DIY Doormats
Doormats do more than keep mud and dirt out of the house. They also set the tone for what your home is like. The kind of doormat you choose shows those you welcome to your home, how you like to present yourself. Go fun and quirky with funny doormats warning people about your lazy dog, or put out a refined doormat with your family name on it. Whatever your tastes, there's no excuse for a naked doormat. If you can't afford a custom mat, create a do-it-yourself one and really show your personality. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Plain doormat
- Old newspaper
- Stencil
- Painter's tape
- Acrylic paint
- Sponge brushes
- Spray sealer
Instructions
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Place your plain doormat on top of a layer of newspapers. New, clean doormats work best, but revamp an old one, if you shake it out and vacuum it first.
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Place the stencil or stencils of your choice on the mat. Spell out your family name, create a pattern with dots or flowers, choose a quirky message or simply lay out a checkerboard pattern. The choices are endless.
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Tape the stencil down along the edges with painter's tape. Use the painter's tape to help layout your design. For instance, if you want a painted border, or stripes, use the painter's tape as a stencil to block out stripes.
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4
Fill in the stencils with acrylic paint and a sponge brush. Fibrous doormats may require a lot of paint to create a solid, clean look. These kinds of mats tend to soak up paint.
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Allow the mat to dry for at least 24 hours. Remove the painter's tape and stencils to reveal your design.
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Spray the mat with spray sealer. This prevents the design from rubbing away.
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Tips & Warnings
Instead of using spray sealer, try blocking off everything you don't want to paint and spray painting the mat with outdoor spray paint. It'll hold up longer than acrylic.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
