Leftover flooring ideas: what to do with carpet offcuts

Once you’ve had your new carpet or flooring fitted, you may find you have a few offcuts or small remnants left over. First things first, when you buy a carpet from Tapi, please be reassured our expert floorologists will measure and plan so that you only buy what you need, and you won’t have too much carpet left over. However, you may find, particularly if you have a room that’s an awkward shape, that you have some small pieces left over.

So, what can you do with them? Our guide has plenty of leftover flooring ideas, and we’ll explain the different ways you can recycle, upcycle, and reuse it. We’ll also share creative and fun ways to repurpose your carpet and flooring samples.

In this guide:

What are the benefits of upcycling leftover flooring?
What to do with leftover carpet
What to do with leftover laminate flooring
What to do with leftover vinyl flooring
What to do with leftover wood flooring
How to reuse flooring samples
How to dispose of old flooring

What are the benefits of upcycling leftover flooring?

Stop! Before you throw anything away, it’s always a good idea to see if you can make use of it somehow. Upcycling leftover flooring helps to reduce waste and stop products ending up on landfill when they can easily be repurposed. It can also save you money as well as being a sustainable way to decorate your home, so it’s better for the planet and your pocket.

If upcycling is not your thing, then your first port of call for leftover flooring should be Facebook Marketplace or local selling groups. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure as they say, and your carpet offcuts or spare boxes of laminate flooring could be upcycled by somebody else.

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What to do with leftover carpet

If you have a few offcuts from your new carpet, we’ve come up with some easy leftover carpet ideas.

Create a doormat

This is the easiest option if you have a suitably sized piece of carpet. Take a small rectangle of carpet to use as a doormat at entrances, or as a floor protector in a place where you’ve noticed gets a lot of wear.

Create a rug or stair runner

Wondering how to make a rug from carpet offcuts? Our UK showrooms can create a bespoke item for you with our carpet whipping service. Let us know if a rug or runner is something you’d like when you’re chatting to your floorologist about your plans, and we’ll arrange this for you when we measure up and plan so you can be sure you only order what you’ll need.

Move heavy furniture

Keep a carpet offcut to use when you need to slide a bed or a sofa around, especially on a smooth floor. It works best if you place it pile-side down so that it’s easier to move.

Create a surface for DIY or art projects

If you’re stripping paint or using putty, you may need somewhere to wipe your knife or scraper that’s robust. A carpet scrap will work perfectly here and help you to keep your equipment clean.

Noisy or mobile washing machines or tumble dryers

Does your washing machine, dishwasher or tumble dryer move or make noises when it’s working? That might be because it needs something to absorb the spinning motions and its sound. Place a carpet offcut underneath and your neighbours will thank you!

Comfort while you’re gardening

Create a DIY kneeler when you’re weeding a flower bed or planting shrubs. Roll up a scrap of carpet and use it to cushion your knees.

Improve your compost

Place a large scrap of carpet over your compost pile to keep the warm air and moisture inside. This will speed up the decomposing process.

Protect your car

If you’re in danger of scratching your car when you park in your garage, attach some strips of carpet to the front and side walls as cushioning. Genius!

Clean your windscreen

If you need something substantial to clean the mud, bird poo, and dirt that’s collected on your car, then take a clean piece of carpet, dip it into warm, soapy water and use it as a scratch-proof scrubber to get rid of the muck.

Line a kennel or pet basket

Your furry friends will thank you if you make their home a little cosier with a carpet offcut.

Create a scratching post for your cat

Give your cat a designated place to scratch and hopefully that’ll discourage them from ruining the rest of the carpets in your home – that’s the plan, anyway! Gluing carpet offcuts to a post is one of the ways we suggest you might stop your cat from scratching your carpets.

Katmandu

£22.99 m²

Flatweave Classic Panama

House Beautiful Portsmouth

What to do with leftover laminate flooring

Once again, it’s unlikely you’ll have surplus laminate flooring from your project, because we’ll make sure we supply the smallest amount you’ll need. But if you do have the odd plank, then you could think about the following easy DIY projects or crafts with leftover laminate flooring:

Shelving

Use any leftover planks as shelving in a bathroom or kitchen as the laminate’s water-resistant top coat will work well in these environments.

