Who doesn't like carpets? They are the perfect accessory to light up any room, terrace or deck. The new carpet is an instant transformation of any space.

When looking for colorful, stain-proof and child-proof carpets for our playroom, I researched outdoor carpets, which (despite the name) can be used indoors and have better stain and water resistance than traditional indoor carpets. Since the purpose of this carpet is for playrooms, and a key search term is "budget", I came up with the idea of ​​turning a tablecloth into an outdoor rug, providing the added benefit of reusing one of the many tablecloths I have stored in In my kitchen.

Tablecloth flanging carpet is a perfect and inexpensive solution for areas with a lot of dirt, heavy traffic, or hardwood or concrete floors that require some modification.

Here’s how I turned tablecloths into durable, colorful, waterproof carpets:

52” x 70” cotton tablecloth (not pre-painted) 9 USD

A 56" x 86" carpet mat ($20)

Satin, water-based polyurethane ($48, at least 5 "carpets" in a jar)

Polyurethane improves the durability of the tablecloth, because the stains just stay on the surface and can be easily taken outside and rinsed off with a hose.

Spread out your rag and spread your tablecloth. I did it outdoors, but a garage would be a better choice because there is less breeze and debris that may stick to the varnish.

Pour a small amount of polyurethane on the cloth, and then use the spreader to move it evenly. It is best to divide it into pieces according to the size of the carpet to ensure that nothing is missed. Let it dry for about 10 minutes, then remove the carpet from the drip cloth and reposition it to avoid sticking to the floor. Let it dry for 30 minutes (or follow the instructions on the can) before applying another layer. Repeat this process three times.

Remove the tablecloth from the drip cloth, lay it flat on a protected surface, and let it dry completely, preferably overnight. If you plan to use your new carpet outdoors, you need to turn it over after drying and apply a polyethylene coating on the underside.

After drying, place the rug pad on the tablecloth and cut it to a suitable position, about an inch shorter than the tablecloth.

Bring the tablecloth to the room where you plan to use it. Turn it upside down and measure out your double-sided tape. Fix it to the bottom of the tablecloth in a wide pattern, and then carefully remove the top layer of tape.

Starting from the bottom, methodically push the carpet pad down onto the double-sided tape, making sure it is taught and firmly secured. This process helps to make the final rug have more shape and clarity than the original tablecloth.

Turn your tablecloth over and admire your brand new waterproof carpet, suitable for indoor or outdoor use! When it gets dirty, just use a mop or take it outside and rinse it with a hose.

All in all, this new 5'x 7'rug is priced at $48, considering that I will be able to use some of my supplies to make more interesting and colorful rugs for my home. I'm already paying attention to the perfect pattern of my porch screening.

Jennifer Tuohy lives in Charleston, South Carolina, and she wrote about her upgrade project for Home Depot. To view various traditional carpets, you can visit Home Depot's Home Decorators website. 

All MOTHER EARTH NEWS community bloggers agree to follow our blog best practices and they are responsible for the accuracy of their posts. To learn more about the author of this article, click the byline link at the top of the page. 

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