Decorative Wall Art Ideas - Old-World Charm

Inspired by antique ironwork, this sophisticated piece is surprisingly easy to pull together. The spray-painted scroll pattern on the wood boards comes from an unexpected source—a rubber doormat.

Old World Charm

Step 1: Ask a Lowe’s employee in the lumber department to cut each 1 x 12 x 6 in half, creating four approximately 3-foot-long boards.

Step 2: Sand the boards, and wipe clean. Wearing gloves, apply stain to the boards following the manufacturer’s instructions. Let dry, and repeat with additional coats if needed to achieve the desired finish. Allow to dry completely.

Step 3: Cover a flat work surface with a drop cloth, and place two of the boards side by side. Position the doormat face up and centered on the boards. Use painter’s tape to cover any exposed areas outside the border of the mat, including the boards’ side edges.

Step 4: Apply a coat of spray primer to the boards through the mat, spraying from straight above. Then apply two or three light coats of spray paint. Note: Heavy coats of paint will blur the stencil design. Allow each coat to dry.

Step 5: Remove the doormat, and repeat Steps 3–4 for the remaining two boards.

Step 6: Spray the boards with clear polyurethane. Allow to dry. Hang the boards using picture hangers and appropriate hardware for your wall type.

For more decorative wall art ideas, see our list of projects here.

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Customer avatarBy:Sarah S.
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Posted: August 23, 2010
Customer avatarBy:Sarah S.
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Been saving this article for a year and finally got around to making it. Looks awesome in my living room. Super easy to make. Several people above have commented on having to trim all the excess rubber from the design on the mat - I did in just a few spots where it was really tight, but not on the whole thing and it still turned out great!
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Project Details
Lowe’s List
Skill level: Beginner
Rough cost estimate: $110*
Rough time estimate: 1 day
  • 2 poplar boards, 1 x 12 x 6**
  • oil-based stain (Minwax Wood Finish, Dark Walnut, #45810)
  • rubber doormat (24- x 36-inch, #132070)
  • painter’s tape (#53140)
  • spray primer (#45553)
  • spray paint (Valspar, Porcelain, #282281)
  • fast-drying polyurethane spray (Minwax, #45863)
  • self-leveling picture hangers (#62958)
  • appropriate fasteners for your wall type
*Does not include applicable taxes, which vary by market, or the cost of tools.
**Availability varies by market.
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