Got leftover carpet from your home renovation project? Carpet remnants can go a long way in providing practical uses for your home or fixing a simple problem.
Planning a flooring project? Most homeowners will purchase more material than they need.
That’s because you’ll use the extra carpet for closets and other areas. Go ahead. Order a little more. Carpet remnants can be used in some pretty neat, practical ways around the house, such as sensory boards for kids, pet beds, or these other great ideas:
Cushion for the pet crate
Animal experts say crates are one of the most successful ways to potty train your pet. A little cushy carpet inside the crate makes it a cozy home, and you can add carpet under the crate to prevent scratches and dents on your floor.
Make a cat scratching post
Speaking of animals, use leftover carpet to make a scratching post for your cat.
Under the washing machine
Slip a few pieces under the feet of your washing machine to keep the noise down in the laundry room.
In the garden
Save your knees—in the garden or anywhere else you use a little elbow grease—with some rolled-up carpet remnants.
Move heavy furniture
Moving furniture across hard surfaces? Slip carpet remnants under the furniture, pile side down, and push it across the floor.
Soundproof a music room
Lou Lockwood, a senior interior designer behind many of the STAINMASTER®photo shoots, shared this flooring idea: She used leftover carpet to soundproof a friend’s music practice room. She put carpet on the walls and ceiling for the drummer’s studio above the garage.
Enhance your furniture
Use carpet remnants as a topper for a piece of furniture such as a mudroom bench, or use rolled-up pieces of carpet as a unique way to make a cushion. Lockwood also created this cool pet bed for a STAINMASTER® brand shoot using rolled-up carpet.
Donate it to local animal shelters
Our favorite leftover flooring idea: Give it to a shelter and improve the lives of the “residents” there. “They need love and beddies, too!” says Lockwood.
Cover a workbench
Use leftover carpet to make a protective cover for your home workbenches. This DIY-er used carpet to cover the top of her wooden sawhorses.
Tire traction in the snow
Stash a few carpet remnants in the trunk of your car to put under the tires if you or a friend’s car gets stuck in the snow.
Extra protection in storage bins
Use carpet in your storage bin for an added layer of protection for all your favorite fragile things, from holiday ornaments to family keepsakes.
Support exercise equipment
Place carpet remnants under exercise equipment, such as indoor bike trainers, weight benches, and elliptical machines, to help prevent indentions in your carpet.
Instead of foam for a DIY project
And as a bonus idea, use leftover carpet padding instead of buying foam for your DIY projects, such as a padded headboard or an upholstered bench for an entry way or bedroom.