DIY Wooden Door Mat

This post is sponsored by Home Depot.

Today I’m sharing how I made this DIY Wooden Door Mat out of cedar wood in a sunburst shape. All you need to buy is a couple of cedar deck boards and jute twine!

As I mentioned yesterday, my friend, Jen Woodhouse is hosting this Home Depot #DIYWorkshop Virtual Party and invited me to join her and a few other super talented ladies in making a wooden door mat and of course I excitedly said yes!

You will FOR SURE want to see each of their unique takes on this project, linked to at the bottom of this post.

My door mats over the past couple of years have been just ‘meh’.  With my patio refresh a couple weeks ago, and my new spring hanging basket I made, the mat was just sad before I created this sunburst wooden mat.

I seriously contemplated keeping with the rectangular shape, but I wanted to mimic the round bistro table just a few feet over, so I brainstormed ideas on how to make this work. Ultimately I started with a general idea, and then got to cutting pieces of wood and fitting things together until I found a pattern and design that I liked.

My daughter walked out when I finished and said, “I love the sun you made, mom!” 🙂

So here is how you make one!

Supplies & Tools Needed:

2- 1×6 cedar deck boards @ 10′ (the thickness on these is *actually* 1 inch, not 3/4″ like most 1 x whatever boards)

Measuring tape

Table saw

1/4″ drill bit

Cordless drill

Sandpaper – 120 grit

Heavy duty Jute twine – #530

Thompson’s WaterSeal Timber Oil in Natural

Lamb’s wool for applying Timber Oil

Step 1: Cut Boards

Rip 1x6s down to 5, 1″ wide strips. Because the boards are 1″ thick, these will be 1″ square strips, 10′ long. You should have 10 strips total. Then cut 40- 5″ lengths, 35- 12″ lengths, 6- 16″ lengths, and 1- 51″ length.

Step 2: Lay Out All Pieces For “Dry Fit”

Make note of the pattern below. The longest piece acts as a base, then there is a layer 5″ pieces on the outermost layer, then a layer of 12″ pieces, then 12″ pieces on the inner circle, with a 16″ piece every 3rd piece on the inner circle.

Step 3: Mark and Drill Holes

Measure and mark only 1- 5″ piece (for the outmost layer) for holes at 1″ from either side . Measure and mark a 12″ piece for holes at 1″ and 4″ from either side (these will be the outer layer between the 5″ pieces). Measure and mark a 12″ piece for holes at 1″ and 4″ from one side and then 1″ from the other side (inner layer). Measure and mark a 16″ piece for holes at 1″ and 4″ from one side and 1″ and 5″ from the other side. Drill holes in the longest (51″) piece of wood at 1″ mark, 4″ mark, 8″ mark, 11″ mark, 18″ mark, and 22″ mark from both ends (so a total of 12 holes on the entire length).

With the marked pieces of wood, drill holes in each marked spot with a 1/4″ drill bit. This will be your template. With each of the remaining 5″ pieces of wood, line them up underneath the piece that has holes in it, hold it firmly and drill matching holes on the piece underneath. This will save time from measuring and marking all 40 pieces.
**You will need 21 outer layer 12″ pieces and 14 inner layer 12″ pieces**

Step 4: Sand Each Piece

Using 120 grit sandpaper, sand each piece of wood to remove splinters and rough edges so they won’t cause harm if bare-feet step on them. 🙂

Step 5: Assemble Mat with Jute

Tie knots and run long, separate pieces of jute twine in each of the 6 holes on one end of the 51″ piece of cedar. String the pieces of wood in the order that they go, as pictured below: 12″ outer, 5″ outer, 5″ outer, 12″ inner, 12″ outer, 5″ outer, 5″ outer, 12″ inner, 12″ outer, 5″ outer, 5″ outer, 16″ inner, AND REPEAT the pattern all the way around. Make sure the 16″ piece has the 1″ and 5″ holes closest to the center of the mat. After all the wood is strung on the string, tie knots on the other side of the long, 51″ base piece.

Here is what the knots on the other end look like:

Step 6: Seal Wood

Generously apply Thomson’s WaterSeal Timber Oil with lamb’s wool on both sides of the mat. I mean, technically you should apply this before you assemble it but I was impatient and wanted to see how it looked with the natural wood before I decided to seal it. Either way works… I applied lots so it would seep down the sides. Let dry 24 hours before using the mat. You can also apply a second coat for added protection. Cedar wood is naturally rot and insect resistant but it does fade over time if left untreated and becomes grayish in tone. The Timber Oil prevents that from happening, keeping the wood a nice natural cedar-tone.

The end result is pretty fantastic, if I do say so myself…

I love the tone of the wood and the texture it adds to our front entrance, don’t you?

I also decided to add some fresh flowers to the pots I’ve had sitting out here. I had ferns in here a couple weeks ago but the temps got below freezing the week after I put them out and I forgot to bring them in, so they turned completely brown. They aren’t 100% dead though so I’m nursing them back to life inside… trying at least!

One of my favorite parts about using cedar is the pretty variation in wood tone you can get. I tried picking out boards that had some good contrast in the grain, so that you could see it when I created the mat. It makes it look so much better than the uniform wood mats you see in stores, no?

If YOU would like to make your own mat, Home Depot is having a DIY Workshop THIS Saturday, 3/26, and will help you make this simpler version. Register HERE!

Haven’t heard of The Home Depot Workshops before? Here is a little about them:

-The Home Depot offers Workshops at all of their locations for do-it-yourselfers of all ages and all experience levels.

-There are three types of Workshops offered: Do-It-Yourself (DIY), Do-It-Herself, and Kids.

-Customers can learn how to build decor projects, how to make easy home repairs, and how to operate tools through demonstrations and step-by-step instructions.

-Visit http://workshops.homedepot.com to learn more!

If you make one, would you please let me know? I’d love to hear about it or see it– just use the hashtag #DIYWorkshop so we can easily find it!

Be sure and check out all these other amazing bloggers and their creative take on this same project:

House of Wood —- Shades of Blue Interiors, Place of My Taste, Bower Power Blog, Making Home Base

Build Basic —- Sawdust 2 Stitches, My Love 2 Create, Her Toolbelt, Addicted 2 DIY

That’s My Letter —- Ciburbanity, Brooklyn Limestone, Wills Casa, The Bold Abode

Fix This Build That —- Glued N Screwed, Build It, Craft It, Love It, DIY Huntress, Sawdust To Sequins, 

Remodelando La Casa —- The Batchelor Way, The Kim Six Fix, Heathered Nest, Creatively Living

*I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in this Workshops Program. As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting TheHome Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. This post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.