DIY kitchen mat makeover with fabric

I’ve had this gel mat forever in my kitchen underfoot by the sink. It’s nice and soft and cushy, but it’s not pretty. Not pretty at all. I used to like it, I guess, when I bought it, but it just doesn’t match my décor sensibilities anymore. It’s way too traditional-looking.

So I decided to try something a bit radical!

Why not just cover it with a pretty fabric! Why not!

And I discovered a cool, neat trick. When you iron some fabric onto those gel kitchen mats, it sticks! The heat makes the mat tacky enough to hold the fabric on the mat.

Let’s look at the tutorial now, shall we?

Supplies

• gel mat
• fabric
• iron

Steps

• Cut your fabric a few inches longer and wider than your mat.
• Place your fabric finished-side down on the floor. Center your mat finished-side down, centered on the fabric.
• Fold the fabric around the mat and using your iron set to high (no steam!) press the fabric down onto the mat. Repeat until the fabric is stuck to the mat!


Fabric kitchen mat makeover





Fabric kitchen mat makeover DIY

• Enjoy your pretty new mat!

Since the fabric is not permanently adhered to the mat (and the process of temporarily sticking the fabric to the mat is repeatable), you can easily peel the fabric off the mat anytime it gets dirty. Simply throw the fabric in the washing machine and then put it back on the kitchen mat.

If you’re concerned about the fact that the fabric is not treated or sealed for protection, you have a few options:

• You can either use a spray glaze protectant to make the mat a bit more waterproof!
• You can use fabric that is already waterproof like the oilcloth fabric I used to cover my kitchen stools here. In fact, the next time I cover a kitchen mat, I will use an oilcloth fabric!

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