Rustic Revival

Burlap, the utilitarian textile of yesteryear, is finally having its moment in the designer spotlight. Rough and rustic, this unassuming cloth makes an ideal vehicle for low-cost, high-impact decor. Try these simple tricks to bring linen’s country cousin into your home:

• Hurricane lanterns and mason jars become chic tabletop accessories when wrapped in burlap and stenciled with French numbers or meaningful bon mots. Add a border of vintage ribbon and drop in a flameless candle for a flickering glow.
• Create an eye-catching earring display by fitting a funky frame with a piece of foam core wrapped in burlap. Poke earring hooks through the burlap for easy (and pretty) access.
• Did you know you can use your inkjet printer to create custom printed textiles? Simply adhere a letter-size piece of freezer paper to the back of a piece of burlap. Trim the burlap to size and run it through your printer as you would paper. Peel the freezer paper off and, voila, instant custom fabric!
• Stencil a fun geometric design onto a piece of wide-bolt burlap to create a one-of-a-kind, outdoor-friendly area rug. Get fancy by dying the burlap first, using clear silicone caulk around the edges to prevent fraying and adding a piece of nylon mesh backing for stability.
• For the holidays, make tabletop Christmas trees by wrapping wide, green, burlap ribbon in a spiral pattern around craft-store foam cones. For the base, drill a hole in a piece of wood and secure a backyard twig upright using clear caulk or glue.

With a few simple variations, you can create everything from curtains to stenciled pillow covers. So forget your old notions of this casual charmer; today’s burlap conveys casual chic, is easy on the wallet, and the style is anything but ordinary.

Can’t get enough D.I.Y. projects? Check out our favorite ideas on Pinterest!