DIY Holiday Welcome Mat: Easy Ikea Doormat Tutorial
When Real Simple asked us to create a quick DIY holiday gift idea for their site, Sherry celebrated in her trademark, slightly exaggerated way, and we got to work on a simple, festive welcome mat you can slip under a Christmas tree or place at your front door. It’s an approachable project that makes a thoughtful, practical gift for friends and family.
This project is straightforward and budget-friendly: a basic Ikea coir doormat, some painter’s tape, an outdoor-rated or enamel spray paint, and about ten minutes of active work time plus drying. No fancy tools are required, and the results look much more polished than you’d expect for the cost and effort.
Once the spray paint haze clears, you’ll be left with a clean, festive design that stands up well to light outdoor use. If you choose a high-quality indoor/outdoor or enamel spray paint, the design will be fixed in place once dry. These paints are formulated to resist rain and snow, so painted footprints inside the house shouldn’t be a concern. Professional welcome mats are often produced with similar spray techniques, and while any painted mat will show wear over time, the result is durable enough for typical use.
Enamel spray paint tends to deliver the longest-lasting finish, but high-quality outdoor spray paints can also hold up very well. Our sample mat has been wearing nicely since we completed it a few months before publication. If you prefer maximum durability, look specifically for products labeled “enamel” or “outdoor-rated” on the can.
Because we wanted options, we made a second doormat in a different style. This alternate design uses the same basic technique—paint, tape, and spray—but has different steps and a slightly different look. For this version we chose a round Ikea mat to create a snowglobe-inspired welcome mat.
To get the snowglobe effect, we painted the entire mat white first and allowed it to dry fully. Then we cut painter’s tape into simple asterisk shapes of various sizes and pressed them firmly onto the surface to act as snowflake masks. The simpler, graphic snowflakes fit the quick, modern aesthetic we were aiming for and make the process easier for anyone who wants a fast result.
With the tape masks secured, we applied a couple of coats of icy blue spray paint over the entire mat, let it dry, and carefully peeled away the tape to reveal white snowflakes against the blue background. The effect is playful and seasonal, and the layered approach gives the design depth without complicated stenciling.
One tip from our trial: avoid lifting and re-sticking the tape masks repeatedly. Repeated repositioning can reduce the tape’s stickiness and allow paint to seep under the edges, producing softer or uneven lines. If that happens, remove the less-sticky tape and replace it with fresh tape before painting, or repaint the base layer and start over. Keeping the tape in place the first time will give you the cleanest results.
We love this project because a doormat is a universally useful gift—most people have a door and can use a decorative mat. It’s also a fun surprise to place on a friend’s porch with a small note. If you enjoy handmade home projects, this is a fast, low-cost option that still feels special. Sherry also admires a handmade house number mat idea popularized by creative DIYers like Martha Stewart.
Update: Check out our seasonal picks for holiday decor on our site—many affordable finds are under $15. These items pair nicely with a homemade welcome mat and make thoughtful, budget-friendly gifts.