How to Paint a Coir Doormat

Durable coco coir doormats are available in a variety of styles and are made on handlooms and power looms. Coir mats withstand heavy foot traffic through the changing weather of the seasons, and their bristly nature helps clean dirt and mud from shoes. Although coir doormats are available in coir’s natural light-brown coloring, in pre-dyed coir woven into a design, or in painted options, they are a nice choice for a do-it-yourself project to tailor a doormat to fit in with a home’s design.

While figuring out how to paint a coir doormat and what design to use, first decide on a color scheme — whether it will be one color, a design (like stripes), or a more intricate design, such as a flower or a word, which would call for the use of a stencil to make the project more manageable.

Paint a Coir Doormat Using Masking Tape

After deciding on a color, gather supplies needed to paint the coir doormat — newspapers to place underneath the doormat, masking tape, latex house paint, and a paintbrush.

You can use a strip of masking tape to create a design on the mat. For instance, place two crisscrossing tape strips from one corner to the opposite corner. Then place another strip across the middle between the other two corners. These two strips will create four triangles on the mat. Dab paint across the edges of the tape inside the triangles to be colored and all the way to the edges of those areas. Either leave the other two triangles in their natural coir color or paint them with another color of latex paint.

Let the mat dry for at least twenty-four hours before using.

Paint a Coir Doormat Using a Stencil

For a stenciled doormat, decide on a shape and color and then gather necessary supplies — tape, newspaper or another protective covering, spray paint, a pen, poster board or vinyl from which to make the stencil (or buy a premade one), and a knife, razor blade, or scissors for cutting out the design.

To create the stencil, enlarge the design on a computer and print on one sheet or multiple sheets of paper, depending on the desired size. Next, trace the design onto the poster board or vinyl, and cut around the pen lines to leave an empty space where the paint will go. Tape the stencil into place on the desired location of the doormat and tape newspaper onto the doormat areas that will remain unpainted.

Place the doormat on an area thoroughly protected with newspaper, a drop cloth, or plastic to avoid unwanted overspray. Hold the spray paint can two inches away from the doormat and lightly spray the stencil multiple times, being sure to fill in all cut-out areas of the stencil. Pull off the newspaper and allow the doormat to dry for at least twenty-four hours before using. 

These do-it-yourself, painted doormats add a warm and welcoming touch to any doorway.