I was inspired to start this project when I saw the DIY river stone bath mat repinned a couple hundred times on my Pinterest feed! I had a few issues with the versions I found though. First up were the rocks themselves. They were polished smooth, making it extremely unsafe when wet. They used hot glue which is not something that will hold up over time. Finally, there was nowhere for excess water to drain off. I decided to eliminate those three problems and put my own spin on it by using ocean stones from our favorite beach. It took me a few trips to get the right amount, but I couldn’t be happier with the final product!
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Supplies:
Outdoor rubber mat – with holes or spaces for water to drain
Smooth ocean or river stones – make sure they are porous, not slick and polished. The amount will vary on the size of the mat and can be found near rivers, oceans, or your local craft store! ; )
Clear waterproof silicone sealer
Plastic drop cloth or old shower curtain
The mat I picked had a textured pattern on the front so I flipped it over to work on the smooth side.
Work on a plastic drop cloth or old shower curtain.. the last thing you want to do is glue your fun new bath mat down to your carpet! Now arrange your stones on the mat so you can make sure you have enough and map out how they will all fit. It’s kind of like putting a puzzle together, so have patience! I also placed the largest rocks I had over the holes in the mat. Water will still be able to drain out, but I didn’t want the gap to be visible.
Once arranged, start on one corner and pick up a stone. Squeeze out a dab of the silicone sealer on the back of the stone and place it back down on the mat.
Hold for a few seconds and repeat with remaining stones.
The sealer says it will set up in 3 hours, but I would wait at least 24 hours before moving and using the mat.
This is a great way to incorporate nature into your bathroom and remember your favorite beach trips!
Kelli says
Omg! I love this idea!! Thanks for sharing, Sasha. You’re so crafty and creative. LOVE IT! 🙂
Sasha says
Thank you Kelli!
Jess @ Sweet Athena says
Wow! I love that you took a popular idea and really thought about it and made sure it was something that could be sustainable. That’s some true Martha crafting right there. 😉
Olivia says
I love this idea! In fact, I am obsessed with it! I am from New Hampshire and LOVE the ocean, but my husband and I currently live in Utah for school but I have tons of ocean rocks that I’ve brought with me from the east coast and that my mom has sent over time so I can’t wait to do this! Ahh!
Sasha says
Thank you so much Jenise! I’m honored!
DIY Fun Ideas says
🙂
janice says
I LOVE THIS BUt
i have a few questions
so where does the excess water run to after it goes through
the rocks to the mat?
how do you sanitize this ?
Sasha says
The rocks we used were very porous so they did a great job at absorbing most of the water. What little run off there was, I would just lift the mat and wipe up with a towel or paper towel. To wash it I just placed mine straight into the bathtub, added a few squirts of soap, and turned the shower on. Then I just tipped it so the water could run off and let it air dry.
I hope this helps! Happy crafting!
Winter says
Hi there! Thank you so much for this tutorial! I was wondering what could be used for the stones if I live nowhere close to a beach. Are there porous stones that can be found in any stores that you know of? Thanks!
Sasha says
Hi Winter! I would start with your local craft stores (Michael’s, Jo-Anns, Hobby Lobby) and see what they have available. Typically I only find the small shiny river rocks, which worry me since they could be a bit slippery. If they don’t have any stones large enough or porous in texture, check with Lowes or Home Depot. I hope this helps! Happy crafting!
Rosie says
How heavy is this thing?
Sasha says
Haha it’s pretty heavy! The ocean stones I used are pretty heavy, but perhaps using flatter or lighter river rock might take some of that weight away. It slides around pretty easy though if you need to move it though.
Celeste says
I was wondering if it could possibly be used outdoors for a mat for my pool when getting out??
Sasha says
Hi Celeste! You can definitely use this outdoors! The wear and tear from weather conditions may break it down faster, but I think as long as you bring it inside during winter months, you’ll be good to go!
Tammy says
I love this idea! I definitely want to try it. But one concern…is it hard on the bare feet? Even without sharp edges I’m worried it won’t be too comfy to stand on. How is that in your own experience?
Sasha says
It’s surprisingly smooth and comfortable to stand on. I wouldn’t recommend it for in front of the sink or anywhere you’ll be standing for extended periods of time, but in front of the shower is just perfect! 🙂
Liz says
Doesnt it get moldy? It’s amazing would love one. It’s either going to be this or Moss. Thanks
Sasha says
Hi Liz! With regular cleaning (maybe once every few weeks), mold shouldn’t be an issue. I’m also a big fan of the moss bath mats too, but haven’t attempted one myself. Let me know which one you decide to make and how it turns out!
Sarah Tarkington says
You can buy river rock anywhere stone/gravel/dirt is sold and probably at Home Depot or a local Hardware store. I’d take a guess though that the a gravel/dirt distributor would be least expensive.
Karyl Griffin says
A friend recently redid her shower with flat stones for the flooring and I love it…but to redo mine was going to be very expensive. I’m not sure that I can find stones here in the desert, but this gave me an idea of what I might do to just make an in shower mat that wouldn’t require a full shower remodel. I’m going to percolate on this one! Thanks for the great idea.
