My tutorial for our Half Circle Wooden Doormat has been very popular since I posted it almost 2 years ago. I love it when people email us their versions of our project… makes my DIY-lovin’ heart happy. I even noticed that one of my blogging friends from Shades of Blue Interiors knocked one out recently. So awesome!

Since making my first version, I’ve learned a few things about this project and what works and what doesn’t. And since I was building myself a second rounded wooden doormat anyway, I thought ‘why not just post a better-slash-updated tutorial’!

I’m feeling so refreshed this morning, and sitting outside on this very porch typing this blog post. So glorious!

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Rounded Wooden Doormat Supplies

• Board with 1” thickness (we used poplar)
• 1/4” nylon string
• 1/4” Roundover Router Bit
• Stain
• Sealer
• 5/16” Drill Bit

 

Nick ripped down a poplar board (with a 1”thickness) into 1” strips for me. Then I used miter saw (we use this one) to chop those 1” strips into the following dimensions.

It’s important that these are cut so that the grain of the wood is going the long way… NOT across. I made that mistake the first time I made this rug, and the rungs started breaking after being out in the elements for a few months.

I used a 1/4” Roundover Bit to round off the 4 edges that will get foot traffic so the rug doesn’t have a ‘sharp’ feeling on those bare feet. Then made piles of the 3 sizes.

It’s time to drill some holes now! I got the drill press set up with a 5/16” bit, and drilled holes through the little square chunks first (going through the long way).

Then I drilled two holes in each of the 5” and 7” rungs, as follows:

Once all the holes were drilled, some of them had some rough edges so I did a bit of sanding. Then I stained each one using a cotton cloth and a rich Dark Walnut shade.

Using 1/4” White String, start stringing up your first row. This will be those 10 5” rungs that have a hole drilled 1/2” from both edges. You will want to burn the end of the string to make it easier to string up. You’ll end up burning the edges after knotting anyways to avoid unraveling issues. I just kept a candle burning nearby so I could just hold my string over the flame before starting each row.

NOTE! Cut your string a lot longer than what you think you’ll need each time. Then just cut off the excess after you have the knot tied at the end of each row. These rows use more string than you think! #lessonlearned

Time to string up the next row! You’ll take the rest of the 5” rungs and alternate stringing through the first row and the new rungs (going through the hole that’s 1/2” from the edge, NOT the one that’s 1”)… like so:

Now that you’ve used up all your 5” pieces, you’ll start stringing up a row of 7” pieces, putting two between each, (on the 1/2” end) like so…

Then you’ll string up your final row! You’ll alternate between adding 1 and 2 at a time (on the edge with the hole that’s 1” from the edge), like so…

And FINALLY, string on those little squares between each of the rungs on that last row!

In hindsight, I should have routed/stained ALL the edges on the little square pieces, because they don’t always stay put and sometimes flip over… showing the unstained side. But it doesn’t bother me enough to take my rug apart and fix it. Hehe!

After it was completely assembled, I sprayed it with a couple coats of RustOleum Spar Varnish with a Satin sheen. Since the wood isn’t treated for outdoor use, I know this rug won’t last forever. But our covered porch and the varnish should give it a decent life. And by the time it starts to deteriorate, I’ll be ready for something new anyway!

You know I always like to incorporate a little wood and a little texture in all the spaces I design, and this round wooden doormat provides BOTH for our little porchy area!

This bad boy turned out even better than I imagined! It feels like it pulls together this whole space!

I love how the circular shape of the doormat echoes the circular shape of our pergola and patio! And how all the other little elements of the porch all come together in a nice little welcoming package. Be sure to click around and check out these other tutorials!

 

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