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How to Host a Christmas Mat Painting Night
Updated: Oct 30
A Christmas doormat painting night is a lovely excuse to get your friends together and make something festive. You need plain doormats, paint, brushes and a space where everyone can get a little messy. Add snacks and you've got yourself a very good November catch-up.
My craft club girls and I did this for our November catch-up last year, and it was truly the best. We did get a little competitive. Unlike me, ha. Everyone chipped in $15 towards supplies at our event; here's what we used and what I'd keep in mind if you're hosting your own.
What you need for a Christmas doormat painting night
A plain doormat for each person.
Acrylic paints in your chosen Christmas colours.
Thick bristle brushes and small paint palettes.
A suitable covering to protect the painting surface.
Optional stencils and printed place cards or menus.
A compatible sealer if you choose to use one, following its label instructions.
I found our plain mats at IKEA for $8.50 each when we hosted the night. The thin, hardwearing material worked well for our painting. That was our purchase price, so check the current cost of the mats and shared supplies before deciding what everyone should contribute.
You can buy them here:
Set up the paint and brushes
We used acrylic paint, and black, white and red showed up best on our mats. A huge colour selection sounds exciting, but some of our lighter colours didn't stand out as well. Sorry craft club, a little harsh, but useful information for the next round.
A thick bristle brush worked better for the coarse surface, and mini paint palettes made everyone feel like a proper artist. I put the paint and brushes on the kitchen bench so everyone could choose their own colours. Cover the work area before you begin and give each person enough room for their mat.
Add snacks and a few festive details
I made little menus in Canva and printed them at home as place cards. Completely optional, but it was a cute way to let everyone know what was happening. A few small details made the night feel organised without needing a huge production.
For food, I served Christmas crack and mini brie, cranberry sauce and hot honey tarts. They were a HIT. Choose something you can prepare ahead so you're free to join the painting too.
Choose a simple Christmas doormat design
Drum roll please...Here's mine!
A gingerbread house, candy-cane stripes or a simple festive message gives you somewhere to start. I went for a gingerbread house and thought it needed a little more colour before it really came together. You can see my finished version in the photo below.
Stencils are optional. We found them trickier than expected, so I'd keep the design manageable and test the paint on a small area first. If you're the host, having a few ideas ready can help everyone get started without spending the whole evening deciding what to paint.
Let the paint dry before sealing
We used a Mod Podge spray sealer, applied two to three coats and left our mats overnight. That's what we did with our supplies; drying times, coat numbers and application conditions depend on the products you choose. Follow the paint and sealer labels, and use aerosol products outdoors with the ventilation and precautions they specify.
Check that the sealer is suitable for your painted surface and intended use. Don't assume a sealed mat is waterproof or ready to walk on just because it feels dry. Let everything dry or cure for the full time recommended before putting it at the door.
Make it your next Christmas catch-up
My mat still looked amazing almost twelve months after our craft night, and I couldn't wait to pull it out again. Is October too early? Asking for a friend. If you're planning more family traditions, have a look at my matching family Christmas pyjamas picks too.
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