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Rain on a Tin Roof

DIY and Home Decor Blog. Fly Your Freak Flag.

You are here: Home >> Outdoors >> DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug

July 8, 2014 By Jenna 36 Comments

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug

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It all started with Nancy Drew.

The Hidden Staircase to be exact.

After reading the book as a middle schooler, and being a lover of all ghost stories and mysteries, I became convinced that a secret staircase was nearby.

Under my grandparent’s screened-in porch.

As I was walking around my grandparent’s house one sunny spring day collecting old glass I found buried in the ground (convinced it held a secret meant for only me), I stumbled onto their screened-in porch and began to examine it.

The porch was a simple square structure that came off their dining room. It wasn’t above their basement though, as the rest of the house was. It was supported by four sturdy walls of brick.

There had to be something under that porch, and there had to be a staircase that led to whatever was under there.

I immediately rushed up to the porch and started stomping my feet on the AstroTurf covered floor to find a hollow spot where a door leading to the staircase might be.

My feet were met by the sound of concrete.

I persisted, making my way to the outer edges of the porch where the AstroTurf carpeting ended.

I attempted to pull it up, but discovered it was securely glued down.

Darn the AstroTurf.

The secrets of the porch were never uncovered.

However, I’m now coming to love AstroTurf very very much.

Seriously, what other 6 ft. x 8 ft. rug can you find for $20?

Only AstroTurf baby. 

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial

This is picture heavy, but stick with me.

Materials Needed

AstroTurf Rug

1 – 2 quarts of gloss exterior paint depending on how intense you want your colors. I used two quarts.

Paint Roller and Tray

FrogTape

Steps

Step 1

Roll out the rug and begin marking your border off with FrogTape.

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

As you can see, I was super technical with measurements and used tape as my guide. I started on the very edge of the rug and placed three small strips of tape that would remain AstroTurf underneath, then two strips that would be painted white, then another strip for Astroturf. You want to paint inside of the tape marked Astroturf. See the photo above.

Step 2

Finish taping the rest of your border around the edges of the rug.

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

See photo above. You want to repeat this on each side of the rug, using the same “tape measurements.”

Step 3

You will have some overlap that needs to be cut out on the corners where the tapes meet.

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

Cut out the small pieces of tape that would keep your border from being continuous as shown above.

After cutting out the small pieces, your rug should look like this:

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

Step 4

Paint your border.

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

I found the best way to paint AstroTurf is with a roller. I did three coats and went in different directions with each coat to get every side of the AstroTurf fiber.

Step 5

Remove the tape around your border after your final coat. I didn’t wait for it to dry, however if you put the paint on pretty heavy, you may want to wait a bit to make sure you don’t get leakage.

Begin taping off the stripes for the inside of your border.

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

I just chose a spot in the middle of the rug to start a diagonal line with tape and went with it. Once more, I used tape as my measuring guides as you can see above.

Step 6

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

Continue with your diagonal stripes in the middle of the rug until it is covered.

It should look similar to this when its done:

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

Be sure to run tape along the white edges where your diagonal stripes meet it.

Step 7

Paint your diagonal stripes using the same method as with the border, then remove the tape.

The finished product: 

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

I love how fun this rug is. I put it on the screened-in porch for photos, but am planning on moving it to the front porch when the floor out there is finished.

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

I did somehow mess up my “tape measurements” at one point. You can see where some of my diagonal lines are skinnier than others. No biggie – nothing’s perfect around here.

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

I love the Juicy Passionfruit and stark white against the green. Its a fun, unexpected element.

DIY Painted AstroTurf Rug Tutorial via RainonaTinRoof.com #diy #rug #homedecor #outdoordecor

What do you think?

Too tacky?

If its not a little tacky, its no fun, right?!

How can you jazz up an AstroTurf rug?

Want more great ideas for rugs? Then don’t miss these 14 painted rug hacks!

Love a great cowhide rug? Here’s how I made a faux cowhide rug for about $15.

Oh, and here’s my little trick for keeping rugs from sliding on your floors.

You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.

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Filed Under: Outdoors Tagged With: painting, rug

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Comments

  1. Lindsay says

    July 8, 2014 at 6:20 am

    Love it! Looks really good – and front porch?! What are you doing to it?! I can’t keep up!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      July 8, 2014 at 8:16 am

      Thanks! I’m just fixing all the peeled off paint on the front porch! I can’t keep up either -and its my house!

      Reply
  2. April Hoff says

    July 8, 2014 at 7:48 am

    Ha! You can make an astroturf rug look good?! You really are amazing! It looks awesome! 😉

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      July 8, 2014 at 8:17 am

      haha, April! Thanks, gal!

      Reply
  3. Ashley @ 3 Little Greenwoods says

    July 8, 2014 at 8:24 am

    I’m with April in my amazement that you can make Astroturf look good! Awesome project!
    ~ Ashley

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      July 8, 2014 at 8:28 am

      haha!! Thanks, Ashley! I’m just cheap!

      Reply
      • Reta Green says

        July 21, 2016 at 12:23 pm

        great idea!love it. i would like to do this to my front porch. but will the rain not ruin the paint, since its acrylic?or is it not acrylic?duh!

        Reply
        • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

          July 21, 2016 at 2:52 pm

          The paint is latex. Where I had the rug on my porch, there wasn’t really ever any rain that go to it, so that wasn’t an issue. Hope that helps!

