DIY: Laminate Chair Mat for Carpet

Have an piece of laminate flooring cut to your specific size dimensions at a home supply store. For an office, a large, rectangular mat is a good size option. Measure your office space before heading to the store so you won't purchase a piece of laminate that's too large for your space.

Place the laminate flooring on a flat surface outdoors -- such as your driveway.

Secure stencils in different patterns -- such as flowers or circles -- directly on the flooring. You also can make a simple border by pressing painter's tape down each of the mat's sides. For example, use a ruler to measure about 3 inches from the edge of each side. Then place the tape down the lengths and widths of the mats so the border is 3 inches on all sides.

Spray paint the borders or the stencils after shaking a can of paint for about 2 minutes. Spray about 2 inches from the surface of the mat using sweeping motions. Cover any parts of the mat that you don't want painted, then spray paint the mat in stages. For example, cover most of the mat with newspaper and spray paint one side of the border -- such as the left side -- or one stencil on the mat. Allow the paint to dry completely before moving on to the next border -- such as the top or bottom -- or to the next stencil.

Open a can of polyurethane, mix it and apply it across the entire surface of the mat. Apply polyurethane as you would standard paint. Simply dip a wide paintbrush into the polyurethane, brush off excess on the side on the can, then brush a coat onto the surface of the mat. One coat should be fine. However, two coats will give added protection. Allow the polyurethane to dry before using the mat or applying a second coat. This should take between 24 and 48 hours.