Rug Thug: How to Upgrade an Inexpensive Rug for $10 (in under 10 Minutes)

Rug fringe for the win! This upgrade is inexpensive, but really ups the luxury factor on rugs.

Who can resists a DIY rug project? Especially when it only costs $10?! 

Today I’m sharing a simple way to upgrade an inexpensive rug for $10 in 10 minutes! It’s so easy and makes SUCH a difference IMO. Click through to see what I’m talking about.

So, I bought this rug on Amazon a long time ago…actually, I had it outside for a short while after my balcony makeover. Only now it lives in my kitchen and it’s always bothered me that it doesn’t have any fringe on the ends.

To me, a rug with fringe just looks and feels a bit nicer and more expensive. Do you agree?

So, when I bought this rug however long ago, it was always my intention to add fringe. I just never got around to it…until now!

I went to a craft store to look for in-stock fringe to make it easy and bought a small amount of a lot of options to figure out which one(s) I would like best.

I found pom pom trim, long fringe, short fringe, tassel trim, and more – brought it home and tucked each one underneath the end of the rug to see which one would be the best match until I landed on a favorite.

One of the things I love most about this project is that you can do it for ANY size rug.

It will change the final cost of materials a little bit, depending on how much yardage you need.

But no matter what the size, this hack is an affordable option that will help elevate virtually any rug.

Here’s how to make your own…

How to Upgrade an Inexpensive Rug for $10

Materials

• inexpensive rug
• fringe trim, pom pom trim, etc
• needle and thread OR no-sew tape

(Instructions) How to Add Fringe to Any Rug

To add fringe or trim like mine to an inexpensive rug, all you need is a needle and thread, scissors, and the trim itself. Easy as can be.

Just cut the fringe / trim down to the correct length for your rug. I just tucked mine partially under the rug ends to determine the length.

Then, thread the needle and sew the fringe / trim to the end of the rug with a basic stitch or whipstitch.

When finished, double or triple knot each end and remove any excess thread or trim.

No-Sew Fringe Option

OR as a no-sew option, you can also use an iron-on no sew tape instead of a needle and thread. Pretty easy, right?

What kind of trim or fringe should I use?

When I started playing around with the different trim options, there were a few options I liked.

The idea of the long fringe mixed with the pom pom trim seemed kinda cool, but it didn’t quite feel like it fit my vibe OR the vibe of the rug.

So, I landed on a medium length fringe with some interesting detailing and no pom poms.

But there are sooooo many options out there – and some are even less expensive than the one I landed on.

Ex: That tiny tassel fringe in the photo came on a 6 ft spool and was $6 total…that’s a dollar per foot. Not bad!

And the fringe that I chose was $6.99 a yard and I needed 4 total ft, so it ended up costing almost exactly $10 for the one I selected.

Now that you know this DIY rug hack, here are some inexpensive rug suggestions if you need a little inspo.

1. Hannah printed rug starting at $99
2. Tantuvi No 20 hemp rug starting at $109
3. Brighton rug starting at $99
4. Diamond lines shag rug starting at $189
5. Ruby tufted rug starting at $149
6. Porter woven + tufted rug $149 for a 5×7
7. Tantuvi No 17 hemp rug starting at $109
8. Teu printed rug starting at $99
9. Moore leather woven rag rug starting at $89

I absolutely have to have rug #2 on this list btw. It’s not something I would normally choose, but I just love it!

See a rug on this list that you’d recreate this DIY rug hack on? Curious to know which ones are your favorites?

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How to Upgrade an Inexpensive Rug for $10

Who can resists a DIY rug project? Especially when it only costs $10?!  Today I'm sharing a simple way to upgrade an inexpensive rug for $10 in 10 minutes! It's so easy and makes SUCH a difference IMO. Click through to see what I'm talking about.

Total Time1 hour hr

Keyword: diy, diy rug, fringe, home decor, rug

Author: Brittni

Cost: $10

Ingredients

• inexpensive rug
• fringe trim, pom pom trim, etc
• needle and thread OR no-sew tape

Instructions

• To add fringe or trim like mine to an inexpensive rug, all you need is a needle and thread, scissors, and the trim itself. Easy as can be.
• Just cut the fringe / trim down to the correct length for your rug. I just tucked mine partially under the rug ends to determine the length.
• Then, thread the needle and sew the fringe / trim to the end of the rug with a basic stitch or whipstitch.
• When finished, double or triple knot each end and remove any excess thread or trim.
• No-Sew Fringe Option: OR as a no-sew option, you can also use an iron-on no sew tape instead of a needle and thread. Pretty easy, right?

Notes

What kind of trim or fringe should I use?

• When I started playing around with the different trim options, there were a few options I liked. The idea of the long fringe mixed with the pom pom trim seemed kinda cool, but it didn't quite feel like it fit my vibe OR the vibe of the rug.
• So, I landed on a medium length fringe with some interesting detailing and no pom poms. But there are sooooo many options out there - and some are even less expensive than the one I landed on.
• Ex: That tiny tassel fringe in the photo came on a 6 ft spool and was $6 total...that's a dollar per foot. Not bad!
• And the fringe that I chose was $6.99 a yard and I needed 4 total ft, so it ended up costing almost exactly $10 for the one I selected.

Tried this recipe?Mention @paperandstitch or tag #paperandstitch!

Think you’ll give this DIY rug hack a try? ALSO, would you have gone with the trim fringe I chose or something else?

Let me know in the comments below.