10 Patterns to Paint on Your Floor
Create style underfoot by getting pattern-painted floors down pat
Susan Redman
7 August 2015
Houzz Australia Editorial Staff; writer, author, dreamer.
There’s no denying a painted floor can create the wow factor in a room and even camouflage a mundane floor, but did you know that this ancient decorating technique was born out of a desire to emulate the palatial homes of the ruling aristocracy? In 17th-century Europe when the upper classes installed inlaid stone and parquetry floors in their estates, commoners achieved the same look with paint. They also painted softwood floors to protect and seal them. Today, many homes feature some kind of wood flooring, which is perhaps why some interior designers prefer to create a point of difference with a custom-painted finish instead of a conventional stain, plus it looks rather grand, don’t you think?
1. Circle of love
Wood is not the only surface that can benefit from paint. In fact, paint is an inventive way to renew almost any flooring material. Lino, concrete and even upper-grade plywood also make excellent surfaces for paint, particularly if they are properly prepared and sealed. Whatever the material, if the paint is of a good quality and applied according to manufacturer’s instructions, the result is a smooth durable surface.
Wood is not the only surface that can benefit from paint. In fact, paint is an inventive way to renew almost any flooring material. Lino, concrete and even upper-grade plywood also make excellent surfaces for paint, particularly if they are properly prepared and sealed. Whatever the material, if the paint is of a good quality and applied according to manufacturer’s instructions, the result is a smooth durable surface.
2. Oversized florals
In this kitchen, an oversized stencil pattern shows a floating placement print, which allows for the polished floorboards to show through and between each motif. This is a great solution for functional rooms and areas that get a lot of foot traffic.
25 paint projects using a can of paint
In this kitchen, an oversized stencil pattern shows a floating placement print, which allows for the polished floorboards to show through and between each motif. This is a great solution for functional rooms and areas that get a lot of foot traffic.
25 paint projects using a can of paint
3. Earn your stripes…
Wide stripes are effective, and can look extremely handsome, especially when presented as a contrast, but do make sure you use quality products for the best results. If the right paint is used (check with your local hardware to make sure you are buying a paint designed for this purpose), painted floors are as well protected and durable as conventional polyurethane-finished timber floors.
TIP: A properly prepared floor is essential to success. Have your floor professionally sanded prior to painting. This is especially important if the floor has a wax finish. The wax has to be removed otherwise the paint won’t adhere to the floor.
Which paints for which walls?
Wide stripes are effective, and can look extremely handsome, especially when presented as a contrast, but do make sure you use quality products for the best results. If the right paint is used (check with your local hardware to make sure you are buying a paint designed for this purpose), painted floors are as well protected and durable as conventional polyurethane-finished timber floors.
TIP: A properly prepared floor is essential to success. Have your floor professionally sanded prior to painting. This is especially important if the floor has a wax finish. The wax has to be removed otherwise the paint won’t adhere to the floor.
Which paints for which walls?
4. …or stripe
If you plan to paint a high traffic area such as a staircase, make sure you are comfortable with a certain degree of patina. That said, a strip of colour along the centre of the stairs is enough to re-paint after suffering months of heavy footfall.
If you plan to paint a high traffic area such as a staircase, make sure you are comfortable with a certain degree of patina. That said, a strip of colour along the centre of the stairs is enough to re-paint after suffering months of heavy footfall.
5. Off the grid
Painted floors can create a personal touch in a room. So if your interior needs a lift, consider giving your old floor a paint job with a pattern. A simple grid pattern is ideally suited to a room that is used for formal dining, but as it can sometimes look quite dramatic, try not to use bold colours. To get the look seen here, choose a duo of warm greys to crisscross a whitewashed floor.
TIP: Painting the floor in a dining room is a great way to introduce pattern, but if you’re also planning to put a rug under the table, make sure it is in a block colour to avoid a mishmash of competing patterns.
