Cut four strips of fabric border, each approximately 1" longer than the sides of the rug. To determine the width of the fabric strip, double to the desired finished width of the border, and add a 1" seam allowance. We use 5" wide strips for a 2" wide finished border. Fold and press a 1/2" hem inward on both long edges of each strip of fabric. Fold each strip in half lengthwise right sides out and press.
Attach the edges to the ends of the rug first. Place the edge of the rug on the edge, and run a line of hot glue along the edge of the fabric, front and back, and hold it in place. Cut the two joined edges even with the rug on both ends.
Hot glue the back of the next border in place, and fold the end of the border to the front so that it is even with the edge of the rug. Fold the corner fabric at an angle to create a mitered corner and glue in place. Clean the other three corners and hot glue all the edges of the fiber mat.
Decorate a plain natural fiber rug cheaply by adding a border with stencils and stencil paint, or paint a rug with spray paint, using masking tape and newspaper for resistance. Cover any remaining unpainted areas with masking tape - large areas with taped-on newspaper - and spray paint to create borders and stripes.
A highly patterned natural fiber rug can be painted with interior/exterior paint. Just brush paint on the patterned areas to make a design.
Protect painted fiber mats with a clear sealer, applied to both sides of the mat, to prevent colors from bleeding into the flooring or carpeting below. Natural fibers can be very slippery; Place a piece of non-slip cloth under the rug.
