Turning Carpet Samples into Locker Rugs, Yes, Locker Rugs!

When I was old enough to have a school locker, they were used to hold books. Maybe a photo or two, held on with magnets or Scotch tape. And we had to walk uphill, in the snow, everyday, just to reach our locker, so no one spent much time decorating it.

Fast forward to today and there are lockers at my son's middle school that are better decorated than my bedroom! I say, "Good for you." I'm all for expressing yourself and making your locker something other than a pit of old papers and squished sandwiches.

So far, the only "extras" our son wants in his locker are a shelf (his locker has none) and a mirror (and he's not even sure why he wants that, but he saw it in an ad and figured he needed it). While shopping for these luxuries, I saw this:

(photo credit: containerstore.com)

Oh my stars! Is that a chandelier in the locker on the right? And wallpaper (removable). And adorable organizers, that are also practical - those I would buy. Then there are the locker rugs. I see pink on the left and a zebra pattern on the right, but should tell you there are soooooo many more choices (who knew lockers got chilly?).

I did discover patterns and project ideas for making your own locker rug - weaving, knitting, macrame, even hook rug kits - those are something I could get behind. Again, I'm all for self-expression. But $10 or more for a locker rug?

Well, it just so happens that Good Garbage is cleaning out its remaining carpet remnants to make room for new remnants that will be donated his fall. So, I've been busily brainstorming what could be made from these plush little squares. Coasters? Barbie area rugs? Cushions for the inside of a gift box? Or how about a one-of-a-kind locker rug?

I used some good, strong cardboard as my base - left over from a book of fabric remnants. I cut it to 10.5"(w) x 10.5"(d) for our 11" x 11" middle school lockers.

Then I wrapped the edges with Washi tape, to cover the raw edge left after cutting and to make all the edges look the same.

After that, it was just a matter of gluing the carpet samples to my base. I used a glue gun, but a strong craft glue or double-sided tape would work, too. And I mixed in some larger carpet samples I got at Home Depot years ago, because who wants uniform?

If you prefer a more finished look, you could add piping or ribbon to fill the gaps between the pieces and cover any flaws.

If you don't have a locker, you could make one of these for the cabinet under your sink or a drawer liner or the place where your pet's food and water bowls sit or any number of spaces in your home.


Now it's your turn to brainstorm: what would you make with carpet samples?

Good Garbage is Louisville's one and only creative reuse center, where you'll find all the components for this project and a gazillion others. Visit GoodGarbage.org for store hours, info on upcoming events, a link to our Etsy store and more!