Unusual interior items do not have to be purchased in expensive stores; they can easily be made with your own hands from scrap materials. One of the simplest and most affordable materials are corks from wine or champagne bottles, which will make a comfortable rug for the bathroom or hallway.
Today, handmade in our country, and throughout the world, is at the peak of popularity.
Handmade items are beloved by famous interior designers.
Benefits of cork carpeting
The familiar wine corks are made from natural material - cork oak bark for high-quality wines or the bark of other trees for more budget-friendly options. The resulting material is a natural polymer characterized by water resistance, strength and elasticity.
A rug made from wine corks for the bathroom looks especially beautiful and stylish.
A bathroom rug made from wine corks has many advantages, including the following.
- Availability of material. The required quantity can be collected or purchased in bulk at specialized stores.
- The material does not absorb moisture, due to which pathogenic bacteria do not multiply in it.
- The carpet creates a massage effect, useful for improving blood circulation in the feet.
- Oak bark helps relieve static electricity, preventing leg cramps.
- A non-slip surface will prevent the possibility of injury in the bathroom.
- Aesthetic, original appearance will be an interesting addition to any interior.
A bright, eco-friendly and practical item that will easily fit into any interior and will be an excellent gift for friends and relatives.
Wine stoppers are made from the bark of the cork oak tree, which grows in the Mediterranean, as well as from the bark of other trees.
Stylish items, fashion accessories and jewelry
The fashion industry has not ignored traffic jams either. Cork dresses, suits, hats and even mannequins that look like sculptures - all this is the product of the wild imagination of designers, which is not so often found in everyday life.
It is much more affordable to make small decorations from wine corks with the addition of accessories. Necklaces and brooches, rings and earrings, pendants and beads – the flight of imagination is limitless for realizing ideas!
A cork wall display can be made to display and store this handmade beauty and other decorations.
Handbags and baskets made entirely or partially using corks look stylish.
Preparing to make a cork mat
Before you start making a bath mat from wine corks with your own hands, you need to prepare all the necessary materials. The main task is to collect a large number of wine corks, depending on the expected size of the product.
On average, 150-180 pieces will be enough.
Tools and materials
- Cutting board.
- Sharp knife.
- A piece of coarse sandpaper.
- Super glue, universal glue for rubber, wood or a glue gun.
- A rag for removing glue residue.
- Base for the rug. Waterproof, rubberized fabric, a sports mat, soft plastic or a rubber shower carpet are suitable. In the absence of the listed materials, you can take thick oilcloth.
Wine corks are an environmentally friendly, durable and beautiful material that retains its quality for many years.
The plugs give a pleasant tactile sensation when in contact with the skin of the feet.
Those who want to make a shower mat from champagne corks will need the same materials.
Decide in advance on the dimensions of the finished product and cut a piece for the base of the desired shape and size. Having prepared the base, calculate the approximate number of required blanks based on the fact that a regular wine sleeve has dimensions of 2.0x3.5 cm, and during production they will be cut into two parts.
This is a natural material that does not cause allergies.
Note! It is better to take care of a small supply of products so as not to interrupt the progress of making the rug due to a shortage.
Let's give an example. For a finished rug for a bathroom or hallway made from wine corks measuring 60x40, you will need at least 180 pieces. If the household does not have a suitable quantity, and no wild parties are planned, you can purchase products in the online store. It will be easier to work with them, since you will not have to first wash them of wine.
The aseptic properties of wine corks are manifested in their resistance to mold, mildew, and wood bugs.
Corks have good resistance to high humidity.
Before starting the manufacturing process, it is necessary to properly prepare the materials collected on your own. In order for the resulting rug to be monochromatic, wine corks must be washed to remove the specific smell and red color. They are soaked in a bowl of bleach for several hours and then scrubbed thoroughly with a sponge.
Cleaned workpieces should be thoroughly rinsed under running water to remove any detergent residue and dried.
If possible, it is better to dry in the sun.
