Learn how to make an adorable DIY doormat with a fun saying for less than $20! This simple project gets you the look you want for a fraction of the price. The post also includes the free "love grows here" Silhouette .studio file. Have fun!
Those cute doormats with fun sayings like "welcome y'all" or "oh hello" or "wipe your paws" are everywhere! The possibilities are endless, but the more custom ones can get a little pricey.
So we're going to learn how to make our own today!
** {If you'd rather not make your own, I've collected a few of my favorite doormats here!} This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Read my disclosure policy here. **
The black and cream plaid rug is still one of my favorite buys ever! It has held up beautifully and looks just as good as the day I got it! {Mine is the 2’7″ x 5′ size. Find it here, here and here. Sign up for alerts if they're out of stock!}
I learned a few things while making my own rug (no surprise there!), so I'll share what I did and what I'd do differently next time. You'll probably want to follow my advice rather than copy exactly what I did, because there are much easier ways to reach the goal.
Alright, let's dive in!
Supplies Needed for the DIY Doormat
1. Plain coir doormat – I got mine here!
2. Stencil cutting machine (like a Silhouette Cameo) – If you don't have a cutting machine, see my tip at the end of Step 1.
3. Cardstock or thick paper for your stencil. Stencil material would also work well if you want to reuse it.
3. Black outdoor acrylic paint
4. Stencil brush (with bristles, not a foam brush)
5. Small art brush
4. Exterior clear coat spray
Instructions for Making a DIY Doormat
1. Make Your Stencil.
I made a big mistake when choosing the material for my stencil. Ha! I'm used to making stencils for fabric, and I didn't consider that adhesive paper wouldn't really stick to a coir doormat. So… I'd suggest cutting your stencil from cardstock or stencil material and then pinning the paper stencil down with straight pins.
I found this image online, and I think this stencil method would work much better than mine! (I'd still use paint and a stencil brush instead of a Sharpie, though!)
I've included the free Silhouette .studio file below so you can use mine to make yours. There are tons of designs out there you can use, or you can create your own!
Of course, if you're creating your own stencil, you're limited by the size of the doormat and the size of your cutting machine, so keep both in mind.
So, grab your stencil material, cut out your design with your machine, and then let's move on to the next step!
Tip: If you don't have a Silhouette or other cutting machine, printing large letters on cardstock and cutting them out by hand works just fine too!
2. Gather your Supplies.
3. Stencil Your Image.
Line up the stencil so it's centered on the doormat. I didn't think about the fact that my design was a little off-center, so I centered the whole thing and started stenciling. It wasn't until I lifted the stencil that I noticed my design was slightly off. It bugs me, but not enough to redo it.
I used my large stencil brush for the first pass over the doormat. I loaded the brush with black outdoor acrylic paint and carefully dabbed it over the stencil.
See the video below for exactly how I stenciled the doormat.
My stencil shifted around a lot because it was adhesive vinyl and not a thicker paper. So I pressed down pretty lightly to avoid moving the vinyl too much. It worked well enough to give me an outline to see, and I freehand painted a second pass.
Once I pulled the stencil off, I realized the paint wasn't dark enough. So I went back over the design with a smaller art brush. I loaded up plenty of paint and used an up-and-down motion to work it down into the fibers of the doormat.
Let it dry for 24 hours before the next step!
4. Finish the Doormat with a Clear Coat Spray.
I bought this outdoor clear coat spray to help protect the doormat a bit. It won't be 100% protected because the surface is rough, but it will help keep it looking great for as long as possible. I sprayed 3 light coats over the doormat and let it dry for 24 hours before using it!
That's it! Your doormat is ready to greet new visitors and make your front door look super cute in the process. Have fun!
Here's a short video that shows the process I used…
Free "Love Grows Here" Silhouette .studio File
tap here to get the silhouette files
Thanks for reading all about my new DIY doormat! I hope you'll try it and share it with me on Instagram. That's where I love to hang out every day, so be sure to tag me in your photo if you make one, too!
More Posts You Might Like:
- Monogrammed No-Sew Burlap Garden Flag
- {DIY} Easy No-Sew Bunting Tutorial
- How to Craft a Patriotic Wreath
- Chinoiserie Egg Wreath, DIY Style
- DIY Lit Pumpkin Candy Holder
PinPinPinPinPinPinPinPinPinPinPinPinPinPin
