There’s a cozy, rustic feel to burlap. It’s not soft or silky. It’s thick and textured, and rough, and reminds us of its agricultural origins. You can harness this mood to use around the homestead with these 19 burlap projects.
When we take burlap out of the potato sack and put it in new areas of the home and homestead, burlap is whimsical and inviting. All its rough edges can offer some texture to your interiors.
If you like the idea of burlap in new places, but need a few ideas, I’ve got a few ready for you! Grab your burlap and let’s get creative!
Sourcing Material for Burlap Projects
If you buy bulk foods, you’ll often end up with piles of burlap sacks that you have no use for. Potatoes, coffee, rice, and beans all might come in burlap. So can animal feed of all kinds. Trees and shrubs come wrapped in burlap, too.
Seems like a shame to waste it, right?
If you love the look of burlap, but you don’t have extra lying around, you’re in luck! Burlap fabric and bags are available at many places, so you can do multiple burlap projects.
You can find burlap at your local craft or fabric store, dollar stores, or even the big home improvement stores. You can buy 15 feet of 40-inch-wide burlap at Amazon or a set of six oversized bags from Bekith at Amazon.
You can find squares of burlap fabric, wide ribbons of material, and rolls of burlap. If you’re looking for a tighter weave, the fabric store is the best option. Rougher burlap is usually less expensive and is at most garden or farm stores.
Wherever you get your burlap, be sure to grab a glue gun, upholstery tacks, and some extra-strength sewing needles as well. You’ll need them for these fun DIY projects.
1. Burlap Noteboard
Of all the burlap projects, I might love burlap noteboards the best. They’re so easy to make and use. I can tack notes, papers, photos, and calendars to the board, but it all looks so pretty and put together.
Just wrap a painting canvas or corkboard in burlap and glue the fabric in place. If you want to keep this project cheap, grab an old painting at a second-hand store and cover it.
You can add a frame if you want to. Then, hang the noteboard on the wall and use it to start planning, post notes, or hold recipes!
2. Burlap Tote Bag
A lot of cities and states are banning disposable plastic bags. In my state, we bring reusable bags to every store, or we have to pay for paper bags.
Unfortunately, a lot of the reusable bags offered for sale are plasticized. They don’t always hold up in the washing machine and aren’t very pretty.
Burlap tote bags are perfect reusable bags and making them is one of the best burlap projects because you’re helping to save the planet. They wash well, they’re strong, and the fabric is breathable enough to easily carry fruit, vegetables, meat, and flour.
You’ll need a sewing machine for this project. Basically, you should cut the burlap into two pieces to the size you want, lay the two pieces together, and pin them. Sew three sides, leaving the top side open. Attach handles and you’ve got yourself a bag.
3. Burlap Plant Pots
I love houseplants, but I really hate plastic pots because they’re so ugly. Of course, I could buy a bunch of ceramic planters, but I don’t want to waste all the perfectly-sized plastic pots that I do have. Enter burlap.
Talk about one of the easy burlap projects.
Just wrap a straight-sided plastic planter in burlap and glue the fabric into place. Once the burlap is in place, you can decorate with ribbons, beads, or whatever appeals to you.
4. Burlap Curtains
Full burlap curtains aren’t for everyone. Big swathes of burlap can feel overwhelming unless you love the industrial or farmhouse look.
While I might not personally want a whole burlap curtain, I do like the idea of a bit of burlap applique or trim on heavy, wool, winter curtains.
Whether you go all the way or with just a bit of trim, burlap can add interest and texture to your windows.
5. Burlap Christmas Stockings
This is one of those burlap projects that can involve the whole family. Burlap stockings with bright, cotton applique can be delightful! They have a whimsical, aged feel.
Cut out two pieces of burlap in the shape of a stocking. Lay them together and pin them. Sew all the sides except the top. You can glue faux fur or other decorations at the top of the stocking. Then add felt or cotton shapes to the rest, if you want.
Pair your stockings with a burlap Christmas garland and an abundance of tinsel. If you’re going for a farmhouse style, or simply want to return to the simple life for Christmas this year, burlap can bring a bright new approach to your holiday season.
6. Rustic Bunnies
My daughter raises rabbits. She loves her bunnies, and she loves collecting little bunny figures. So when we were considering burlap projects, you know this one caught our eye.
These burlap bunnies from Cottage at the Crossroads would make an adorable gift for the rabbit lover in your life. Just cut out the figure, stitch it up, stuff it with wool, and then close it up. They’re adorable for Easter, too.
7. Burlap Gift Wrap
If you’re into reusable, fabric wrapping paper, burlap is a great option. The rough fabric contrasts nicely with silky ribbons, and it gives a rustic feel to any gift.
