Having a welcoming doormat is a great way to make a good first impression when guests come to visit, but some of the ones on the market right now are boring… and expensive. What if you could make your own, with whatever theme you want?
Well, you can! It’s actually really easy and fun. Simply Self Storage put together this tutorial complete with 11 printable stencils to get you started in making your own DIY doormat. Their options range from the traditional “Live Love Laugh” to more cheeky expressions like “Hope You Have Wine” and “The Password is Guacamole”.
Our personal favorite is the “Come Back with Tacos” doormat which was used as the walkthrough example. Follow the steps below to make your own DIY doormat!
Materials:
- Choose Your Stencil and Print it
Choose from the stencils here or make your own using a word processor. If you know how to use photoshop you can get really fancy with it. Print it out on printer-safe cardstock.
- Tape Your Mat
Lay painters tape diagonally on your blank coir mat and make sure you pat it down so that it’s on there really good. The more secure the tape is to the mat, the cleaner your final product will be.
- Arrange Your Stencil
Cut out the words for your design and place them where you want them on your mat. Tape them down and pin any parts that will be cutouts (like the crescent shape in the taco heart below).
- Cut Out Your Design
Using an exacto knife, carefully cut out each letter in the design. Letters with straight lines will be easier than the curved ones, so you may want to choose larger, straighter letters for your first go-around.
- Paint Your Doormat
Using the black acrylic paint, blot the cut out areas inside your stencil. This will likely take a few coats. Don’t push down too hard or your design will bleed, but also don’t push so lightly that it takes 10 coats. There is a happy medium, but if you’re careful and patient you will be pleased with the results!
- Let Dry then Reveal Your Design
Once your mat has dried you can reveal your design! You can spray over the mat with a UV protectant if you want to prolong its life.
Now all that’s left for you to do is to enjoy your design!
