Asked on Jul 17, 2014

Rubber Mats

Loni
by Loni
Does anyone have any clever ideas on what to do with these hard rubber mats, they do not work well for cleaning shoes!
  51 answers
  • Neocrowe Neocrowe on Jul 17, 2014
    I have seen them spray painted white, sanded a bit to distress, then hung up and used as wall art....they look like architectural salvage pieces!
  • Loni Loni on Jul 17, 2014
    Thank you, no place to hang them, still open for more suggestions!
  • Miriam Illions Miriam Illions on Jul 17, 2014
    What about to cover ugly air vents? I've seen them used that way.
  • Loni Loni on Jul 17, 2014
    thank you.
  • Because they are rubber they can make great molds for walkways. Construct a box using screws about four or five inches larger then the mat itself. Then make that box about three inches deep. Place the mat on the bottom of the box in the center. Then using a cooking oil and a spray bottle wet the surface of the mat really well. It will be used as a release agent. Also do the same with all the wood surface. Make it wet. Then mix cement, Not mortar. Use the stuff with the rocks. Fill the box and level the back side with a larger board. Let the cement harden over night. Then carefully remove the screws on the box so it comes apart. You then can pull the mat out of the surface of the cement leaving that pattern on the surface. Make several of these and use as walkways around gardens. For areas where you may have heavy foot traffic, you can place metal rods in the cement as you pour to strengthen the pad of cement that you create. They will be heavy, but will last a long time.
  • Loni Loni on Jul 17, 2014
    Great, thank you!
  • Tammy w Tammy w on Jul 17, 2014
    could use metal looking paint and make wall art...maybe like a hammered copper or bronze to make it look like metal scroll work.
  • Shirley C Shirley C on Jul 18, 2014
    Use for houseplant or patio plant placemat? Or place yard clogs or boots on them outside the door. They could even be used under a faucet near the outside hose, or how about in front if the BBQ pit? If you have anything metal you don't want coming in direct contac with concrete, they can be used as a buffer. I have one where we step onto the patio from yard. What if you used it under a hose reel to keep it from sliding? I may try this myself. They do look great on a wall as mentioned, you said no wall space, but do you have a gate? They'd be awesome there or as fence accent?
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jul 18, 2014
    Beautiful mats and you are getting some great suggestions! Another thing you could do is use this as a stencil to paint designs on a concrete patio! Or a walkway!
  • Susan Cryor Susan Cryor on Jul 18, 2014
    Send to me...I love to clean up the dirt in them....OUTSIDE instead of it getting tracked inside!!! Three dogs
  • Carol Carol on Jul 18, 2014
    I use one of these mats in my poorly ventilated, downstairs (guys) bathroom. My husband showers in the evening, and my son showers in the morning. A traditional bathmat would never dry out between showers. The mildew and musty smell was forever present. Rather than washing/drying the bathmat every day, I put one of these down. The mat prevents leaving a slippery floor and somehow, the water evaporates between showers, too! No more mildewy-smelling bathroom!
  • Carole Carole on Jul 18, 2014
    Could they be used for making decorative pavers or on a cement path. Face down, the pattern would come out on the wet cement?? Or use like a printers plate - paint the surface and use it face down on a canvas surface or similar and use a roller for pressure to ensure the pattern is transferred to the fabric? Could use this method to paint a decorative pattern on a deck or wooden or concrete floor?
    • Debra Grieve Debra Grieve on Jul 18, 2014
      @Carole OMG! I love this idea!!! Thank you for sharing it!!! My boys are always leaving puddles or soaking the mats!! I wish I had heard of this a long time ago!!
  • Marie OHara Marie OHara on Jul 18, 2014
    look on Pinterest. some great ides!
  • HeidiZG HeidiZG on Jul 18, 2014
    hmmmm..... I'm wondering if you could roll the rectangular one and insert a light bulb. Could be too heavy. Maybe if you cut lengthwise and then roll them. Or how about cutting out the center part of the rectangular one and making it into an outdoor frame for a mirror? Use the leftover to hang or to place planters on to protect tables.
  • W.e188636 W.e188636 on Jul 18, 2014
    How about using the oblong one for a ceiling medallion, painted color of your choice. I can visualize an oblong light fixture hanging from the center. If you have two of the half circle you could us them for a circle medallion. Would like to know what you do with them.
  • Bonnie Medearis Bonnie Medearis on Jul 18, 2014
    If you follow the above directions from Woodbridge Enviromental you can also use them as ornamental sculptures in the garden. Like the italian wall art. Distress the concrete a bit and prop them up in various places in the garden and they look like very ornate wall plaques.
  • White Oak Studio Designs White Oak Studio Designs on Jul 18, 2014
    Do you have a garage or an outbuilding? They would make a great decoration hanging on the outside of the structure and would hold up well too.
  • Joffler Joffler on Jul 18, 2014
    You must've missed this post on Hometalk: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/-3634077 I think you have the very same door mat featured in the post.
  • Joan Joan on Jul 18, 2014
    You could make a river stone bathmat, or on a small scale cut it and make a trivet. http://www.tattooedmartha.com/2013/05/28/ocean-stone-bath-mat/
  • Elizabeth Dwyer Simpson Elizabeth Dwyer Simpson on Jul 18, 2014
    GREAT!! It's fun and interesting to be connected with such creative individuals. I'm so pleased with the Thriftiest Bathroom Design. Now will some one help me with a kitchen design. When, not IF, I win the lottery worth millions, I'll take whom ever to lunch ..... in gay Paris. Really!!!
  • Neen Finley Neen Finley on Jul 18, 2014
    Not sure about the size but I was thinking of working it in to a door way in with the framing.Thats what I see with the half circle and even the rectangle..Lots of awesome ideas...
  • Ann Marie Caldon Ann Marie Caldon on Jul 18, 2014
    Outside the front door or garage door. They also work well for a big planter holds it up just enought to protect the deck.
  • Candy Candy on Jul 18, 2014
    I use these as stepping stones in areas where I can't grow grass
  • Gina Gina on Jul 18, 2014
    I saw a table with them nailed on sides (for lattice effect) then spray painted. Looked awesome.
  • Gina Gina on Jul 18, 2014
    See above
    • See 4 previous
    • Caryl Caryl on Mar 09, 2022

