Tired of the ugly, impersonal doormats you find in stores and on every doorstep? At Atelier Paillasson, just near Châtelet, you can design one that’s truly you! For 2 hours, unleash your creativity and use the stencils, paints, brushes, and customization tools at hand to turn this entry mat into a real work of art!
Even if they’re basically there just to wipe your feet, these doormats can easily become visual and welcoming pieces to show off to friends on your doorstep. In a small space in the heart of a building that doesn’t look like much, Chloé and Noémie host group creative workshops (about 10 people) where you can let your imagination run wild and unwind from your Parisian day.
Don't forget to give the staff a heads-up when you're outside the building, because they're the ones who'll get you through the door! You can arrive with your design idea already in mind, let yourself be guided by the examples in the room or on a QR code to scan, or browse the stencils for simple motifs.
After a moment's thought, each person sets out to gather their colors, their palette, stencils, brushes, or tape—whatever might come in handy.
There are several jars of paint in the same color, which means you can use them without constantly lending them to other participants—it's all in good spirits! During your session, you’ll enjoy two complimentary drinks to stay hydrated, even as the mat drinks the paint.
Special mention for the ultra-pop playlist that makes you want to dance! We’ve got brushes in a range of sizes for precision or a looser touch as we work on our doormat.
And our session turned out to be full of creativity, featuring stunning customizations! Heads up: painting on coconut fiber is a test of patience. The material drinks paint very quickly and requires several coats to achieve a clean line, which is hard to render neatly without a stencil.
Avoid aiming for a design that's too intricate with lots of tiny details. This isn’t a workshop for the impatient; you still need to take your time and apply yourself!
We pulled off a small stunt, sketching Gandalf, the wizard from The Lord of the Rings, with his famous line "You shall not pass!", but in English to fit the space available. So we had to render the character with restrained finesse, and the end result wasn’t too shabby, with the letters drawn one by one.
Others will opt for rows of strawberries to create a colorful doormat, plus flowers, a welcome message, playful crayfish, or adorable frogs!
You can even ask the shopowners to cut the doormat into a shape you like (a flower, a sun, something fairly simple). The beauty of this workshop is that you walk away with the finished product right away! You leave the venue carrying a bag with the doormat arranged so that the two sides don’t touch, to prevent the paint from overlapping.
You should then let it dry for 24 to 48 hours before you can use it. And, good news: the paint used is built to last, so you can proudly display your creation outdoors without fearing that your design will fade at the first sign of weather. In fact, with the recent rains we tested it, and it holds up (though the material does retain water for several hours).
Three formats exist for this workshop: the Thursday evening session for an apéro from 7 to 9 pm with an optional charcuterie/cheese board, or the Saturday afternoon option for 40 euros, or the Saturday morning session with pastries included for 50 euros. A DIY activity that's ideal for groups, couples, or friends, suitable for teenagers and up, just like at Mazette nearby!
So, bet your guests won’t dare wipe their feet on it anymore?
This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.
Dates and Opening Time
Next days
Thursday:
open
Saturday:
open
Location
The Doormat Studio
30 Boulevard de Sébastopol
75004 Paris 4
Route planner
Prices
€40
Official website
atelier-paillasson.com
