10 Amazing Ways To Repurpose An Old Doormat Around The House And Garden

Ding-dong! Visitors are here and they're laughing at the "Live, laugh, leave" doormat that welcomes them to your home. More than just a practical way to wipe off your shoes, doormats are a fun and bold way to add flair to your home's exterior. But once you're ready to swap out your old doormat for a new one, whether it's for the season or because it's a little worn, you shouldn't just toss the previous mat in the trash. Even if you aren't in love with its pattern or style, you can give it a new life with some easy DIY projects. Whether it's made of coir, fabric, rubber, or other materials, we have a list of great ways you can repurpose your doormat within your home or garden.

It goes without saying that your doormat can get significantly dirty from all those shoes that come into contact with it day after day. Give your mat a once-over to make sure it's in good enough shape for repurposing. Further, before proceeding with any DIY projects with your doormat, clean it well. Shaking it and vacuuming the mat can remove most of the embedded debris. However, if you have a synthetic material mat, it may be able to be tossed into the washing machine. A washer is a good way to clean a doormat, though you want to first check the care label and use a gentle detergent when washing. With your clean mat in hand, get ready to stretch your creative muscles with these interesting DIY projects.

Often used to scrape off boots or other footwear, a rubber filigree doormat can become unique framed wall art. If you have a black mat, consider spray painting it a new color. A vibrant pink shade adds an eclectic touch, while classic chalk white offers a more elegant look. For the frame, use four pieces of wood, each approximately 1 inch thick, making the wood form a border around your mat. Secure the corners with L-brackets and then apply a liquid adhesive to the edges so they hold firm.

Your dull and dingy doormat can have a new life with a can of spray paint, stencils, and some creativity. One way to refresh the mat is by covering it with a brand-new color or greeting. Another option is to use painter's tape to create stripes in alternating or rainbow colors. Consider making triangles with tape to create a geometric motif on your old mat. If you're feeling a bit more whimsical, you could look into a set of doormat stencils, like Boqon's Doormat Stencils, which boast cheerful or playful greetings.

Do you have a coir doormat?  Made of coconut fibers, these mats are biodegradable and can easily go into your compost pile to turn into organic material. You must remove any synthetic backing first, as most plastics aren't biodegradable. You may also want to cut the mat into strips instead of adding the entire mat. Adding coir to a compost pile with worms is highly beneficial for the soil because worms both eat and live within the coir. It will take a while to break down, but the worms will help the decomposition process.

By setting a rubber doormat between the posts of a headboard or footboard, you can make a fun piece of textured decor for your bedroom. First, either give your existing bedding furniture a fresh coat of paint or repurpose a slat headboard you find while thrifting. You may need to buy an additional mat if you want to cover the entire headboard, but it can look just as elegant with one mat in the middle. Mount the doormat(s) to the wooden slats using an adhesive like E6000 or Original Gorilla Glue and let dry.

Reflective contact paper, scrap cardboard, bold metallic paint, and glue are the only materials needed for this next project. While you can upcycle an old mirror, not all of us have a collection of unwanted mirrors waiting in the closet. Mirrored contact paper like FunStick's Flexible Mirror Stickers is a perfect affordable alternative. Using your doormat as a guide, cut the cardboard to the same size, then cover it with the contact paper. Spray the mat with your desired color, then mount it on the cardboard. Hang it and watch guests reflect on your ingenuity.

Give your plants a new home when you repurpose your doormat into a planter with a coat of cement. This project is best done with less rigid mats like fabric types, as you'll need to bend it around a container. One clever DIYer used a tower of paint cans for this project, so anything similar in width can work. After soaking your mat in a bowl filled with crafting cement, shape the saturated mat around your cans, let dry, and then paint. Now, you have an abstract textured planter for your favorite flowers or herbs.

If you've ever used an electric sander or even sandpaper, you know how wood shavings and dust quickly accumulate all over your surface in the process. A doormat can help you keep the area much tidier when you slip your discarded doormat underneath the wood before you begin sanding. Not only will you protect the surface from the sander, but the doormat's fibers will also catch the residue as you work. Clean up will be a snap as you can just vacuum or fold and empty the debris into the trash when you're done.

Cats love to scratch, as it's an instinctual way they make their "mark" on their surroundings. If your feline friend is scratching your furniture, you can redirect their energy instead to a homemade scratcher. In addition to your doormat, you only need an old picture frame, either from around the house or the thrift store. Put the frame's glass (if present) aside, as you won't need it. Just frame the doormat and hang it at cat eye level so they can go to town on their own new scratcher.

Your pet's messy eating, whether it stems from a behavioral issue or just because they're a little too excited, can be a problem at feeding time. One handy way to repurpose your doormat is to use it as a pet dining mat. Your furry friend might still spread kibbles (and bits) here and there while they eat, but you'll contain a good deal of the mess with a mat secure under their bowls. Best of all, it didn't cost anything, so you saved on a pricey silicone mat. 

Do you have a garden in need of some pizzazz? Give it a small makeover by using your rubber doormat to make decorative stepping stones. Place part of the mat facedown in a square-shaped wooden frame filled with cement to transfer the mat's pattern. Repeat the process for as many stepping stones as you want to make, let set, then place in the grass where desired. Not only will you make walking across your yard or garden safer, you'll add a new visual style.