DIY wine cork bath mat

Bath mat made of wine corks, photo

I am evidently on a hot-glue kick lately. This bath mat requires just three materials: shelf liner, hot glue, and 175 wine corks. How did I gather 175 wine corks, you ask? Working at Sunset magazine had its perks. With all the wine tastings in that office, collecting corks was a cinch. So far, I’ve made a wine cork trivet with them and now this cork bath mat. Don’t drink wine or have a supplier who does? No problem. You can buy recycled wine corks on Amazon. (This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a small commission. You can read my full disclosure here.)

My sister Christy gave me the genius idea of using a non-adhesive shelf liner with a grip bottom, so it stays in place. The cork feels good on my bare feet, plus it goes perfectly with the natural color palette of my bathroom. Yeah, but how durable is it, you say? Hmm. I’ll test it out for a few weeks and let you know how it holds up. UPDATE: Check this post for updates on the bath mat and to read about whether you should seal yours.

CB2's bamboo bath mat, photo

My wine cork bath mat was inspired by CB2′s bamboo bath mat (above), which is perfectly lovely and affordable but too big for my tiny bathroom, hence this equally eco-friendly version.

How to make a wine cork bath mat

SUPPLIES
TOOLS

  • pocket knife (sharpened)

  • cutting board (one that you won’t mind if it gets slightly damaged)

  • rotary cutter and mat (or scissors)

  • long ruler or yardstick

  • hot glue gun

  • coarse sand paper

INSTRUCTIONS
Cutting the wine corks, photo

1. Cut each cork in half lengthwise with a sharp pocket knife. Be patient and careful so you don’t cut a finger off. It’s best if you use natural cork wine corks that are similar length and width. Sand the bottoms flat if any of your cuts are jagged.

UPDATE: Several Pinterest pins have informed me that there’s an easier way to cut wine corks. Curb Alert swears that steaming wine corks on the stove for a few minutes makes them as easy to slice as butter. Check out their tutorial here. I have to try it!

Arrange the wine corks, photo

2. Arrange the corks into a rectangle, flat sides down. Use a ruler or the lines on a cutting mat to make sure your configuration of corks is as close to a straight rectangle as possible. My mat is 18 ½ x 30 inches (10 x 35 cork halves)—a little smaller than a standard size bath mat, but then my bathroom is smaller than a standard size bathroom.

Cut the shelf liner, photo

3. Measure and cut the shelf liner to size with a rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat.

Glue the outer edge, photo

4. Transfer the outer rows/columns of corks to the shelf liner and glue them to the top side of the liner. Apply a rectangle-shaped line of glue to the flat side of each cork, about ⅛ inch from the edge, line up the cork with the edge of the mat, and press hard. Wipe away any glue dribbles before it hardens fully, but after it cools (so you don’t burn yourself).

Glue the rest of the wine corks, photo

5. Once your frame is in place, transfer the rest of the corks to their corresponding position on the mat. You’ll probably have to do some arranging and trading places to make all the corks fit. Then remove one cork at a time and glue it down. You’re done!

Crafty Nest wine cork bath mat Pinterest image

Share this story

Reader Gallery

Made this project? Email your photo(s) to monica (at) craftynest (dot) com, and I’ll share your version here!

Sara Sheehy's wine cork bath mat, photo

Sara Sheehy made this bath mat from wine corks she scored from a local restaurant. Sara sliced her corks with a hack saw instead of a pocket knife.

Juliaem's wine cork bath mat, photo

Juliaem made this bath mat. Love the crisscross pattern.

April Freeman's wine cork bath mat, photo

April Freeman made this wine cork bath mat.

Lynn's wine cork photo frame
Lynn's wine cork bath mat, photo

Lynn made this wine cork photo frame and bath mat. She writes, “Thanks for the inspiration.”