Cedar Bath Mat
This versatile mat is also perfect for an entry or mudroom.
Isaw a cedar mat like this online for $35 and thought, “Hey, I can make a better one for less.” The project is super simple, practical and versatile: It can be a bath mat, an entry mat for a patio or a drip-dry platform for wet shoes. Here are some planning and building tips: I chose cedar for its looks and rotresistance. But any wood would be fine.
My mat is 14-1/2 x 30 in., but you can make yours any size. Just be sure the slats are supported by runners no more than 15 in. apart.
Large knots create weak spots, so you may need to buy extra lumber to get sections that are free of knots.
Although the nail holes won’t show, I patched them with wood filler before sanding and finishing. Left exposed, the nail heads may rust and stain the floor.
I finished my mat with tung oil. Oil finishes aren’t as durable as some others, but they’re easy to renew when the finish starts to wear— just wipe on a fresh coat.
Be sure to apply antiskid pads on the bottom to keep the mat from sliding on hard floors.
1. CUT THE SLATS
If your local home center doesn’t have good-quality 1x2 stock for the slats, buy a 1x6 and cut 1-1/2-in. strips. An 8-ft. 1x6 provided all the slats I needed.
2. ROUND THE EDGES
I rounded the slat edges with a 1/4-in. round-over bit. If you don’t have a router, ease the edges with 100-grit sandpaper.
3. ASSEMBLE THE MAT
Clamp wood scraps to your workbench to form a square. Lay out the slats against the guide using spacers cut from a paint stir stick. Then cut three runners 1 in. shorter than the width of the mat. Fasten the runners to the slats with 1-1/4-in. brads or nails.