          Reply
  4. chris aka monkey says

    July 8, 2014 at 11:18 am

    i don’t think it is tacky at all made that cheap astro turf rug look fantastic it too reminds me of florida…gators or is it miami lol xx

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      July 8, 2014 at 4:47 pm

      Thanks, Chris! I don’t think it looks tacky either – so many people do though, which is fine – to each their own! I also like pink flamingos and many people hate them! haha!

      Reply
      • chris aka monkey says

        July 8, 2014 at 6:43 pm

        hey i am a pink flamingo freak….lately there must be a lot the price has gone up so xx

        Reply
  5. Dad says

    July 8, 2014 at 11:25 am

    Honey, With football stadiums across the country now replacing Astroturf with real grass you might be able to get some used turf @ bargain basement prices…Just a thought. Love you. Dad.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      July 8, 2014 at 4:46 pm

      Thanks for the tip, Dad!

      Reply
  6. Emily @ Two Purple Couches says

    July 14, 2014 at 3:42 pm

    This reminds me of my grandma’s back porch 🙂 It’s perfect for an outdoor porch or patio, and if you can paint cool patterns on it? Even better!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      July 14, 2014 at 4:21 pm

      Emily, that totally makes me smile that it reminds you of your grandma’s back porch! I just love sweet memories of grandparents!

      Reply
  7. heather meads says

    August 11, 2014 at 10:09 pm

    Oh my gosh that looks SO good!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      August 12, 2014 at 6:53 am

      Thanks, Heather!

      Reply
  8. Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family says

    August 12, 2014 at 7:28 am

    This rug is amazing, Jenna! You always come up with such creative projects.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      August 12, 2014 at 7:30 am

      Thank you, Megan!

      Reply
  9. Sean Gallacher says

    January 26, 2016 at 10:52 am

    I am actually looking to paint a 10’x20′ section of astroturf like a football field. How durable is the paint? i.e. foot traffic, furniture, spills, and kids?

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      January 26, 2016 at 11:13 am

      This has held up really well, Sean. I might do a few more coats than usual to give it a little extra protection.

      Reply
  10. sue kuhn says

    May 30, 2016 at 3:44 pm

    Looks great! My front porch has astro turf glued on it. what if it rains?

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      June 1, 2016 at 7:30 am

      AstroTurf is made to hold up to the elements, so it should be good. As for the paint, use an outdoor paint. And if your porch is covered, it should be even more protected!

      Reply
  11. Dani says

    June 13, 2016 at 10:52 am

    I am thinking about using your Painted Turf Rug idea for my sons new bedroom. I have redone his entire vintage baseball room without spending much money and the thought of spending $500 on a baseball field rug makes me a bit nauseated. How does the painted turf feel on your feet? I am concerned that it will be stiff and hurt his bare feet.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      June 21, 2016 at 8:25 am

      It’s definitely not the most comfortable rug on bare feet. That being said, I have walked on mine bare feet plenty of times. You could go to Home Depot or Lowe’s and get the smallest strip of astroturf you can (they sale it on those huge rolls), paint some and have him test it out.

      Reply
  12. creativejewishmom/sara says

    May 21, 2017 at 10:50 am

    I just love this, it would be great indoors too in a kid’s room. And tacky? Well not used as an area rug, only when trying to actually make it look like grass, and even then over the years I’ve come to realize that even astroturf can be preferable to a brown patch full of weeds, in the neighbor’s yard that is! Thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      May 25, 2017 at 4:31 am

      It would be fun in a kid’s room for sure!

      Reply
  13. Lisa Silfwerbrand says

    May 26, 2017 at 10:35 pm

    What a fantastic idea Jenna! It doesn’t even look like astroturf anymore! Love it. Thanks so much for linking it up to the Inspiration Galore Project Party last week! You are one of my Features this Sunday! Pinned and shared. Have a great weekend!

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      June 8, 2017 at 9:40 am

      Oh awesome! Thanks so much, Lisa!

      Reply
  14. William says

    November 2, 2017 at 4:57 am

    The rug looks great. I may consider painting our 20×20 ft. patio astroturf in another color. Have you found where you painted over the green with another color that any of it has chipped or flaked so that the green color starts showing through again?

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      November 7, 2017 at 12:45 pm

      Hi William! I don’t have this rug anymore as we moved and no longer had a place for it. However, no I didn’t have any issues with chipping or flaking while I had it.

      Reply
  15. Samantha says

    April 4, 2018 at 10:33 am

    Since it’s been some time now, how has the paint held up? Is it flaking or chipping? Also, I think it looks adorable for your outdoor space. & really, any pattern or image can be painted onto it with the right taping or stencil so that’s how people can make it their own and thats what home crafts are all about.

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      April 17, 2018 at 10:52 am

      Hi Samantha! I don’t have this rug any longer (there wasn’t a spot for it when we moved houses), but before that, it was still holding up just fine. No flaking or chipping. There was some fading from the sun, but that’s it.

      Reply
  16. Chantel Cummings says

    October 23, 2018 at 6:21 pm

    Could you use spray paint?

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      October 24, 2018 at 9:52 am

      Yes. Just be sure to tape off well to prevent overspray getting where you don’t want it.

      Reply
  17. Rhonda Gales says

    May 9, 2019 at 9:04 am

    I love, love, love your creativity and the rug is amazing. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.

    Reply

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