      I was thinking of using one to hide the back of the microwave. Painted to match wall. But how to make it stand up? Hand from ceiling on fishing wire?

  • Kim White Trudo Kim White Trudo on Jul 18, 2014
    I have seen them used placed inside a gate to look like decorative iron work and also used to stamp concrete stepping stones.
  • Lisa Ochoa Lisa Ochoa on Jul 18, 2014
    hang them as a decoration
  • Jenifer Cunningham Jenifer Cunningham on Jul 18, 2014
    paint them with Anne Sloan paint and use them as a wall decoration. PINTREST.
  • She365433 She365433 on Jul 18, 2014
    Use them as a stencil - lay them on a piece of wood (or whatever), spray paint from straight above and remove the mat - wa-la :)
  • Linda Macdonald Linda Macdonald on Jul 18, 2014
    Hang on your wall
  • Kristen Zebley-Bossert Kristen Zebley-Bossert on Jul 19, 2014
    You can spray paint through them on canvas or paper for neat looking art?
  • Kai T Kai T on Jul 19, 2014
    I've seen them painted and framed in as a headboard.
  • Vicki Vicki on Jul 19, 2014
    hang them outside by deck on the brick wall with brick brackets to hold them. can spray paint color to pretty it up.
  • Debra Debra on Jul 19, 2014
    Mount them to cover a mirror and then frame them.
  • Polly Zieper Polly Zieper on Jul 19, 2014
    I NEED one of these mats, and can't find one - the stores are only carrying the regularrope- or whatever rough material- welcome mats. I need one for an outdoor shower we put in our backyard, for after swimming, so dripping wet kids aren't walking through the house to take a shower.
    • See 3 previous
    • Nena Lynn Nena Lynn on May 25, 2015
      Locally they always have them at Lowes and Home Depot.
  • Gina Gina on Jul 19, 2014
    Also this one
  • Trish Davenport Trish Davenport on Jul 19, 2014
    I, too have a friend who painted hers and hung three of them on her living room wall. Lowe's sells them.
  • Vicki K Vicki K on Jul 19, 2014
    When I went to buy one, all they had was the rope ones. Apparently everybody bought them out of the rubber ones!
  • Sherry Wade Sherry Wade on Jul 24, 2014
    Paint and hang for wall art.
  • C C on Jul 28, 2014
    They make great art for outside on a patio.
  • Sue Voeltner Blythe Sue Voeltner Blythe on Jul 28, 2014
    I found one at Tuesday Morning for $7.99!
  • Candace Candace on Jul 28, 2014
    What did you use to mount them? Mine are pretty heavy. Great idea though; would also look great as a deck/porch decoration. Thanks for the idea.
  • Judy Ford Judy Ford on Sep 03, 2014
    They would be pretty in a garden path..sunk into the earth..along with maybe pavers.
  • Trish Davenport Trish Davenport on Sep 04, 2014
    @Vicki K I just checked this minute 1:55 pm 9/4 and Home Depot has a beautiful one listed under door mats for about $20. Good Luck
  • Denise Denise on Feb 09, 2015
    make a great stencil for tabletops
  • Lori Lori on Feb 23, 2015
    Maybe someone already mentioned this but they look like wrought iron when hung on a wooden fence, or gate, but cheaper and they never rust.
  • Jackie Jackie on Apr 16, 2015
    Does anyone have the instructions on how to build the yellow server with the door mat sides?
    • Robyn Robyn on Aug 02, 2016
      I would start by finding some plans , like from Anna White. Then modify them if needed to accommodate your mats. Looks to me like the mats had been cut away from the outside boarder? As far as attaching them? I'd use a pin nailer and tack them everywhere I could! 😄 Good luck, I might try it myself!
  • Brenda Turnquest Brenda Turnquest on Jun 15, 2015
    They look great painted either one color or very detailed and mounted on a fence or wall.
  • Ruby77 Ruby77 on Apr 24, 2016
    I saw someone put one over an ugly wall heat/AC register. Looks a lot better than a metal grate.
  • Ptr6799626 Ptr6799626 on Aug 29, 2016
    You can also press them in paint or stain and then press onto a wood to use as a painting press transfer.