While popular in today’sfarmhouse-style homes, floor paint is anything but new.
Painting floors can bringunexpected characterto a space while being a budget-friendly option.
We reached out to paint professionals and interiors designers to help make your choice easier.
Credit: John Bessler
Paint professionals can help identify and repair issues, plus suggest thebest products for your project.
If you own a historic home, keep the original floors as is.
Instead, opt for painting a room where the flooring has been more recently installed.
Credit: Courtesy of Benjamin Moore
“Use floor paint to help create more light in a poorly lit room,” says O’Donnell.
This reliable solution is ideal for tight quarters and rooms with few windows.
Your Floors Are Too Thin to Refinish
Occasionally,wood floors have been refinishedmany times already.
Credit: Courtesy of Farrow & Ball
“Any opportunity to keep things in their original place, I attempt to.”
Try a decorative diamond pattern that uses your existing wood finish as the second accent shade.
This allows the beauty of your original planks to shine through while reinventing the style.
Your New Home Lacks Decorative Charm
Some new construction can lack character and a sense of history.
To add interest, floor paint in a traditional pattern with a modern twist is a great solution.
Painting your floors is a permanent choice, not a temporary fix.
But it is difficult to go back to the original wood once it’s been painted."
“But the binding agents have improved.
I paint wood floors more than anything else, but all surfaces are really stable if prepared correctly.”
Credit: Gordon Beall
Painting floor tilesuccessfully requires professional grout cleaning (using degreasers).
Increase the size slightly for a result that feels fresh.
Plus, they offer cost savings.
“There is a vast historical record to research, too.”
If you love your furnishings and plan to keep them,consider the colorsand color combinations within your space.
And ensure to test, test, test!
Conduct multiple tests in the space you plan to redesign.
To capture this aesthetic, trySkylightby Farrow & Ball, or Benjamin Moore’sIce CaporCollingwood.
“The softer Swedish palette is really nice because it’s beautiful and hides dirt,” she says.
For larger rooms, a pattern with multiple colors can be a showstopper.
A contrasting checkerboard pattern in black and white is a reliable classic, as well.
TryTricorn BlackandPure Whiteby Sherwin-Williams for this style.
“People are not used to walking on paint,” she says.
Clean spills immediately with a soft, slightly damp cloth.
For sticky messes, lightly apply a no-wax, water-based cleaner to a cloth and gently wipe the area.
However, painted floors can become slippery after painting with certain coatings.
“Coatings can cause the floor to be slippery when wet,” says Mundwiller.
Exposure to direct sunlight can also cause changes in color over time.
Also, take care to use gentle cleaners rather than harsh chemicals and test an inconspicuous spot first.
Check the manufacturer’s recommendations on the specific paint that you are using.
