2 Ways to Make a Doormat Cooler

Doormats, they're the first thing most folks will see as they step into your house, and in the winter they are the front line between horrid mud-melty-snowy boots and the rest of your place. So why aren't they more awesome? Well they CAN be.... Martha has not one but TWO techniques to give a bog-standard mat a little va-va-voom (sure they're relatively similar, but still...)
First a technique for adding a door number or lettering,

You'll need:
- a coir doormat
- masking tape
- card stock
- utility knife
- ruler
- T pins
- enamel spray paint
- house numbers or letters. I love the fonts at Urban Fonts.
This is a reverse stencil technique, and basically what you do is pin the numbers or letter to the mat, use masking tape to make a border then giv'er with the spray paint. see the complete how to here. I love the idea of a graffiti print "Welcome", or a cheeky "Sod Off". Or maybe your own version of the 'I am not a doormat' mat above (£22, Pedlars)
The second technique is for two-colour pictorial stencils (Martha made a blue and red 'patriotic' mat).
You'll need,
- a coir doormat
- masking tape
- card stock
- utility knife
- ruler
- T pins
- oil paints in the colour of your choice
- paint thinner
- paint brushes
And the images of your choice, I think a faux bois pattern would look completely brill, or even a simple tattoo-style swallow motif.
Martha advises that "It's better to do two light coats than one heavy one". Head on over for the rest of the skinny.
Tagged : doormat, personalise, quirky