Ever wanted to put a rug somewhere, but you just couldn’t find the right size? Odd shaped areas can be tricky, but you can cut down a rug to fit exactly where you need it in no time at all. With only a marker, a yard stick, utility knife and a hot glue gun, get the perfect size rug to fit your space in just a few minutes.
First measure from the corner in however much you want to trim on each end. I wanted to trim off two inches, so I marked two inches in on each side.
Then draw a line from end to end to mark your cut line.
Next, take a utility knife and cut along the line (using a sharp blade is the key to a clean cut.)
Lastly, run a thick line of hot glue, right on the edge, to seal the rug fibers to the matting of the rug. Let it completely cool and you’re done. You can customize your rug to fit your space in about five minutes – and it’s so easy that anyone can do it.
Just what I was wondering about..rather then pay a pretty sum for rug I love but not the correct size..then here comes Your post. Perfect Thanks a Million Gina! Smiles.Cindy
Oh, Gina! From the title of this post, I had visions of you pulling out the lawn mower! 🙂 Thanks for the practical advise, as usual. Have a great day!
Great idea!
This is awesome. I have a shag rug from Ikea that looks very similar to the one you did. My old cat was sick and had an accident on the floor next to it, and of course it soaked into the rug. I rolled it up and dragged it into our laundry room. We’ve tried everything to get it out, including saturating it with a gallon of Nature’s Miracle. I just didn’t feel comfortable putting it back out into the family room for fear that one of our cats would smell it and pee on it again. I didn’t want to throw it away because I really liked it, it was practically new and it wasn’t terribly inexpensive for us. After a year of tripping over the rolled rug, I finally decided to make a last ditch effort to save it and googled “Can you cut an area rug”. Thank you, thank you!!! I’m sure you had no idea someone would use your idea for that purpose but it really helped save our favorite little rug…makes our basement theater so cozy!
hi! i had a large rectangle area shag rug i wanted to cut in half and make into a long runner. everyone told me not to do it and said i would ruin the rug. i went online to get some tips anyway and your tips and encouragement were the best. i followed your super easy and clear guidelines and voila i now have a new runner rug! thank you!
Awesome Elli, good for you!! So glad you found it helpful 🙂
What happens to the loops that get cut in half haphazardly from the pile side up. Won’t it look eneven and be difficult to glue
No it all works out fine Maggie, good luck 🙂
What happens when you wash the rug? Does the superglue come out? What about multiple washes?
Thanks.
I haven’t had to wash it much, it’s in an area that doesn’t get much traffic. Wash on gentle and don’t put it in the dryer. You can always re apply the glue if you notice fraying 🙂
Thank you.
Brilliant post Gina! Am about to get my ruler, utility knife and glue out to change a rectangular rug into a round one! Thanks so much.
Ha ha, thanks Marie, good luck!!
Hi Gina I have a tight pile deep rug ( one you can poke your fingers in )! So more thick carpet. Can I cut that down in the same way?? Xx
I would think so Nikki but you may want to try it in a small section before you do the whole thing just to be safe 🙂
Hi Gina,
How has your trimmed rug held up over time?
It has held up great Jessica!
I am so excited and relieved right now. We moved into our older house and had to pull up carpets. We decided to lay nice plywood and polyurethane for the new floors in all of the bedrooms. I really like rustic and different and am happy with them, but it was our first time and so they didn’t turn out exactly as I wanted. but they still look good. Anywho…..we decided to purchase almost room size rugs for each room to add warmth. I found and ordered a 15′ x 12′ shag rug and it arrived as a 15′ x 14′. Not gonna lie, I had anxiety and a bit of sadness because of this. Then, I stumbled across this blog and add insta smile….I am trying it this weekend. Thank you, thank you!!
Oh yea! So glad I could help, good luck Becky!
Would it be plausible to only cut 2 sides and leave the other two as is? Mine is a front entry way and I can put the cut edges against a wall and the bottom of the stairs. Thanks!
I don’t see why not Patty 🙂
Thank you so much! I used a round shag carpet next to my banquette seating and needed the end that touched the banquette to be squared off. Your technique worked brilliantly and I’ve never seen a seating area look so perfect! Thanks for giving me the confidence to try this!
Oh yea!! I am so happy it was helpful to you Barbara 🙂