Before and After: This $0 Redo of an Old IKEA Rug Is Perfect Inspo for “Shopping Your Home”
According to Pinterest Predicts, in 2023, the entryway is THE spot to focus your renovation and redecorating energies on. As Apartment Therapy’s Home Director Danielle Blundell put it, “Pinterest thinks our collective attention is about to shift … to the fronts and facades of our spaces — while backyards, well, are about to take a backseat. Think fancy foyers and flourishes that perk up your front door, porch, or stoop.”
Searches for “foyer entryway decor ideas” are up 190 percent, after all! And here’s an entryway idea that cost the homeowner $0 and can be completed in an afternoon. Not only is it time- and budget-friendly, it’s a great way to shop your own home and create something new out of something old. The iterations are limitless.
So what’s the genius idea? Homeowner and DIYer Kassandra DeFrancis (@yzfhomedecor) took a tired-looking jute rug and painted over it with white paint she already had (Fusion Mineral Paint’s Casement). To create her diamond pattern, she used painter’s tape she already had.
“I am loving the diamond/checkerboard trend right now,” Kassandra says. “I love that I was able to get the trendy look without having to spend any money.”
Even if you didn’t already have some of the supplies, the project wouldn’t set you back too much money. Kassandra’s rug was $70 from IKEA, one roll of quality painter’s tape will cost about $5, and a sample pot of paint will cost between $6 and $10 from most brands. Even if you had to buy all of the supplies, you’re still looking at an under-$100 project.
“So many times we don’t look to what we already have and ask, ‘Do I need to buy something new, or can I upcycle what I already have?’” Kassandra says. “I wanted to buy a new rug incorporating this trend but couldn’t stomach the price for something new. So I thought maybe I could update my old jute rug. I had nothing to lose since this rug was destined for the Goodwill.”
Kassandra’s advice for creating a look similar to hers is to measure carefully. “Plan out the dimensions first,” she says. “It involved a bit of math to figure out the sizing of the diamonds I wanted, but besides that, it was very easy to do!”
She taped off the pattern and then applied her paint with a roller. “This paint dries very fast, so I was able to tape and paint very quickly,” she says. She completed the project in a couple hours one night after her kid’s bedtime.
Her project is proof that maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to throw old home decor away; see if there’s a potential second life! “It was such an easy update to an item that I was ready to part with,” Kassandra says. “The rug is holding up great at our front door!”
For more entryway inspo, check out these 12 quick project ideas.
Inspired? Submit your own project here.