Transform painter’s drop cloths into beautiful decor with 23 budget friendly DIY ideas including pillows, pumpkins, curtains, rugs, storage and more.
Hi there friends! Sometimes the most ordinary thing turns out to be one of the BEST things to have tucked away in your craft room.
Case in point… the humble painter’s drop cloth!
Who would ever imagine that something created to catch drips of paint could become gorgeous pillows, Fall pumpkins, curtains, table linens, storage, rugs, furniture makeovers and even a fabulous tote bag?
But that is exactly why I have always loved drop cloth DIY projects. The fabric is simple, neutral, sturdy and wonderfully budget friendly… and somehow it manages to feel right at home in Farmhouse, Cottage, French Country and even more modern spaces.
This has been a longtime Cottage Market favorite, so I thought it was time to go back through the collection, keep the projects that still make us say WOW, add some fabulous new inspiration and give the whole thing a fresh new look.
There are some absolute beauties waiting for you today!
So grab your favorite cup of something delicious and let’s see just how many things we can create from one simple painter’s drop cloth.
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A Few Things To Know Before Crafting With Drop Cloth
Before we start creating, here are a few little tips that can make working with drop cloth even easier.
Wash it first. Drop cloth can shrink, so prewashing is especially important if you are making curtains, pillows, upholstery or anything where the finished size matters.
Check the fabric before cutting. Different drop cloths can vary a little in color, thickness and texture, and you may occasionally find an imperfection in the weave.
Use those finished edges whenever you can. Many drop cloths already have hemmed edges, and sometimes you can position your project so those hems do part of the work for you.
Do not be afraid to paint it. Drop cloth is a fabulous canvas for stencils, stripes, hand painted designs, stamps and all kinds of creative treatments.
Most of all… experiment!
It is inexpensive enough that you can have a little fun without worrying about ruining an expensive piece of fabric.
Now let’s CREATE!
Gorgeous Drop Cloth DIY Projects You Will Want To Try
Pillows, pumpkins, flowers, totes, rugs and other creative projects that show just how pretty this humble canvas can become.
DIY Drop Cloth Rosette Pillow Cover | Thrifty & Chic
Oh my goodness friends… we are starting with a SHOWSTOPPER!
Alicia created this absolutely gorgeous pillow with individual drop cloth roses in different sizes, and the finished piece looks like something you would find in a beautiful Cottage boutique. It is soft, romantic, dimensional and completely unexpected from such a humble fabric.
Once you learn how to make those wonderful little roses, I have a feeling you are going to start dreaming up all kinds of other places to use them too!
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DIY Drop Cloth Pumpkin Topiary | At Home With Chic & Grace
Now THIS is a pumpkin project!
These wonderful rustic drop cloth pumpkins are stacked into a fabulous topiary that makes such a statement on the porch. You can personalize them with ribbon, greenery, tags, stamps and all kinds of Fall touches so they work perfectly with your own decorating style.
I especially love a project that can come back year after year and be styled a little differently each time.
This one is definitely going on the Fall wish list!
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Primitive Farmhouse DIY Sunflowers From Drop Cloth | DIY Beautify
Could these be any more perfect as we head toward Fall?
Cindy wanted her handmade sunflowers to have an aged primitive feeling, so she gave the drop cloth a coffee stained finish before turning it into these wonderful blooms.
Tuck them into a basket… add them to a wreath… place a few in an old crock or mix them into your Fall vignettes.
So many possibilities!
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Handmade Drop Cloth and Recycled Sweater Tote | What Meegan Makes
Talk about making something fabulous from things you may already have!
Meegan combines painter’s drop cloth with a recycled cable knit sweater, lace and beautiful trims to create a tote that looks anything but budget friendly.
I love all that texture and personality.
Farmer’s market… beach… craft supplies… flowers… this pretty bag can go just about anywhere.
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DIY Painted Drop Cloth Rug | Twelve On Main
Yes friends… that is a DROP CLOTH!
Sara transforms simple canvas into a wonderful painted rug, and I love the fact that this idea can be customized endlessly.
Create stripes… a stencil… a geometric pattern… something seasonal… or simply choose colors that work beautifully with your room.
Once you see how it is done, your imagination is going to take over.
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Hand Painted Drop Cloth Table Runner | The Ponds Farmhouse
Rachel gives us another reason to pull out the paint brushes!
