Woman Turns A Rug Into That Cutest Front Door Decor That Isn't A Wreath

A rug hanging on a front door? Now that's a new twist on a door mat — and one of many stylish ways to decorate with rugs that don't involve floors. Don't worry: the rug gets a makeover in this idea from Canterbury Cottage. The creator transforms a chindi rug into a pouch with a water jug inside to give it shape. Then, you can fill it with flowers and hang it on your front door. It incorporates floral elements often found on traditional wreaths, but it's a completely different presentation that will make your visitors stop and notice your creativity.

Never heard of a chindi rug? You've definitely seen one. It's a rug made of old cloth strips that are twisted or braided together to create a colorful textured floor covering. You might know it as a rag rug since it's essentially made up of colorful rags. It's very fitting with the eclectic boho style and offers a cozy, casual look with lots of color. This type of rug is also flexible since it's made of cloth, so it's easy to shape into a sack. To keep the costs low, upcycle a rag rug you already have or thrift one. You can often find new chindi rugs for under $10.

Depending on the size of your rug, you may need a pair of sharp scissors to cut it down to size. You'll also need hot glue to seal up the seams. The real fun comes in when you add the embellishments. The inspiration project features buttons and a bow made of fabric strips on the side, along with a fabric strap used as a hanger. You can add other detailing, like fringe or ribbon, to customize the look for your front door.

To make the flower pouch, fold the rug in half — if your rug is too big, cut it to size first. Test the sizing by folding the rug over until you get to the ideal size and cutting off the excess. To get a decorative finished edge, use one end of the rug as the top of the pouch, so the fringe is visible. Hot glue along the sides and bottom to create the pouch. Once the glue hardens, flip the pouch inside out, so you get smooth seams on the outside.

In the original, the creator rolls the top over to make the fringe visible — adjust how far you want to roll it over and use hot glue to hold it in place. Now you can embellish it. Buttons, faux flowers, ribbon flowers, gemstones, and bows are examples. To personalize the display, add a little wooden sign with a greeting, your street address, or your last name. If your rug doesn't have much fringe, sew or glue tassels, fringe, or fabric trim along the edges. Glue a long piece of ribbon or braided fabric to the top to create a loop-like handle. 

To give the pouch a little more shape, cut the top off of a gallon-size water jug or use a small plastic bucket inside the pouch. Then, add water and put fresh flowers in the display. For a low-maintenance option, arrange faux or dried flowers inside the door display. You can also swap out the decorations for the holidays since the flowers aren't permanently attached. Hang it up for a cuter way to decorate your front door without traditional wreaths or garlands.