DIY Faux Fur Rug Tutorial

Faux fur is a favorite element of mine – it adds a soft touch to any room and can dress up a chair, bench, couch – you name it! I also like how common this material has become. Today, you can buy faux fur in almost any color imaginable, and some faux fur material has a really great quality and texture so it can appear very expensive.

Another reason I like this material is because while it is super on trend right now, it is also an element that never seems to go out of style. I have much older pieces that are made of faux fur, like pillows and blankets, so I know this rug is a staple I can create and keep for years to come.

This project is such a fun one in that you can decide every single thing about it – from the color of the materials to the size and, in my opinion, the most important element of the shape.

Materials needed:

• Faux fur
• Fabric underlay
• Hot glue
• Marker

Steps to Making a DIY Faux Fur (Flokati) Rug

Step 1

Determine the rug size and shape and cut fabric underlay.

Determine the desired shape and size of your finished rug and use a marker and Fiskars® ruler, if necessary, to draw an outline on the back of the fabric underlay.

I wanted an organic feel to my rug, so I decided to free-hand draw my end rug outcome. Because I was creating such a large rug, I decided to work on the floor of my craft room. Use a Fiskars® shears to cut along the marked lines.

Step 2

Cut faux fur.

Flip over your faux fur so the fur is facing your surface. Lay the fabric underlay on top of the upside down faux fur and use it as an outline to cut the faux fur to shape and size, again using the shears. This is the perfect tool for this project as it can cut super thick materials with ease.

Step 3

Glue the underlay to the bottom of the rug.

Use a hot glue gun to adhere the cut underlay to the bottom of the faux fur you just cut to size. Remove any excess fur by shaking out the finished rug before placing on the floor and using.

What is a flokati?

A flokati is a handmade, usually off-white, shag wool rug that continues to be made today in different parts of the world. While this project isn't a true flokati, I did take inspiration from traditional flokatis as I was thinking through this DIY. To make a true flokati, you would need a lot more time (and patience!) to hand-weave wool into your desired shape. The end product would have a rougher texture and wouldn't have any backing. I opted for the simpler version, but you can certainly try out the real thing!

How much do the materials for this project cost?

The total cost of this project is about $30, which is around one tenth of the cost of buying a faux fur rug in some stores!