Hand Painted Floorcloths are relatively new in the world of home decor,and to us,  but can offer great balance to a room as an accent or a focal point. They can also be hung on a wall as an alternative to a full mural. Like cut outs, they offer flexibility to a person who doesn't want to be locked into a theme forever. If it is outgrown, or becomes outdated, simply take it down and move on. The floorcloth shown below was our test drive, as it were, and turned out great. It fits perfectly in the pirate themed room it was painted for. 

     

  
How are they made?   We start with a sturdy roll of primed canvas. The next step is to fold the hem  and tape it down with carpet tape. Then we paint the image, trim, and/or pattern using acrylic paint. After the paint is good and dry, usually 24 hours, we apply two to three  coats of clear varnish to protect the cloth. Finally, we add two coats of clear wax and buff it until it is good and shiny.

        


The Phantom Tollbooth is the theme of the floorcloth below. An eighth grade teacher approached me about painting the map in the front of the book for her classroom. Unfortunately, her principle wouldn't let her paint it directly on the walls. Our solution was to do it on a floorcloth. That way she could take it down when the unit was over.