Blog Projects 009, originally uploaded by kellyinbernal.
My 103 year old house has a winding road of a hallway. I love it. But when it came to putting down a runner it was a real challenge. I simply could not find anything I liked for a price that felt ok. My local carpet store could cut and bind a runner for me – for $400. I wasn’t interested. Then I stumbled upon several craft geniuses who had posted their own DIY carpet runners – Flor style. Inspired, I went to my local carpet store, received several carpet squares for free, and set about placing them in a pattern until I found something I liked. I did consult my artistic boyfriend and one of my fellow crafters on the design before settling on the pattern you see in the picture.
How did we do it?
(1) Go to carpet store and ask for freebies. It was actually incredibly easy to get co-ordinating squares since most samples are part of a collection.
(2) Buy duct tape or carpet tape. We tried both. Duct tape us better.
(3) Buy a Carpet pad that you can cut to size. This is actually the most critical element because it keeps the squares from shifting. The tape will not hold unless you have the help of a carpet pad.
(4) Lay out your squares until you find a pattern you like
(5) Tape in sections of three or four squares at a time. Do not try to start at one end and go to the other. The more squares you have taped together the harder it is to keep lifting it up to tape more.
(6) Cut you carpet pad to size.
(7) Enjoy
I love how it turned out. The colors are soft but interesting. They coordinate with the rest of my hallway. It looks like stepping stones. My little 6 year old niece played hopscotch on the runner during her last visit. Best of all my downstairs neighbor is happy.
Here is my inspiration:
And more links to awesome carpet sample reuse:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/flickr-finds/sf-flickr-finds-katherines-carpet-sample-rug-050044
WePurpose 
I simply love these squares! It even looks like if you spill, say a glass of wine on one, that you could actually replace just that square. You are so creative!!! I’m definitely doing this in my house. I might go for a 1970’s shag theme, with the appropriate dull greens and bright oranges, I cant wait!
very cool! I didn’t know that carpet stores gave away carpet samples… That’s got me thinking!
great job, thanks for sharing!
gail
I like the tip on the carpet pad. there are these new hightech carpets sold now that are all sold in squares. Each square has the backing attached so they don’t move, but can be pulled up. this allows you to customize patterns on the floor like a custom carpet (geometric designs). Of course you pay through the nose for them! Nothing is a good as repurposing! i.e.:http://www.flor.com/service/flor/shop/best-sellers.html
Thanks for the tip! I feel so eco-friendly now that I know how to put in a new carpet runner for free!! You are a friggin’ genius!