A simple strip of drop cloth becomes a beautiful custom table runner with a little hand painted magic.
Think about how easily you could change the design for Fall… Christmas… Spring… a birthday… a special dinner… or simply something that coordinates with your everyday decor.
Your table is your canvas!
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Drop Cloth Tablecloth Cubby | Geneva Vanderzeil
I LOVE THIS!
A simple drop cloth becomes an entire little playhouse that fits over a table.
Windows… doors… pockets… little decorative details… you can make it as simple or elaborate as you want.
If you have children or grandchildren, can you imagine how much fun they would have inside their very own little house?
This one gets extra points for pure imagination!
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No Sew Painter’s Cloth Utensil Holders | Debbiedoo’s
NO SEW!!!
You know those are two words we love to hear.
Debbie combines painter’s cloth, fabric scraps, jute and hot glue to make these adorable little utensil holders.
They would be so charming for a picnic… casual dinner… buffet… party… or even a holiday table with the fabric changed to match the occasion.
Cute, quick and budget friendly!
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Printed Drop Cloth Fabric Bookmarks | The Crazy Craft Lady
This little project teaches us something that can be used in a million other ways.
Aimee shows how to print onto drop cloth fabric and then turns it into charming bookmarks.
But don’t stop there!
Imagine handmade tags… labels… ornaments… journal pieces… little signs… gift embellishments and so much more.
Sometimes the smallest tutorial opens the biggest crafting door.
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Distressed Drop Cloth Covered Books | Love Grows Wild
Grab those thrift store books!
Liz covers ordinary books with canvas and gives the fabric a distressed finish that makes the finished stack look wonderfully aged and Farmhouse cozy.
Stack them on a mantel… coffee table… shelf… nightstand… or use them to give a little height to a favorite vignette.
Simple and so pretty.
SourceClever Drop Cloth Ideas for Your Home
Practical decorating and storage projects that put inexpensive painter’s canvas to work all around the house.
Recover Chair Seats With Drop Cloth | Petticoat Junktion
Here is one of our NEW additions, and it absolutely belongs here.
Kathy gives an outdated table and chairs a whole new look and uses inexpensive drop cloth to recover the seats.
What a great option for thrifted chairs!
The neutral canvas works beautifully with painted furniture and gives you an inexpensive way to replace tired or dated seat fabric.
Another reminder to NEVER walk away from a good chair just because you hate the upholstery!
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DIY Grommet Drop Cloth Porch Shade | Farmhouse 40
How clever is THIS!
A hemmed painter’s drop cloth, some grommets and a few hooks become an inexpensive shade for a sunny porch.
No sewing required!
It is simple… practical… neutral… removable… and worlds less complicated than installing a permanent outdoor shade.
I especially love DIY projects that solve a real problem around the house.
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Drop Cloth Curtains | Thistlewood Farms
Drop cloth curtains are classics for a reason.
You get all that wonderful neutral fabric and those long relaxed folds without buying yards and yards of expensive decorator material.
KariAnne shares tons of helpful information about creating the look, including options that make these surprisingly approachable.
They are Farmhouse… Cottage… casual… and wonderfully timeless.
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DIY Wire Hamper With Drop Cloth Laundry Bag | Simply Beautiful By Angela
Pretty AND practical gets me every time.
Angela combines a handmade wire hamper with a canvas laundry bag and creates something that would look fabulous in a laundry room, bath or bedroom.
But why stop with laundry?
Blankets… toys… pillows… stuffed animals… all those things that seem to wander around the house suddenly have somewhere to go.
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DIY Canvas Storage Tote Using a 5 Gallon Bucket | Farmhouse On Boone
There is a five gallon bucket under there!
Can you believe it?
Lisa transforms an ordinary bucket into a fabulous canvas storage tote with drop cloth and handles.
I can picture these holding toys… craft supplies… blankets… laundry… magazines… yarn and about 1001 other things.
A wonderfully thrifty organizing idea!
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DIY Grain Sack Pillow From a Drop Cloth | Tidbits
Every great drop cloth collection needs a little grain sack inspiration.
Cami recreates that classic vintage grain sack look on inexpensive drop cloth and turns it into a beautiful throw pillow.
Neutral… timeless… relaxed… and easy to mix into so many decorating styles.
I don’t think Farmhouse pillows ever go out of style!
