YOU WILL NEED:

• Cork sheets (290 x 215 x 5mm) from Ebay
• White acrylic or emulsion paint
• Masking or washi tape of various widths. These are easily removable without any damage to the cork.
• Paintbrush or sponge

METHOD:

Take your cork sheets and place it on a reasonably large worktop (make sure you cover the surface with either a tablecloth, plastic sheet or scrap paper to avoid getting any paint onto it). Start taping down your strips of washi or masking tape, alternating the widths to create an effective stripey pattern. You can do this by eye or by using a ruler for more accuracy. The taped areas will be the areas you don't want painted. Also, if you want a clean edge, then I would suggest taping the sides unless you are super neat and careful with your painting.

Once all the boards have been taped with your preferred patterns (you can do stripes, diagonals, chevrons, etc.), start applying the paint evenly onto the untapped areas, either using a brush or a sponge. You will need at least two coats, leaving about a minute between each coats. Leave it aside to dry, which can take between 20-30mins depending on the type of paint you've used.

Just before it's completely dry, gently peel off the tape to reveal the untouched 'negative' areas of the cork mats. By doing so, it avoids any chance of the tape being completely stuck down with the paint or pulling off any paint from the painted areas.

And there you have it! A quick and simple DIY to create your very own set of table mats that's cool and chic. You can of course, play with a monochrome look or go for bolder colours and opt for some funky colour-blocking patterns that will be sure to brighten up your dining table.