Entrance door mat made of plastic bags: description, photo, diagram
The mat located at the front door should be made of washable materials. Every time you or your guests will wipe their feet on this rug, so you will have to wash it very often.
It is logical that the material for such a rug should be selected for practical reasons. Knitted or fabric rugs certainly look very beautiful, but they are completely unsuitable for these purposes.
One of the most suitable materials for making a door mat is plastic bags. This material has a number of advantages:
- A rug made from plastic bags is easy to care for. It is enough to rinse it in running water, after washing it with a brush and powder or soap.
- Plastic bags are inexpensive.
- In almost all houses there is an abundance of such material, and housewives simply do not know how to get rid of the accumulated bags.
- By making a rug, you will still save the environment, at least a little. After all, we know about the problem of environmental pollution with bags.
You can make a rug from plastic bags using a hook. First you need to make ribbons from plastic bags and wind them into balls. To do this, cut the plastic bags along the seams, roll them into ribbons about 1-1.5 cm wide. Then, using a thick hook, knit the rug according to the pattern you will see below.
Rug knitting pattern
Options for rugs made from crocheted bags can be seen below. In essence, these rugs are the same as those made from yarn. However, they are better suited for placement at the front door and are more wear-resistant.
DIY rug made from bags
Rugs made from plastic bags
If you don't know how to crochet, you can make pom poms from plastic bags. This rug will be less practical than the previous one. But it will look beautiful. If you take bags of different colors, you can make a rug with patterns.
make a pompom like this:
- Cut the bags into long strips of the same size and width.
- Wrap many strips onto a paper base.
- Use scissors to cut from opposite edges.
- Tie the strips in the center with strong thread.
- Fluff the pompom.
Then glue the pompoms onto the base. Polyethylene pompoms can be used to form flowers and other designs.
Rug made from garbage bags
We invite you to watch a master class on making a rug from plastic bags.
How to make a cork rug with your own hands
When wondering how to make a beautiful rug from wine corks with your own hands, it is better not to try to reinvent the wheel, but to find step-by-step instructions on the Internet. Anyone can create a unique cork product and it won’t take much time.
If you suddenly decide to start collecting corks right now, it will take a lot of time.
The main stages of creating a rug are as follows.
- Each cork is cut into two equal parts. You need to perform the action on a thick wooden or plastic board so as not to accidentally injure yourself. Be sure to take a sharp knife, as the material is quite difficult to cut.
- The cuts are cleaned with sandpaper, giving the edges a neat, even appearance.
If the corks have different shades, they must first be bleached by holding them in a special solution, then rinsed thoroughly and dried.
Note! It is not necessary to select blanks of the same length. Some differences will help create an interesting structure.
- Lay out the blanks on a waterproof base, starting with creating a frame, then filling in the middle. Available non-standard options should be laid out closer to the center, and even ones should be laid out along the edge.
- Check if there is enough material. At this stage, you can also try to create an unusual pattern and use different methods of laying out corks.
- Having laid out all the elements on the base, you can start gluing. Apply glue to the smooth side of the cork material and press firmly to the base. Do not change the arrangement of parts, try to put everything in its place.
- Remove any excess glue immediately with a soft cloth. There is no need to glue the plugs together.
- After gluing all the elements of the mat, let it dry thoroughly.
- If necessary, the oilcloth base can be glued to thick fabric or flexible plastic.
- The final stage is the treatment of the bottom and edges of the product with sealants, providing complete protection from moisture.
The top of the finished carpet can be treated with varnish or PVA glue.
The base under the rug must first be degreased, washed and dried.
According to these steps, you can make a bath mat from champagne corks with your own hands.
Before starting work, it is recommended to calculate the number of blanks based on the area of the future bath mat.
Remember, the rug pattern can be anything. The most popular: checkerboard, straight lines, intersecting lines, zigzags, etc.
Note! A hand-made shower mat made from wine corks should be thoroughly dried in the sun once a month.
First, the pattern is laid out without using glue, trying to calculate the exact number of blanks and their location.
