Don’t you just love using stuff you already have to create something new? A few weeks ago, I bought two pieces of hardboard for the back of the bookcases I built. The off-cuts were staring me in the face as I worked in the garage, and I decided to put them to good use. I cut them into smaller pieces with the table saw to create DIY placemats, decorating them with paint and transfers – my favorite!

I’ve been working on my home office makeover for several weeks and felt like I could do with a break. I needed a quick and easy project, something fun that would not take longer than a day or two to complete. These placemats were the perfect project!

Products Needed for the DIY Placemats

These are shoppable links from which I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. (Read our disclosure policy here)

• Hardboard off-cuts
• Belles & Whistles Bohemian Wedding Transfer
• Dixie Belle Silk Mineral Paint – Oyster
• Dixie Belle Silk Mineral Paint – Quiet Cove
• Dixie Belle Clear Coat – Flat
• Paint Brushes – round and flat
• Fine Mist Spray Bottle
• 220-grit Sanding Sponge

The hardboard off-cuts were big enough to cut six placemats of 11 x 15 inches each and one 11 x 36 inch piece that I thought could be useful as a centerpiece for hot dishes, etc.

The transfer design includes four sheets, of which two form one big image, the perfect size for a centerpiece.

As a basecoat, I painted all the boards with an off-white color named Oyster.

Once that was dry, I used a beautiful blue named Quiet Cove to roughly paint a border of about an inch, blended with more of the Oyster in the middle.

I used a big round brush to blend the two colors to flow seamlessly into one another. It ended up looking like clouds in a blue sky.

[convertkit form=5433152]

Two of the sheets consist of smaller images that can be separated. I picked the images I liked best and divided them between the six placemats.

Two of the placemats each have an image in the bottom corner, two with images in the top corner and two with images centered at the bottom.

The remaining two sheets each have half of one big design, which looks absolutely gorgeous on the long center mat.

It looks even better than I imagined! I am so glad I used two blended colors for the background instead of one solid color.

Here you can see all the pieces together. I feared the blue might be too dark under some parts of the transfer images, but it turned out beautifully. These two colors together are the perfect backdrop for this design, don’t you think?

Tablescape Inspiration

This table setting shows how the placemats and center mat can be used. The red accents in the design led me to a red and blue scheme.

If you are looking for something red and blue that isn’t all flags, this could work for a 4th of July table.

Using less blue and more white could even work for Canada Day! The possibilities are endless.

I would love to hear what you think of these DIY placemats!

Until next time, happy crafting and happy celebrating!

You May Also Like These Posts

• Wondering What To Do With Leftover Wallpaper? I Have The Best Idea For You!
• Decorating A Pumpkin With Floral Transfers
• Blue and White Chinoiserie Pumpkins
• Decorating a Basement with Mountain Cabin Vibes
• A DIY Fall Wreath For Our Newly Painted Front Door