Small table or bench

If you’re handy with nails and a screwdriver, you could knock up a simple bench or small table for a kids’ playroom or a forgotten corner.

Make a picture frame

Saw the planks at a 45 degree angle then use wood glue to create a square or rectangular picture frame.

Quick Step Capture Cracked Oak Natural

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What to do with leftover vinyl flooring

Always be careful when cutting up vinyl flooring or using any kind of sharp knife. You can let your imagination run riot with these leftover vinyl flooring ideas:

Create some artwork

Frame vinyl offcuts and make a feature of them for your walls.

Create a table runner

Lay a piece of patterned vinyl along your dining table to create a centrepiece

Line drawers and shelves

You could stick down the vinyl to protect the inside of a chest of drawers or any shelves that have seen better days.

Create a splashback

Lay a piece of patterned vinyl against any wall you want to protect and use it as an impromptu way of repelling stains or water.

Make a playmat

Create a cushioned and hygienic playmat for little ones to crawl around and play on. Black and white patterns are visually stimulating for young babies.

What to do with leftover wood flooring

Wooden flooring is one of the most sustainable flooring types and can be recycled. But it’s nice to give it a new lease of life! Sand down any rough edges on each plank before you begin your upcycling project.

Wall panelling

Hide less than perfect walls and add natural texture to the space with wooden planks.

Create a wooden headboard

A custom-made headboard that’s beautiful and sustainable? Yes please!

Make a coat rack

Take a single plank and drill metal coat hooks into it for a DIY coat rack.

Javor - Lacquered

£74.99 m²

Landscape Prospect Sapodilla Invisible Oiled

£49.99 m²

£44.99 m²

Sierra - Risso Brushed & UV Oiled

£89.99 m²

Zion - Smoked Brushed and Matt Lacquered

£79.99 m²

Negara - Umber Brushed & UV Oiled

£79.99 m²

Negara - Nutmeg Brushed & UV Oiled

£79.99 m²

Heartwood Oak Herringbone Whisp Brushed and Matt Lacquered

£69.99 m²

Melia - Matt Lacquered

£69.99 m²

Melia - Oiled

£69.99 m²

Landscape Aspect - Almanzo Brushed & Lacquered

£54.99 m²

£49.49 m²

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How to reuse flooring samples

After a finishing a flooring project, you might find yourself left with heaps of free flooring samples. Give your samples a second chance with our creative ideas:

Coasters, placemats & plant pot stands

A stylish way to protect your table from water rings.

Toy carpets

Revamp the interiors of your kids’ dollhouses or garages with mini rugs.

Furniture floor protectors

Cut carpet into small circles or squares to place under chair or table legs.

Testing cleaning products

Keep the sample to test cleaning products on your new flooring without causing damage.

Bookmarks

Cut vinyl flooring into rectangular strips to make beautiful bookmarks.

Table placeholders

Wood, laminate and luxury vinyl can be used as mini signs or table name placeholders – just use an acrylic pen to write on them.

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How to dispose of old flooring

If your old flooring is completely unusable and can’t be saved, then there are a few ways to dispose of it responsibly. If you decide to dispose of old flooring yourself or want to get rid of your carpet offcuts, contact your local authority to find a dedicated recycling centre nearby. When you get your new flooring from Tapi, we can arrange fitting with a team of independent fitters and we can also sort out the uplift and removal of your old flooring. The fitters will take it away, and we’ll dispose of it in the correct way.

From giving friendly specialist advice on the best type of flooring for you, to uplifting and removing your old flooring, we’ll be with you every step of the way. Why not visit your nearest Tapi store today or imagine what a new carpet or floor is going to look like in your home by using our PictureIT visualiser?

Post author

Johanna Constantinou Interior Trends & Lifestyle Expert

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Published: 29-08-2025