IKEA is a great place to find budget-friendly, modern home decor, including rugs. The affordable rug selections at IKEA include a variety of styles (something for every space and taste) and various sizes. One popular rug from IKEA is the LOHALS Jute Rug. This neutral-toned rug goes well with a variety of different decor styles, though it’s only available in three sizes, the largest being 5 feet 3 inches by 7 feet 7 inches. What if you need a larger jute rug for your living space, though? To avoid getting stuck and possibly paying hundreds of dollars for an extra-large rug at another store, you can combine multiple LOHALS rugs to make an over-sized jute area rug. This IKEA rug hack involves weaving two LOHALS rugs together using jute twine and a large weaving needle (optional).

This simple project will give you a beautiful, extra-large jute rug for a fraction of the price. It’s also a great way to reuse an old rug when it no longer suits a space as-is. Just weave a second LOHALS onto it, and you’ll have a perfect rug for another space. For this project, you will weave your two jute rugs together using jute twine that is the same tone as the rugs. Upholstery thread will work, too, if that’s what you’ve got on hand. Using a weaving needle for this hack is optional but may make the project easier.

To start, you will want to secure your two rugs from underneath with a knot at a thick point near an edge, then thread your weaving needle with twine. Now, use the holes in the two rugs to weave the twine in and out, pulling the twine tight as you go. Be sure to keep an even spacing to help ensure an undetectable finish. When you have reached the end of the rugs, tie the jute twine off from underneath, and that’s it. You should now have what looks like one single, larger-size jute rug. While this hack uses the LOHALS, you can also use IKEA’S STRÖG Jute Rug or any other natural fiber rug. If you find a couple of jute rugs on sale at another store, you may still be able to complete this hack inexpensively. 

To customize this DIY rug, you can use a twine of any color instead of a matching twine. Doing this, the seam will be visible, but it’s a fun way to add a pop of color to your neutral-toned rugs. You can also weave together multiple rugs of different styles or colors for a funky look, similar to the layering area rugs trend. Consider finishing your new rug by adding fabric trim around the entire edge or fun textile patches for interest.