If you’ve got some rugs that you don’t want to use on the floor, or found some cool rugs for cheap at the thrift store or at a yard sale, here are some cool, alternative ways that you could make use of them from Apartment Therapy:

  1. Upholstery: try using a decorative rug, or part of a rug, on an ottoman or chair. This would be an easy way to give your furniture a makeover on the cheap!
  2. Artwork: whether you have a contemporary or traditional style rug, you can use it to make a statement not only on the floor, but on the wall! Hang up a great rug on a bare wall for a pop of style and color.
  3. Headboard: with fabric headboards becoming pretty popular, it’s no wonder that rug headboards are becoming more and more popular.
  4. Affixed to Doors:

    Interior doors have become decorative in their materials and design. The next step may be to affix a beautiful stylized rug to the door. It would help with the acoustics of the room. This may work best in children’s rooms, but I would be curious to see this pulled off as a real design idea.

  5. Pet Beds: love your pet? Create a semi-glamourous bed for him/her with rug as your base material.

Find more nontraditional ideas for rugs over at Apartment Therapy’s 10 Alternative Uses for Rugs in the Home.