My Pretty Custom Welcome Mat Makeover With Spray Paint
I don’t know if I should be embarrassed or amused that our new custom welcome mat belonged to the previous owners.
We never threw out their old worn-out rubber welcome mat when we moved in.
Who does that??
Apparently us.
It’s not my fault. The welcome mat was dirty, but it was still in solid condition. And you know how we do here at Thrift Diving: we don’t throw out perfectly dirty items…..now, do we?? 😉
Everything gets a new life.
Even my dirty ‘ole front door DIY welcome mat could use a good makeover!
(UPDATED: Keep reading to find out if this custom welcome mat held up over time!)
Watch My Custom Welcome Mat Makeover!
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BEFORE
AFTER!
The problem is that, aside from painting our front doors a punch of color last year, I’ve ignored the outside of my house. I can barely get through transforming the inside of my house, much less the outside. But I could at least make a painted custom welcome mat for the front door! 🙂
This is pretty much how my front walkway looked. It needed a good pressure washin’, needs some crack repaired, and you see those curtains at the windows?? Yep, they were also left over from the previous owners from years ago. EEK! I know….don’t judge.
See, this is how inspiration works for me–ideas just come out of the blue.
I got the idea to paint this mat while sitting on the stoop with my son. I looked down at the dingy mat and thought, “Why haven’t I done something with this rubber welcome mat in all these years?? I should totally paint it.”
The swirly pattern–how could I have missed that prettiness before? And how cool would it be to paint the letters “WELCOME”?
BEFORE
AFTER!
STEP 1: Go Grab These Materials to Make a Custom Welcome Mat
Here are the supplies you need to paint a welcome mat:
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- Rust-oleum Ocean Mist spray paint
- Rust-oleum Coral spray paint
- Primer
- Small foam brushes
- Old bowls
- Respirator or face mask
- Water hose or pressure washer for cleaning the rubber welcome mat
These paint colors were too gorgeous to pass up!
I knew they’d be perfect for the custom welcome mat and allow me to easily layer the colors. I just hoped they wouldn’t clash with my red door.
Related: How to Pick Awesome Color Combos
Protect Your Lungs From Spray Paint
Get yourselves one of these babies: a real face mask! If all you have are the small paper ones, that will work, too. Your neighbors might think you’re fighting some outbreak in your garage or yard, but hey–as long as you’re not wearing a hazmat suit, you’re all good. You won’t scare them too much. 😉 These things block the nasty smell of spray paint, and are awesome for any sanding or stripping you might do.
Okay, so back to materials.
I also made sure I picked up a primer. I really wasn’t too sure how it was going to stick to the rubber welcome mat since I’ve never painted rubber anything before. I am hoping the primer works well to keep the spray paint adhere.
STEP 2: Clean the Grime Off the Old Rubber Welcome Mat
I tried to clean off as much dirt as I could. We’re talkin’ years worth of dirt, my friends!
If you have a pressure washer, you’ve got to thoroughly clean off the rubber welcome mat before getting started with painting it. With dirt, the paint won’t stick!
Let a little boy get his hands on a hose, and it’s pure joy:
STEP 3: Prime the Rubber Welcome Mat
Okay, so while Kojo wasted water (haha), I laid the mat down on some old boards to spray paint, first with the primer.
STEP 4: Add a Coat of Ocean Mist Spray Paint
Once it dried, I added a layer of Ocean Mist. I figured it would be easier to start with that so that I could saturate the valleys of the mat with the turquoise.
Then I sprayed some of the Coral into an old bowl, to collect the paint, and used the craft sponge and a paint brush on the swirly parts. I used mineral spirits to clean up the brush, but threw out the sponge, since it got all ratty-tatty.
Because of the uneven-ness of the rubber welcome mat, getting nice, clean lines was nearly impossible. But again, we don’t expect perfection here, do we? 😉
I lined the inside of the letters with the Cora, and painted the oblong shape in a bright white. I love the way it looks!! It looks so fresh!
Hubby thinks I’m crazy for taking on a project like this. He may have said I was “wasting my time.” LOL. Men just doesn’t get it, do they?? Having a personalized custom welcome mat like this, knowing that I did it–how awesome is that?? I bet no one else in the world has one exactly like mine! 🙂
I didn’t spray this with a clear sealant. I honestly wasn’t sure if this will “work” or not, or if it will get all gunky and chippy after people start stepping on it. Only time would tell!
BEFORE
Let’s have another look at that old, ugly rubber welcome mat that was left by my old sellers years ago!
