Floor Painting: A Guide to the Whats and Hows of Painting Your Floor

Painted floors are a hot item in home décor right now. They’ve been around for years, of course, but they have recently taken a turn for the popular. The great thing about a painted floor is the great thing about painted anything else – paint provides immediate gratification and instantly facelifts the old, highlights the new, and can create any sort of style or color palette you want.

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This article aims to provide you with an idea of what types of floors can be painted as well as tons of inspirations photos for how you can use colors and patterns to transform your floors into a unique, eye-catching design element for your space. Enjoy!

FLOOR SURFACES TOYOU CAN PAINT

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Wood. While many people enjoy a stained and finished wood floor are natural, others might have a floor in rough shape that they aren’t able to refinish, or they many simply not like the existing stain or color of the wood itself. Painting a wood floor is a fabulous solution that can add color, charm, and plenty of visual punch for any space small or large, humble or elegant, cottage or contemporary.{found on in-myhouse}.

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Concrete. Inside or out, concrete floors can be painted to set the tone for the space’s entire design scheme. You can easily customize your concrete floor with paint through color and pattern.{found on countrymousetales}.

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Brick. Transform ugly, dated brick floors into a contemporary showpiece with just a bit of paint and some creativity. There are tricks to painting the porous surface, though, so be sure to do your DIY research before you start slapping it on.

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Vinyl / Linoleum. The uglier the vinyl, the sooner you should paint them! It’s a very inexpensive way to add an updated look to your home until you can save up enough to replace the entire floor.{found on designertrapped}.

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Tile. Builder-grade tile tends to be nondescript and style-less, often in neutral shades that don’t do anything visually. Painting the face of this tile flooring is an inexpensive way to upgrade the look of your home without having to do costly floor replacements. When the tiles themselves are square, painting a checkerboard pattern is easy peasy!

SOLID COLOR PAINTED FLOORS

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White floors in high-gloss are an unexpected way to set off the room. These floors are great for reflecting natural light, making the space seem even brighter than it already is. We like this idea (of high-gloss) juxtaposed with more earthy, natural elements to keep things grounded.

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A solid light neutral paint job shows off the grooves between hardwood planking in this traditional contemporary space, adding subtle charm and a sense of history.

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Pale grey painted floorboards work well with all-white spaces – they exude an ethereal, airy feeling while still providing warmth and a subtle shot of color.

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Add sunshine to any cloudy day with a rich yellow painted floor. The color looks crisp and fresh with white walls and a few pops of blue.

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Sure, neutral colors are safe options for floor paint…but red is a stunner. Up the ante on getting a bang for your visual buck with a red painted floor. We recommending contrasting the powerful color with plenty of doses of whites and nature-inspired bits.

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Fuchsia is a definite eye-catcher in any arena, but particularly on an unexpected surface like the floor or steps. Pair with an equally vibrant toned door or other accents for maximum visual impact.

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Purple floors are a fun way to add a feminine touch and personality to a space. A bathroom, for example, moves from utilitarian to enchanting in floor-to-ceiling purple.

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Add a punch of fun to a child’s bedroom or playroom by painting the floor a vibrant color. White walls and plenty of natural light balance this bold floor in a coastal retreat.

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A light hued aquamarine floor helps an entire room feel softer and bridges the gap between sweet pale yellow walls and bolder accessory choices.{found on andradesign}.

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In any room where warm wood tones already exist, an unassuming pine green is a lovely option for painted floors. The color maintains a natural feel while providing a necessary contrast in color and tone.

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Black painted floors automatically up the chic factor in any space. Reflective surfaces, like this leaning mirror, visually extend the floors despite the stark floor-to-wall contrast.

PAINTED FLOOR CHECKERBOARD & SQUARE PATTERNS

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Classic black-and-white checkers painted on the floor are timeless and crisp. The timeless pattern and color combination work equally well in historic homes as in modern ones…and everywhere in between.

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A structured pattern in three shades of grey creates visual interest without taking away from the rest of a beautiful dining room’s décor. This is a good way to add presence to the floor in a room where the ceiling is also visually interesting.

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Geometric patterns bring a touch of contemporary into the space. This fresh spring green makes the design all the more appealing.

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Two-toned checkerboard patterns can range from the very dramatic to the subtle; the difference is in the level of contrast between the two colors. The closer the colors are to each other, the lower the drama factor.

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A high-contrast diamond makes a bold statement without going over the top. A larger painted check appears both simple and aesthetic, great for rustic and modern spaces alike.

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Buffalo plaid makes your floor look like fabric! A charming idea for any masculine, rustic, and/or eclectic space, really.{found on learningandyearning}.

PAINTED FLOOR STRIPED PATTERNS.

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Simple stripes are a great way to jazz up a wood floor that might be in rough shape. Bonus: Just follow the plank lines for perfectly straight stripes!

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Use your walls as inspiration for the pattern on your floor, as this girl bedroom does with a thin grey stripe. For the floor, the chalk paint here adds a softened, somewhat vintage feel that’s just perfect.{found on perfectlyimperfectblog}.

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Take painted stripes a step further by adding an ombre element. The impact is stunning.

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Painted floors needn’t be the same pattern throughout (although they can be). Think of your floor in terms of accent needs. Deviate from your painted pattern slightly for emphasis and visual boundaries.

PAINTED FLOOR OTHER PATTERNS

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Free-floating stenciled prints painted across the floor almost give the illusion of chic patterned carpeting. The larger the printed object, the more “white space” should surround each object to minimize the potential aesthetic chaos.{found on lacquerandlinen}.

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Objects painted randomly across the floor are a fun addition to a child’s playroom or bedroom. This adds to the imaginative whimsy of a decorated play space.

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Splatter painted floors make an otherwise white contemporary space sing with personality and positive energy. It almost resembles a cowhide, from afar.

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Subway art painted concrete floors add loads of personality to a laundry room and dress up an otherwise functionally-oriented space.{found on diyshowoff}.

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Stencil-paint a “rug” on the floor for a low maintenance solution with high impact. This works as well outside as inside.{found on sarahgreenman}.

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For the more artistically inclined, a free-hand painted “rug” adds both art and color to your floors. Beautiful!{found on alisaburke}.

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Zig zag (chevron) is a good painted floor option as well. You can vary the height of the zig zag pattern, as well as the length of each zig or zag to scale the pattern to your space perfectly.

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Paint a landmark compass or other design, like in old-time libraries. This could be a singular focal point on an otherwise solid floor or just a detail amidst a sea of otherwise floor paintedness. Either way, the effect is sophisticated.