There’s nothing better than a cold or warm beverage after a long day. However, nothing can ruin your day faster than watermarks, rings, or stains on your coffee or dining table due to condensation from sweaty drinks – resulting in unnecessary damage. Moreover, if you tend to move your drink around a lot, your glass or cup may also leave small scratches or nicks on the table, forcing it to deteriorate faster.
The solution to this annoying problem is rather simple. All you need to do is put a drink coaster under the cup or glass. Coasters are one of the most underrated or overlooked household items, even though they serve an essential purpose. Perhaps, this is because most people opt for bland options that serve the core function but don’t necessarily grab their attention from an aesthetic viewpoint.
This is where custom drink coasters come with a variety of shapes, colors, designs, material choices, and imprinted text to offer to visually captivate prospects and subconsciously encourage them to use these creative items. With that said, you’re probably thinking of heading to the local store or online to buy drink coasters.
While there’s nothing wrong with this quick and easy approach, drink coasters are incredibly simple items. Therefore, you don’t need to splash your cash on store-bought options. Instead, you should opt for DIY drink coasters with a custom design and message. So, whether you’re trying to unwind after a rough day at work with a cold one or hosting a cocktail party with your friends, you’ll be automatically drawn to protecting your furniture with your homemade coasters.
If this idea sounds intriguing to you, you’re at the right place, as we’ll be sharing a detailed guide on how to make custom drink coasters at home.
Let’s get started!
Benefits of Drink Coasters
In case you’re still on the fence regarding this DIY project and not sure if it’s worth it, the following are the main benefits of drink coasters:
Furniture Protection
As redundant as this might sound, it’s important to emphasize the most important use of drink coasters, which is to serve as a protective layer between the glass or cup and your furniture. Tables (coffee, accent, dining, side, console, etc.) are not only some of the most expensive pieces of household furniture, but their surfaces are highly conspicuous. This means that any sort of damage, such as stains or burn marks, is clearly visible and can drastically impact your table’s aesthetic appeal.
Convenience
Drink coasters offer more convenience compared to trays and table mats since they require significantly less storage. Depending on the material, all you need to do is rinse and dry them to ensure they’re perfectly clean. Lastly, you can place them permanently on your table, so you don’t have to head to your kitchen to grab a mat, tray, or saucer for your hot or cold beverage, especially when you’re catering to guests at a dinner or tea party.
Improved Home Décor
Custom drink coasters make a valuable addition to any coffee or dining table since they come in a variety of colors, shapes, and design patterns. If you take the DIY route, you can even personalize them with your own design and add a distinct touch to your home décor. For instance, you can customize them with quotes from your favorite movies, drink labels (beer, juice, tea, coffee, etc.), and even photos of yourself and your family.
How to Make DIY Drink Coasters at Home
While there’s an abundance of materials you can use to make drink coasters, such as cork, stone, bamboo, wood, leather, cardboard, glass, and stainless steel, to name a few, the most material popular choice for DIYers is ceramic tiles due to its water-resistant nature and unlimited design possibilities. Without further ado, here’s how to make custom drink coasters at home:
Tools
- Paper cutter
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
Materials
- 4″ X 4″ ceramic tiles (recommended)
- Scrapbook paper (artistic, retro, nature, etc.) or custom design print (pattern, image, logo, text, etc.)
- Sealant (for a glossy finish)
- Rubbing alcohol
- A sheet of felt
- Mod podge or craft glue
Steps
Gather Your Supplies
Before making a DIY drink coaster, it’s important to get everything you need beforehand to organize everything and save time. Most of these items can be bought from any local store. However, if you’re not in a hurry, you can order them online from Amazon or Walmart for more convenience.
Cut the Scrapbook Paper or Custom Design
Next, cut your scrapbook paper or custom design pattern using a pair of scissors or paper cutter to 3.5″ x 3.5″. You can cut it to a 4″ square if you don’t want a border.
Clean the Tile and Glue the Design
To ensure your coaster design sticks permanently, you need to make sure it’s free of any debris (dirt or dust). For this, all you need is a soft cloth, some rubbing alcohol, and a gentle rub on the surface. Once it’s dry, apply craft glue or mod podge using a paintbrush to the tile surface and gently glue the design at the center. Make sure you smoothen out as many air bubbles as possible. Once you’re done, allow it to dry for at least 30 minutes.
Cut and Attach the Felt
Next, cut the felt into 4″ x 4 “squares and use the glue or mod podge to attach it with the tile. Make sure you let it dry so it doesn’t come off. If you’re making multiple coasters, we recommend opting for multiple sheets with different colors to get even more creative with your design.
Seal Your DIY drink coaster
Use clear spray paint or sealant with a matte or glossy finish, and seal your drink coaster to make the design waterproof. We recommend using EnviroTex Lite for this purpose as it gives a professional, almost glass-like finish. This will also ensure that your glass or cup won’t stick to the coaster because of the glue or mod podge. Once your coaster is dry, place a book or heavy object to ensure everything sticks properly.
Conclusion
And there you have it – how to make custom drink coasters at home. With this information, you’re merely a few hours and steps away from upgrading your tabletops with protective, highly convenient, affordable, and stylish coasters. So, whether you’re looking to impress your guests at a tea or dinner party, or looking for a smart way to protect your furniture, get started with your drink coaster and customize this must-have item with a memorable and unique design.