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DIY Gathered Drop Cloth Bed Skirt | Tidbits
Can you believe how soft and pretty a basic painter’s cloth can look?
This full gathered bed skirt gives a bedroom that wonderfully relaxed Cottage feeling without requiring expensive fabric.
Cami walks through the process step by step so you can recreate the look at home.
So much decorating impact from such a basic material!
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Drop Cloth Rosette Stool | Confessions of a Serial DIYer
Our gorgeous rosette pillow has a little Country French cousin!
Christy covers this stool with rows of handmade drop cloth rosettes and creates the sweetest textured piece.
Once again, it is amazing how romantic and elegant painter’s canvas can become when it is manipulated in a completely unexpected way.
Ooh la la!
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Personalized Drop Cloth Dog Bed | Jones Design Company
Of COURSE we had to keep this one!
This oversized personalized dog bed looks like one big heavenly cloud, and I don’t know too many pups who would turn that down.
Drop cloth makes such a practical choice for a project that is meant to be lived on and loved.
Our furry family members deserve a little DIY too!
SourceBeautiful Drop Cloth Ideas for the Table
Simple table linens with relaxed Farmhouse and French Country personality.
No Sew Drop Cloth Napkins | Maison de Pax
Did somebody say NO SEW again?
Rachel creates wonderfully relaxed Farmhouse napkins with pretty frayed edges and proves that a beautiful table certainly does not have to cost a fortune.
Add a little twine… greenery… dried flowers… ribbon… or whatever fits the season.
Simple really can be beautiful.
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Drop Cloth French Cafe Placemats | Farmhouse 40
Time for a little ooh la la!
These French inspired placemats dress up simple drop cloth with beautiful graphics and give that basic canvas a totally different personality.
They are charming without feeling fussy and would look wonderful mixed with simple white dishes and vintage finds.
Très jolie!
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French Country Drop Cloth Tablecloth | Old Things New
And here is proof that painter’s drop cloth can even look ELEGANT.
This beautiful tablecloth has that relaxed French Country feeling that can be dressed up for a special gathering or left casual for everyday life.
I love projects that blur the line between fancy and comfortable.
It is exactly what Cottage decorating does best.
SourceAnd One Little Holiday Idea…
One easy no sew idea to tuck away for Christmas crafting season.
No Sew Drop Cloth Christmas Trees | Do Dodson Designs
We couldn’t possibly talk about all the things drop cloth can become without sneaking in one little Christmas project!
Do turns tiny pieces of canvas into wonderfully full neutral Christmas trees, and there is no sewing involved.
Create one… or make yourself an entire little forest for a mantel, shelf, buffet or holiday table.
Just tuck this one away for when the Christmas crafting bug hits!
SourceWho Knew a Painter’s Drop Cloth Could Do All That?
I think that is what makes these projects so much fun.
A painter’s drop cloth is about as ordinary as a craft supply can get.
It wasn’t designed to become a beautiful pillow… a pumpkin topiary… a curtain… a table runner… a tote bag… a rug… or a cozy bed for one very lucky pup.
But give creative people a simple piece of fabric and just look what happens!
And maybe that is one of the things I love most about DIY.
Making your home feel special does not have to mean spending a fortune.
Sometimes the best projects begin with something inexpensive… ordinary… overlooked… or already sitting in the garage.
I hope you found a few ideas today that made you say, “I HAVE to try that!”
A huge THANK YOU to all of these incredibly talented creators for sharing their creativity and tutorials with us. Be sure to visit them for all of the instructions and spend a little time exploring while you are there.
I know they would love to have you!
ENJOY & CREATE!
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So much drop cloth goodness! Thank you for all the great ideas & inspiration Andrea 🙂
Love all of the drop cloth ideas! The curtains are fabulous! Would love to do that at my sliding back door!
Your sofa looks just like mine! I have a 3 piece sectional. My windows sport the black and white buffalo check.
I am more of the Farmstyle type chic. Hubby says no, he is still stuck on country!
I have the drop cloths, now I must get busy! Thanks for all these ideas!
Where to start? So many great ideas. I’m totally redoing our new house that was last redecorated in the late 80s. I am definitely using several of these ideas. Thanks Andrea.
Hi there Lizbeth! I wish you nothing but fun while you are redoing your new home! Sounds like a challenge…but I know you will make it YOUR OWN!!! ENJOY! Sending hugs and wishes for a fabulous day!