If you've been inspired by the stream of kitchen renovations we've been parading around and/or you happen to have some scrap vinyl flooring laying around, here's a way to upcycle a little of it:

You can make a doormat! Diane, at In My Own Style, posted about covering a scrap of vinyl flooring with a piece of fabric to create a doormat and I absolutely love it! What an inventive way to recycle the flooring while also creating something new for the home!
The process Diane used seems fairly easy. In addition to the vinyl flooring and fabric, Diane used spray glue, water based polyurethane, and duct tape to create her doormat.

First, Diane cut the vinyl flooring to the desired size and then cut the fabric slightly larger to allow it to wrap around the flooring. Then, she liberally applied spray glue to the vinyl flooring and fabric and joined the two together. After smoothing out the fabric to make sure it was flat and free of wrinkles and bubbles, Diane applied two coats of water based polyurethane, making sure to cover every square inch of the fabric. Once the polyurethane had dried, Diane wrapped the excess fabric around the flooring and, using duct tape, adhered it to the bottom.
And, tada! A doormat! I love that you can use any patterned fabric (chevron anyone?) and that the polyurethane makes it waterproof and easy to clean.
Check out the full post at Diane's blog: In My Own Style: How To Make A Custom Rug Out of Fabric.
Images: In My Own Style


Nomade Express Slee...
Very cool!
So pretty and bright for summer!
"dried," rather than "tried," I think!
I love the idea of making a custom doormat, but how functional is this? I feel like I need my doormats to have a little texture and absorbancy for wiping shoes/paws as we enter the house, and I get the impression that the flat poly'd surface on this wouldn't cut it for me.
I agree with deelw.
But the idea is great and I could easily picture this somewhere else.
It might not make the best doormat but a larger version would be great as an outdoor rug!
I agree completely with Jacqui726! I haven't been able to find the right size outdoor rug for my porch. I am going to try this! Thanks.
This would look good for about 20 minutes with my crew! I would need a doormat to clean everyones feet before I allowed them to step on my work of art. "Don't you dare get that doormat dirty, I just made it!" However the outdoor rug idea is very good.
Hmmmmmm....
Please be careful!! Polyurethane fumes are VERY dangerous. Exposure to them can cause permanent damage. Unprotected long term exposure can even cause kidney failure. Never use it in doors. Use it outside with gloves and a gas mask and leave the clothes you wear outside for at least a day before bringing them back into your home. Do not let it have contact with your skin.
I see so many projects on so many blogs that use toxic dangerous chemicals like polyurethane and spray paint that offer no advice on how to stay safe while using them. NEVER use a product that produces fumes without a gas mask and gloves and safety goggles. Always read warning labels and aks a professional before using any products.
If you want to use spray paint in a project, be aware that spray paint has toluene, a dangerous chemical, that has particles so tiny they can enter your body through your tear ducts. Please be careful and never do projects like this indoors or around children or pets.