Sasha says
Thank you Karyl! You’ll have to keep me posted on your shower makeover plans! I’d love to see what you do with it!
Donna says
Do you think it would work for a front door mat?
Sasha says
I think it would work for a while, but you would need to re-glue some of the stones on after time. The high traffic that a front door mat receives mixed with weather is going to create stress and general wear and tear much faster than it would as a bath mat.
LO VEE says
Hey!
Has anyone used this IN their shower? Like a slip/proof mat? Would it be uncomfortable or moldy? Suggestions?
Sasha says
I wouldn’t recommend it, but if you do give it a go I recommend using porous rocks to avoid it getting too slippery and also cleaning it regularly. A shower spray that prevents soap buildup and mold would be best.
ZULY says
Замечательная идея!!! мило, красиво, креативно и приятно. спасибо! 🙂
Путешествия says
Nice idea! Just one question: isn’t it too cold to step down on it after shower. And is it washable? How to clean it? I suppose the glue will be weakened by contact with water…
Sasha says
The stones seem to keep whatever temperature the room is at. I also positioned mine in front of our bathroom heater so it’s really nice during winter! Just use a regular bathroom cleaner or place the entire mat inside your bathtub, turn the shower on, and scrub with dish soap. Depending on the glue you use, it could definitely break down with water that’s why I suggest a waterproof sealing glue like the one pictured here. I hope this helps! Happy crafting!
Annalise says
Hi, I love this idea! I was wondering where did you get all your supplies?
Sasha says
Thanks Annalise! I found all the stones at the Pacific Ocean, the mat I believe Target or Fred Meyer (kind of like a Walmart), and the glue was found at Home Depot.
Fawn says
This is wonderful! I would use it in my house as a decorative item on the floor. Love bringing the outdoors indoors! Thank you SO much for a wonderful tutorial.
Sasha says
Thank you Fawn!
Judith Gorman says
This looks like it would be perfect to cover the large round cement septic covers that are on my terrace. One has to be able to be removed every 2 years so it can’t be a permanent thingy and my husband has to like it. Other folks have put on artificial grass -awful…so since I put big flower filled tubs on them with these mats underneath it should look awesome. Going shopping….thanks.
G says
I love this idea! Thanks for sharing, can’t wait to start working on it! Where did you purchase this mat? Thanks!
Sasha says
Thank you! I believe I found the mat at Target!
Lisa fowler says
Will the sealer release toxins when in contact with hot water from the shower ?
Sasha says
Hi Lisa, I wouldn’t recommend using this directly in the shower because after water and soap constantly hitting it, it could cause some of the stones to come loose. I would use it as a mat to step onto outside of the tub instead.
Jeanne L says
I love this idea. We live by the beach so I have easy access to stones. Plus I have collected so many but I like that yours are oval and similar. One question. Do you think this would last outside on a porch? It sure would fit nicely with our beach house exterior decor. Just wondering if glue would hold up with different weather conditions. I could bring it in during the coldest winter months. A fun conversation piece!
Sasha says
Hi Jeanne! Thank you so much for your comment! I would suggest using an outdoor caulking or other type of heavy duty outdoor glue to adhere the stones to the mat. I put mine outside during the summer and some of the stones came loose with just general wear and tear of walking on it and being exposed to the elements. The glue I used isn’t suited for outdoor use though, so I’m sure if you found something a little more durable for outdoors, it should hold up just fine!
Jeanne L says
Thanks for the quick reply. Your advice sounds very good. I will probably put it somewhere on the porch that doesn’t get much use but more as something to admire. We live in Maine so we get quite a bit of intense coastal weather so the outdoor caulk/glue really makes sense. I am going to check out your website for more interesting projects. But I better finish all the ones I have already started!
Johnnie Olivia Tate says
Love this mat. I will definitely be looking for these stones on my next trip to the Hobby Store. Thank you so much for sharing this idea.
Kim Bathon says
Just wondering….. I know my neighborhood includes a dollar store. After the beach, that would be my next choice for stones. Great idea and I will try it out. Thanks!
Sasha says
Hi Kim! If you do end up at the dollar or craft store, look for stones that aren’t polished. You don’t want your mat slippery! Happy crafting!
Lois says
Love your mat. Thinking of it for an outside door mat. Would use waterproof silicone. What do you think of caulking it????? Thank hou
Sasha says
Thanks Lois! Outdoor waterproof caulking may work a bit better for using this as a high traffic outdoor mat. You could always do a trial run with two small patches of rubber or other material before committing to the whole mat. Let me know if you have any other questions and keep me posted on how it turns out! 🙂
Tish says
Where did you purchase the rocks?
Thx.
Sasha says
Hi Tish, I actually collected mine from several of the beaches I frequent along the Oregon coast. I would recommend looking for porous river or ocean stones. Slick textures on polished rocks will make the mat awfully slippery! Jo-Ann’s Craft Stores and Michaels also sell bags of river stones in case you’re not able to collect them from nature. I hope this helps! Happy crafting!