Process
After making all the calculations and preparing the materials, you can begin the direct manufacturing process:
- On a cutting board, cut each cork in half with a sharp knife;
- Sections must be cleaned using sandpaper;
- In general, the halves of the workpieces may differ slightly in length, but this fact can be corrected during work;
- Next you need to try on the plugs on the base;
- Now one vertical and one horizontal row is laid out along the edge of the base. If everything goes well, then you can start gluing the blanks to this piece of the rug;
- The blanks should first be secured around the perimeter of the future rug. You will get some kind of frame. Then the edges of the product will be smooth, and the remaining blanks can be adjusted to the optimal size;
- A layer of glue must be applied evenly to a flat area of the workpiece. Then it is pressed tightly and tightly to the base. There is no need to glue them together;
- You can place blanks inside the mat in any convenient way: straight rows, intersection of lines or complex artistic work;
- After laying and securing all the blanks, all that remains is to open it with an adhesive layer or apply matte varnish.
The same rug can be made from champagne corks. But here you will need to cut them crosswise into two parts of equal height.
Original ideas for creating a cork rug
There are also more non-standard ideas for creating a cork product, which involve a completely different manufacturing technology.
Circles of corks can be laid out in different ways, imagining with patterns.
A carpet for a hallway or living room can be made from cork without using glue or cutting the material into two parts. This method requires the presence of a much larger number of elements and a small plywood box. Prepare a box whose edges are slightly longer than the length of the workpiece. If necessary, trim it to the desired size.
Carefully place all the items in the box, trying to take up all the space.
Note! This product is not suitable for use in the bathroom.
An interesting decor option for a bathroom can be achieved by gluing wine corks to the base not horizontally, as in the main instructions, but vertically. In this case, the workpieces should be glued together, ensuring the stability of the structure.
It is recommended to thoroughly dry the stylish craft once a month in the sun or in a warm, dry room to protect it from mold.
You can make a rug using the beading technique. Holes are made in the corks, and all the elements are strung on a fishing line like beads. This option allows you to create products of any shape.
In addition to a bath mat, you can make dozens of stylish and useful items for your home from wine corks.
A cork product without any frames or base looks interesting. The blanks are securely glued together in a checkerboard pattern and dried. A rug without a base has better moisture resistance and is easier to wash and dry.
The product can be used in the shower or as an outdoor rug in front of the entrance.
A rug for the bathroom, hallway or bedroom made from wine corks will be a good interior element or a gift for a loved one. It not only has an unusual appearance, but is also very practical and easy to use.
To make a cork product you do not need special skills or expensive materials, and it will last for several years.
Not just a stopper for every bottle
If you follow the norms for alcohol consumption and drink red wine once a day, then in a week a family of two adults will have 2-3 wine corks.
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During the holidays, champagne corks will be added to them. In a family with children, plastic caps from bottles with juices and water will prevail. Lovers of drinks in glass containers will pick up a lot of metal lids. These riches can be successfully used in life, first by accumulating a sufficient amount of material.
The process will become more exciting if you put the corks in glass containers of various configurations - for example, vases of various sizes and shapes.
A glass vase with wine corks, gradually filling, will add originality to the interior and enliven the atmosphere, even if nothing else is done with the corks.
Champagne corks: a hanger, a handle, and a fishing rod with a float
Champagne corks will not fill up as quickly as wine corks, but they will also be successfully used. Like a theater, an apartment begins with a coat rack - this is one of the simple devices that can first be made from champagne corks.
Thanks to their unique shape, they make comfortable and pleasant-to-touch handles for furniture drawers and doors.
If you cut off the rounded parts of the corks and collect them in clusters on a wire, you will get an original installation in the form of a vine with grapes.
And if you connect these pieces in one plane, a reliable heat-resistant hot stand will be ready for use.
For fishing enthusiasts, cork is a well-known material that is used to make almost all parts of a fishing rod - it creates a comfortable handle and a reliable float. Such a homemade device is useful in winter: the cork material does not cool the hand upon contact.
Crafts made from champagne corks are not limited to this: even metal fastening wires are used - craftsmen twist them into elegant toys.
