
gail
Jen
Once again, you taught me something so simple, yet my brain would never have thought of doing: Poking holes before cutting the cardboard. Makes so much sense!
p.s. the rug looks great!
Gail Wilson
So happy to help out Jen. Punching the holes makes it easier to stay on the lines. 🙂
happy crafting!
Terri Hughes
I absolutely love the rug. This was a great idea........WOW!
Bonnie
Awesome Idea I recently had a new porch put on and this would be perfect for it!
Jennie
I painted a canvas rug for the covered patio. Before I painted I spray glued foam shelf liner to the back and stitched the hem to catch the liner. That way it wouldn’t slip. I rolled on a coat of gesso, then a coat of white acrylic. With acrylic and a 1” artists brush I painted the outline of black flowers. I love when an outdoor project can be hosed and hung to dry.
I would have never thought of vinyl wallpaper. That’s brilliant
Gail Wilson
Your project sounds awesome Jennie! I wish I could "paint" like an artist. I can only use a roller and a chip brush. I can't even master water color.
I've also used scrap vinyl flooring for floor cloths. The ideas are endless I suppose. 🙂
gail
Jennie
Gail, Believe me everyone can draw and paint. You just have to find your style. My art is either cartoonish or abstract.
Claudine
Clever!