Yesterday, I finished up one more big project for my bathroom makeover. I made a floral hand painted floor cloth.
You have no idea how hard it was for me to not do stripes. Stripes are my go-to design for projects like this. They have great impact in a room, and they’re incredibly easy to do. And most importantly, I love how stripes look. But this time, I forced myself to do something different. I made myself step out of my comfort zone and tackle a different kind of design altogether.
The design was inspired by this fabric from Calico Corners that a reader suggested as an accent on my shower curtain on this post. (Thanks, Nancy!)
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I loved the idea of big, bold flowers and leaves, but I wanted mine to have a little more variation in color. So I ended up using four different paint colors (not including the brown for the stems), and I mixed in lots of white for more variation.
I painted the whole thing freehand, and as you can see, the shapes are really very basic, like the kind I drew in elementary school. 🙂 But it’s the white paint that really gave these little flowers and leaves life.
I essentially used the same method that I used to make this floor cloth for my kitchen. But this time, I made sure to select a vinyl floor remnant that was perfectly smooth on back. (My last one had little “dimples” all over the back, which were basically dirt suction cups, and made it a nightmare to clean.)
But if you’re not artsy, and don’t think you can paint your own flowers and leaves, you can always use this easy method for making a floor cloth from fabric.
So that leaves me with one major project left in this bathroom makeover — the shower curtain. And sadly, I’m still not settled on a design. I’m clearly making this much harder than it should be!! I think I’ll head over and read all of your suggestions again and see if I can make a decision.
32 Comments
Ann Yaconis
March 6, 2013 at 10:31 amHow cool is this! Love those happy little flowers. Great Job
Brenda
March 6, 2013 at 10:59 amThe before/after on your bath will be so dramatic. I was actually going looking for the before when I saw that you had posted your floor cloth and I was “floored!” I’m glad you mentioned stripes, I had absolutely expected stripes but love your happy flowers.
Nancy
March 6, 2013 at 10:18 amYay! It’s so pretty!
And thanks for the shoutout!
Jen L.
March 6, 2013 at 12:03 pmI LOVE that!! It’s so cute! And I love the wood shelves above your toilet! Your bathroom makeover has been so fun to read about – you have such great ideas.
Cim Allen
March 6, 2013 at 12:46 pmThe rug turned out AMAZING !! Is there nothing you can’t do ??!?!!? 🙂
Brandi
March 6, 2013 at 1:26 pmIt beautiful, Kristi!!
Jean
March 6, 2013 at 1:50 pmLove it!!! The design is great!
Kelly Palmer
March 6, 2013 at 3:14 pmWow! Love love love this! It is so beautiful and I wish that I had one just like it for my bathroom. I don’t think that I could paint one to look like yours though 🙂 Still cannot wait to see what you come up with for the shower curtain.
Theresa
March 6, 2013 at 3:25 pmJust a thought on the shower curtain……..I love what you did with the flowers, what an awesome project………what about incorporating the stripes that you love with some of the flowers you have used……..smaller of course……..just a thought
Lisa
March 6, 2013 at 8:24 pmI love it! Your bathroom is so cheery!
Diane | An Extraordinary Day
March 6, 2013 at 8:27 pmI love it when you put your creative painting hat one. The rug is perfect!!
Gloria Daly
March 6, 2013 at 8:48 pmLoveeee! So cute. Love the colors & the simple flower design. Looks great!
Jamie K
March 6, 2013 at 9:27 pmLOOOVE it! You did an amazing job!
Dria @ Dio
March 6, 2013 at 9:33 pmWOW that came out fantastic, you did a wonderful job, I actually like your design better then your inspiration, love the design it is beautiful!
Margo
March 6, 2013 at 9:55 pmCan you give a little more of a tutorial on this rug please? What type of cloth, paints, etc.?
Thanks.
Mrs Mike
March 6, 2013 at 9:57 pmAs always. AMAZING!! 🙂
Sheri
March 7, 2013 at 2:08 amAwesome! You’re so creative and talented!
Leena Lanteigne
March 7, 2013 at 3:59 amThis is wonderful! So well done and the colors are great with your new bath scheme! Way to go! Hugs, Leena
Carol-Anne
March 7, 2013 at 6:27 amThis bathroom makeover has been sooooo much fun to follow! It’s turned out beautifully!
Mary Claire
March 7, 2013 at 9:21 amDirections?
Deb @ Lake Girl Paints
March 7, 2013 at 9:48 amHi Kristi,
Very cool project! I know what you mean about stripes. That’s my style too.
I really appreciate all of your blogging tips! Gosh, your Alexa number is really getting good girl! I am teaching myself HTML thanks to you.
Much appreciation!
Deb
Sue
March 7, 2013 at 5:32 pmPut a paintbrush in your hand and it’s magic!!! : ) Put a paintbrush in my hand and it’s like kryptonite to Superman! : ( This painted rug looks amazing (sorry to use the same adjective repeatedly) and I can hardly wait to see the completed bathroom. Keep on working your magic.
Jessica Sala
March 7, 2013 at 9:06 pmGorgeous!!!
Gilmer Gal
March 8, 2013 at 1:55 pmAhhhh, I can see this little gem perfectly accentuating your artwork. Great idea. How did you seal the paint, or did you?
Gilmer Gal
March 8, 2013 at 1:57 pmI guess I mean to say the the rug accentuates the wall art you did.
Kristi Linauer
March 9, 2013 at 1:30 amI actually haven’t sealed it yet, but I do plan on using two or three coats of non-yellowing varnish on top.
Miss Charming
March 9, 2013 at 1:51 amOh, I love the florals! It turned out so pretty, Kristi. It looks perfect with the sink cabinet color.
Janet
March 11, 2013 at 6:23 amI love it! You should do a video tutorial on how to paint the flowers. I look forward to seeing the completed bathroom 🙂
20-Day Small Bathroom Makeover – Before and After
March 12, 2013 at 12:50 pm[…] I would never have been able to find a patterned rug with the perfect colors in it, I opted to make another painted floor cloth, this time with flowers and leaves rather than my go-to stripes that I seem to use on everything. […]
Justina Swann
May 14, 2013 at 8:12 amThis is gorgeous and I would absolutely love to try it myself! I saw that with your kitchen stripped vinyl, you white washed followed with semi gloss brush laquer then finished with clear matte spray. Did you use those three with your bathroom vinyl piece?
*I read above that you hadn’t sealed it yet, but that is necessary, not just for gloss but to protect it?
Thanks for your feedback!
Debi
December 19, 2013 at 6:16 amVERY impressive!
Sara Hanthorn
January 19, 2015 at 8:53 pmHow do you keep the edges of the vinyl from curling?