AFTER!
The custom welcome mat makes the entryway look so pretty!
Did the Painted Custom Welcome Mat Last??
I’m updating this blog post a couple years later with this fun video on my YouTube channel to find out….did the painted custom welcome mat last?
Watch the video: 7 DIY Projects THEN and NOW…Did They Last??
A Couple Other Outdoor Projects
Before you go, you might want to check out a few other outdoor projects:
So what do you think?! Have you ever thought about making DIY custom welcome mat with paint?
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Your welcome mat is so pretty, i wouldn’t want to step on it. i’d just want to admire it! I’m going to offer a little gardening advice. Pepper plants will grow pretty large, i’d plant one plant per pot. Peppers, basil and tomatoes like full sun or 6-8 hrs. of sun per day so check to see how much sun they get in this location. Good luck!
Thanks so much, Kaye! They’ve been getting tons of son on the front porch, and they seem to be flourishing there. How long until they yield veggies? Any idea? Can I keep them in pots?
What a fun blog, Serena! I’m glad I found it. The colors on the mat are lovely! I live in a townhouse community, and we have “dumpsters”. I can’t count the number of projects that I have found next to the container—-I don’t even need to “dive”, most times. 🙂 I have two chairs and a small cabinet that need my attention. Keep up the creativity–and thank you for your inspiration!
Hey Gracie!! I used to live in a condo complex and I had found amazing stuff, too! People give away so much stuff!
Very pretty and welcoming! Please follow up and let us know if it holds up, or what you seal it with.
Also, for your plants. Mix a cup of epsom salts in a gallon of water and use it to water them. They will love it and it will help them grow faster.
Hey there, Barbara! So awesome–I had never heard of epsom salt in water. I will try this! Thanks for the tip and compliments!
I love this mat, and all in a minute 45 seconds. :>) The pictures of our little boy are amazing.
I know, so quick, right! 🙂 Thank you!!
I’m loving this Girlfriend! I agree with Sharon, this needs a wide custom wooden frame. This is just too pretty to be walked on! It would look lovely right below you’ll logo in your office ????
I think you’re right, Karen! I’m going to at least attempt to use it, but I’ll start building that frame. I have a feeling it won’t hold up! LOL
I love love love tese types of makeovers! This one is fantastic and you are so thorough by adding links for products you use and it’s much appreciated. I also love that you let us know in advance that your video was not a long one and went as far as to give us the exact length of it. Now that is giving seriouse attention to you the little details of your blog. So when it’s time to nominate the ‘Blog Queen’ of the year you are a ‘shoe in’ and you’ve got my vote for sure. Keep up the great work Serena and thanks!
You are so cute, Adrian! 🙂 I do try to be thorough, especially for those who are new to DIY, you know? And who doesn’t love a short video!! LOL 🙂 Thanks so much!
Serena, your mat is beautiful, but I’m with the others: it’s pretty enough to hang on the wall. It will end up like those fancy “guest towels” that people used to put in their powder rooms. The guests were afraid to use them.
We have not one, not two, but three doormats that were left by the previous owner. I have no problem with that. They are quality items that serve their purpose. Why ship them off to the landfill?
I love the creative way you think.
Not to mention, what a great parent-and-child warm-weather project.
Nancy, I could see people now stepping OVER the mat :). LOL. I might just like that idea! LOL
I love this! I just adopted/rescued two door matts that need help and this is the answer I do believe. What great timing! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! When I get them done I will post pics.
Sometimes you just have to do what makes you happy. Even if it doesn’t make sense, even to you, you just have to do it.
Pretty colors and it was nice for you and your little one to do something like this together. He is picking up more than you know, just by being with you and ‘helping’ a bit.
I just saw a piece on another blog where the woman painted these wingback chiairs. She didn’t like the original color of the fabric…it was too outdated so she decided to PAINT them. They turned out great, a bit like faux leather, but she used them on their covered patio for years and they help up well. And she just now painted them a different color. So, if you want to paint the door mat….well, great…go for it.
Spread your wings and fly, Serena.
Love the colors. Way to go girl!! Unbelievable what simple “almost free” changes can do to cheer you up and make your house look even better! Don’t believe it I just looked out front and I have a funky old mat left by previous owners of my house too! This is silly – if it was not true. My mat is swirly like yours but there is no welcome on it. Soon as I can I’ll have to take some before and after shots and send them to you.
Keep up the great things you always do.
Thanks, Mintchip! Yes, please send me some shots! I’m sure it would look great painted! I’ll let you know know it holds up!