The front door is the usually very first thing you see before entering a home. It is just a doorway, but it can make an impression and say a whole lot about the people who live inside. Tackling the front door may be a large job, but a colorful doormat could be just the trick to infuse new life in your entry.
Here’s the way to develop a very fundamental doormat to a personalized work of art.
Lauren Donaldson
The doormats you find in the local home improvement shop can be uninspiring as well as common. I enjoy the feel of this cocoa fiber mats, but I wanted something with colour and without corny expressions on it.
Lauren Donaldson
I opted to get a sterile mat and decided to transform itself using acrylic paints. I pictured some waves of sound colour and an arrow layout. I wished to convey that a California desert vibe to decide on my own succulent and cactus collection.
Heal your mat as your own sterile canvas and use your imagination to come up with colours and patterns that fit your style.
Lauren Donaldson
Materials required:
Blank coco fiber mat (I found mine at Home Depot for $7)Acrylic paintsSponge brushesPaper for your patternX-acto knifeSpray paint
Lauren Donaldson
Step 1: Decide on your colours and patterns. Acrylic paints work great for this job and can be obtained in the craft shop for less than $1. I went through a couple of sponge brushes, because the rough texture of the mat tears up the sponge. Have a few on hand. dabbing the brush in an up-down 11, paint the mat.
Lauren Donaldson
Measure 2: Paint however many colours you need on the mat. I marigold and picked for turquoise. Proceed over the paint using another coat for deeper hues.
Lauren Donaldson
Measure 3: If you want to include a pattern, draw it out on a piece of paper. Use an X-acto knife to trim out your drawing, building a stencil.
Lauren Donaldson
Measure 4: Working in a well-ventilated place, place the stencil on your mat and use spray paint to colour it in, following the instructions on the can. For the pattern, this technique worked better than painting using the sponge brush, providing more even coverage. Reposition the stencil and spray until you’ve got a completed pattern.
Lauren Donaldson
Allow the mat dry before allowing people to walk onto it. The colour may fade somewhat with use but you can always add a second coat of paint to touch up.
When guests come to see, the mat is just one of the very first things they will encounter. Your new one will make a first impression.
Lauren Donaldson
This would also be a fun job to do with kids. They can customize the mat with their drawings and then give it to a grandparent or other relative to get a usable piece of art.
Something that you make yourself has more meaning than something purchased in a shop. With projects such as this, you can allow your handmade items to tell a narrative and reveal a facet of your personality to your customers.
Shop doormats in our Products section
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How to Choose the Best Rug For The Entryway
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