Gifts wrapped up in burlap can look rustic when accented with a little sprig of holly or rosemary. They can also look simple and elegant with silk ribbons and pearls. Plus, you can reuse your wrapping every year!
8. Pretty Pumpkins
I’ve seen pretty, little burlap pumpkins for sale at farmer’s markets and county fairs. They’re perfect as autumn decor.
You can make them using a sewing machine or take a circle of burlap, stuff it with batting, fold the ends together, and tie them. Paint or dye the whole thing orange, draw the characteristic lines vertically, or give them a Jack-o-lantern face.
If you want to be extra fancy, give them sections by tying twine around them and finish with a cardboard or construction paper stem.
Make yours large or small, and pile them together with cornstalks or real pumpkins for a unique display.
9. Farmhouse Coasters
With a little corkboard and burlap, you can make adorable little farmhouse coasters. Just glue the burlap to the corkboard or other coaster base material. Leave it plain or paint designs directly onto the burlap.
10. Easy Burlap Sachets
Herbal sachets are a lovely addition to drawers, underneath pillows, or hanging amidst clothes in the closet. Fill your burlap sachets with dried lavender, rose petals, or balsam needles to bring a gentle, natural scent into your home.
11. Burlap Table Runners
These simple runners are one of the easiest burlap projects. It’s as easy as cutting the cloth into the size you want and laying it on the table, though of course, you can make it fancier if you want.
They’re simple and unassuming in appearance but still add a rustic elegance to a table display. They’re low-key enough that you’ll never feel like there’s too much burlap on your table.
These runners are perfect for creating a beautiful Thanksgiving or holiday table, and you even see them on wedding banquets. Burlap looks nice with everything from pumpkins, fairy lights, and cut-out sugar cookies, to wrapped-up gifts and Halloween decor.
12. Storage Box
These simple burlap projects produce perfect storage boxes of all sizes. These burlap boxes are great for storing sewing supplies, batteries, crafting supplies, and other essentials. They look fantastic and are incredibly easy to make.
It may seem surprising, but all you need for these lovely boxes is fabric and boxes. Cut out the burlap to the size of the box and glue it on the sides and the lid. Tie a ribbon on it to make it even cuter.
13. Burlap Headboard
Tufted headboards can make a room look incredibly cozy. This simple burlap project is a great way to decorate your bedroom with a cozy, rustic theme. It’s an easy-to-do project that looks fantastic when it’s finished.
This headboard can be customized to fit your bed and altered to complement the look you’re going for in your space.
You can buy an old cloth-covered headboard and affix burlap to it, or cover a piece of wood in batting and encase it in burlap. Affix it with buttons or stitches for a fancier look.
14. Rustic Christmas Ornaments
Wrapping foam balls in stamped or painted burlap is a great way to create attractive, unique ornaments for your Christmas tree. The burlap balls will add texture and complement the smooth, green needles of your fir or spruce.
Try interspersing these fabric ornaments with wood and ceramic ornaments for a rich depth of texture. Add a popcorn chain to complete the vintage, family Christmas feel!
15. Structured Burlap Bin
I have a lot of unattractive wooden crates around. Whenever I want to use them in the house, I must make them look better first. Wrapping the crate in burlap is a great way to cover up the nicks, dents, and old paint.
Once they’re wrapped, these bins become the perfect storage place for potatoes, onions, toys, books, and anything else that needs a home. I like to use a medium-sized, lightweight crate as a catch-all for loose items that need to be organized, too.
16. Lovely Lampshades
Buying a burlap lampshade can be expensive, but covering an old lampshade in burlap is easy. There are so many DIY burlap lampshade projects that you can recover all the shades in your house and never have to repeat a project.
17. Wood and Burlap Pocket Vase
Wood and burlap go so well together. In this decorative wall vase, the burlap forms a pocket that is attached to a wood backing. You can stencil or paint designs on the wood or leave it plain. Then, set a vase in the burlap or use the pocket to hold dried flowers.
Depending on your space, this lovely piece can be made larger or smaller. You can also embellish it in so many ways to fit your decor.
18. Wrapped Canning Jars
One of simplest ways to get into using burlap is by wrapping canning jars in burlap ribbon. Whether you paint the burlap, the jars, or leave everything natural is entirely up to you.
Once decorated, you can use these pretty jars as vases, storage for dry goods, or a unique way to display homemade mixers at a cocktail party.
19. Burlap Wreath
One of the most popular DIY burlap projects is a wreath.
Wreaths can come in a wide variety of patterns. Some are covered in cotton or burlap flowers, others are used to hang photographs. Each burlap wreath is unique.
You can make them out of burlap ribbon or fabric. And they can provide a base for seasonal decor throughout the year. Just change the decor you add to the wreath for each season.
