This updated how-to explains making a painted canvas floor cloth. Key steps: prime the canvas, apply an even basecoat, transfer the design with a projector or grid, paint details (use multiple thin coats for coverage), and seal the surface with a water-based polyurethane or acrylic floor varnish. Finish hems with fabric glue or staples and add a non-slip pad for stability.
Overview
A painted canvas floor cloth is a durable, portable alternative to rugs and a great way to add custom pattern and color to a room. This guide covers materials, preparation, image transfer, painting techniques, sealing, and finishing edges so your floor cloth looks professional and lasts.
Materials and tools
- Pre-primed canvas (or untreated canvas + acrylic gesso)
- Exterior or interior acrylic latex paint (for base and design)
- Foam roller (for basecoat)
- Projector or printed pattern and lightbox
- Nonmarring painter's tape
- Pencil or white charcoal pencil (for dark backgrounds)
- Flat, rounded "cat's tongue" brush for detail
- Foam brush or small rollers for varnish
- Water-based polyurethane or acrylic floor varnish (clear)
- Fabric glue or stapler and decorative trim for finished edges
- Non-slip pad for underlayer
Prep the canvas
Start with a pre-primed canvas sized slightly larger than the finished mat; leave about a 1-inch allowance on all sides for finishing the edges. If the canvas is not primed, apply one coat of acrylic gesso and let it dry.
Roll a single even basecoat of acrylic latex or exterior acrylic paint with a foam roller. Cover the entire surface and let it dry thoroughly (follow the paint manufacturer's dry time). A lighter base makes tracing and multiple color layers easier.
Transfer the design
Hang the canvas vertically on a flat surface in a room that can be darkened; use nonmarring tape or soft clips to avoid damaging the canvas. Place your digital projector or projector unit on a stable surface and scale the image until it fits the canvas. (Projector throw distance varies by model; adjust until the image fills the area you want.)
Trace the projected image lightly with a pencil or, on dark bases, a white charcoal pencil. If you prefer not to use a projector, enlarge a printed pattern and grid it for transfer.
Painting the design
Use a cat's tongue brush to paint inside the traced lines. For light colors over dark bases, expect to apply two thin coats rather than one heavy coat. Keep brush strokes smooth and let each coat dry fully before adding the next.
Work from larger areas to smaller details and clean your brushes between color changes to avoid muddying colors.
Seal for durability
When the paint is completely dry, apply a clear, durable sealer suitable for floors - most commonly a water-based polyurethane or an acrylic floor varnish. Apply at least two to three thin coats, sanding lightly between coats if recommended by the sealer manufacturer. Follow the product's cure time before placing the cloth on the floor - many sealers reach full hardness after several days.
Finish the edges and installation
Fold under a 1-inch hem on each side; for mitered corners, cut small triangles from the fold and secure with fabric glue or a neat row of staples hidden with trim. Add a thin non-slip pad beneath the finished cloth to prevent shifting.
Tips
- Used pattern books and online pattern libraries are good sources for motifs.
- If the canvas wrinkles, roll it around a tube and leave it weighted to relax.
- Test the sealer on a scrap before committing to the whole piece.