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DIY Halloween Doormat: How to Make a Spooky Bat Welcome Mat (Easy Tutorial)

ByMissy Kate

Its time to get spooky, in this DIY tutorial I will be making a DIY Halloween Doormat! Let me let you on in a little secret… I have absolutely no artistic talent when it comes to painting, but i absolutely love the simplicity of this project and how this project has so much freedom linked to it as well. Lets get started on this spooky bat DIY Halloween Doormat.

This post contains affiliate links, what that means if you chose to make a purchase using one of the links, I will receive a small commission at NO EXTRA COST to you!

What You’ll Need

Materials:

  • Plain coir (coconut fiber) doormat in natural tan/brown color
  • Black acrylic paint
  • White acrylic paint
  • Mod Podge (matte or gloss finish)
  • Paint Brushes various sizes

Here’s a link to a full kit that includes, paints, brushes, trays and doormats.

doormat-diy-supplies

Step 1: Practice Your Bat Design

So I did this completely free hand, but you can totally make stencils if you wish. I firstly practiced what I want my bats to look like on a piece of paper, once I was happy with a design I went through with it and started painting.

Step 3: Paint the Bats Freehand

This is where the magic happens – paint directly onto the mat, sounds scary, is a bit scary but have fun!

  1. Use a medium-sized brush with black acrylic paint
  2. Start with the largest bat to master the shape properly. Coir is actually hard to paint on, so i recommend loading up the brush with paint, it will stick to the coir easier.
  3. Paint the rest of the bats, place them whereever you feel needed. This is a DIY project that has complete freedom and creativity.

Step 4: Add the “Hello” Text

For the greeting text, I chose to use hello, but you can use whichever word you feel suits your mat best.

  1. Use a smaller brush with white paint
  2. You might need to do a couple of layers as the lines are thinner and might be harder to see on the coir texture

Alternative method: If you’re not confident with freehand lettering, lightly sketch “Hello” first with pencil, then paint over your lines.

Step 5: Seal with Mod Podge

Once your artwork is completely dry (it shouldn’t take long in the sun), it’s time to seal and protect your design:

  1. Use a brush to apply a thin, even coat of Mod Podge over all painted areas
  2. Work in sections, covering each bat and the “Hello” text thoroughly
  3. The Mod Podge will go on white but dry clear, so don’t panic!
  4. Once dry, your mat is ready for use.

Why Mod Podge works perfectly: It penetrates the coir fibers while creating a protective barrier that helps the paint withstand foot traffic and weather without making the mat stiff or plastic-looking.

DIY-Halloween-Doormat

DIY Halloween Doormat Styling Tips

  • Place your mat in a recessed doorway to protect from direct rain
  • Pair with battery-operated LED candles or small pumpkins
  • The natural coir color works beautifully against dark door frames
  • Make a matching wreath

Customization Ideas

Pinterest offers a lot of beautifully designed mats from other bloggers too. I recommend having a look and pulling a piece from each mat you like and making your own custom design.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Paint not sticking well: Coir can be resistant to paint. Use fabric paint or add a textile medium to acrylic paint for better adhesion. Painting in multiple layers can help too, and don’t forget to load up your paint brush!

Cost Breakdown

  • Plain coir doormat: $10 NZD (the warehouse)
  • Black and white acrylic paint: $4.5 NZD (Kmart)
  • Mod Podge: $10 NZD (Spotlight)
  • Brushes (if needed): $3 NZD (Kmart)

Total project cost: $10-30 If you already have the paints, brushes and mod podge, which I know a lot of crafters have already, the only expense is the mat! such a great cheap DIY project

This handmade Halloween doormat will cost a fraction of store-bought decorative mats while giving you a completely unique design that perfectly matches your style. Have fun making this, and I would love to connect with you all on Pinterest. Happy Halloween !

If you love Halloween like me and want to check out some more Halloween DIY Crafts and projects, give these a try!

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