How to Decorate With a Painter's Canvas Dropcloth

Question

A painter's canvas dropcloth refers to a large piece of material that you drape on the floor or over furniture before painting to protect these areas from splattered paint colors. However, there's no reason why this piece of material can't be used as a decorative focal point instead of as a functional, protective item. Think of this dropcloth as an enormous blank canvas that you're free to decorate in any manner you like.

Answer 1

1
    Sweep or vacuum the floor of your work area. Spread the dropcloth on the floor. Smooth out any wrinkles.

    2
    Lay your stencils flat on the dropcloth. You can use one large stencil or several stencils creating rows of patterns on your dropcloth. For example, you could use a stencil cutout depicting the face of a celebrity or several ivy-shaped stencils.

    3
    Tape the stencils in place with painter's tape once you have them where you want them. Select two paint colors; one of these colors should reflect the color scheme of the room.

    4
    Open all the windows and shake the spray paint cans. Spray your stencils in place.

    5
    Dip a 3-inch nylon brush in a contrasting paint color. Shake the brush over the canvas, creating decorative paint splatters. This will give the entire dropcloth an artsy look. Allow it to dry overnight.

    6
    Cut holes 2 inches apart along the top of the dropcloth with scissors or a utility knife. Thread a piece of twine or cord through the holes, knotting the cord at each extreme end of the dropcloth.

    7
    Thread a curtain rod through the loops created by the cord or twine. Now you have a very bohemian looking curtain for a window in your room. When pulled back, the curtain looks understated. When flat, the curtain is bold and colorful.