Painted floors can create a personal touch in a room. So if your interior needs a lift, consider giving your old floor a paint job with a pattern. A simple grid pattern is ideally suited to a room that is used for formal dining, but as it can sometimes look quite dramatic, try not to use bold colours. To get the look seen here, choose a duo of warm greys to crisscross a whitewashed floor.
TIP: Painting the floor in a dining room is a great way to introduce pattern, but if you’re also planning to put a rug under the table, make sure it is in a block colour to avoid a mishmash of competing patterns.
6. Hip to be square
Painting a floor with a simple geometric pattern can complement statement furniture, especially when you own a designer collection. For a large area, such as a living room, determine precisely how the pattern will lay out, taking doorways and other architectural conditions into consideration.
TIP: As durable as painted floors are, it’s advisable to put felt pads under chair legs and other furniture.
Painting a floor with a simple geometric pattern can complement statement furniture, especially when you own a designer collection. For a large area, such as a living room, determine precisely how the pattern will lay out, taking doorways and other architectural conditions into consideration.
TIP: As durable as painted floors are, it’s advisable to put felt pads under chair legs and other furniture.
Painted floors aren’t for everyone; many people are loath to cover traditional timber, but it does work for those who want to embrace a more crafted and contemporary look. The fresh apple green colour lifts the look of this bedroom and ties in with the green of the leafy trees outside the large sash window.
7. Harlequin lullaby
A beautiful floor is the foundation of a beautiful room and it’s particularly true in the bedroom. A soft dreamy look can be created by painting a two-toned pattern of white and beige on a hardwood floor. Here harlequin diamonds hit the mark.
TIP: If you like a harlequin or diamond pattern, use craft paper to work out the best scale for your floor by trying three or four different sizes (laid out across the floor) before a decision is made.
A beautiful floor is the foundation of a beautiful room and it’s particularly true in the bedroom. A soft dreamy look can be created by painting a two-toned pattern of white and beige on a hardwood floor. Here harlequin diamonds hit the mark.
TIP: If you like a harlequin or diamond pattern, use craft paper to work out the best scale for your floor by trying three or four different sizes (laid out across the floor) before a decision is made.
While some doubt the resilience of painted floors, they usually stand up to general wear and tear. A painted hardwood floor in the bathroom can be as durable as tiles, and yet look as welcoming as it does in the sitting room. If pastel colours are used, they have a soft warmth and prettiness that brown wooden floors don’t. Painting the bathroom floor is also a great way to enliven or camouflage a mundane floor.
TIP: Most paint manufacturers offer a water-based polyurethane paint specially formulated for wood (and concrete) floors that has excellent resistance to scuffing, fading and moisture – but do wipe up any watery footprints immediately after bathing.
TIP: Most paint manufacturers offer a water-based polyurethane paint specially formulated for wood (and concrete) floors that has excellent resistance to scuffing, fading and moisture – but do wipe up any watery footprints immediately after bathing.
A painted border, even if it is not decorative, can be painted around a room for a framed effect. If a room has a lot of doorways, the border should be about five to 20 centimetres from the wall, depending on how it looks to your eye.
8. Zig zags
Common on rugs and wallpapers, the chevron pattern, as pictured here, is an on-trend geometric that’s finding favour as a painted pattern for floors. The design has been cleverly contained by using a painted border that defines the perimeter of the room, as if it were a rug.
TIP: Leave it to the professionals to use glazes (colourless paint extenders that are either clear or have been tinted), if you want to create the look of inlaid wood. Using a translucent colour is preferable to opaque paint if you want the grain of the wood to show through.
Best patterns to team with chevron
Common on rugs and wallpapers, the chevron pattern, as pictured here, is an on-trend geometric that’s finding favour as a painted pattern for floors. The design has been cleverly contained by using a painted border that defines the perimeter of the room, as if it were a rug.
TIP: Leave it to the professionals to use glazes (colourless paint extenders that are either clear or have been tinted), if you want to create the look of inlaid wood. Using a translucent colour is preferable to opaque paint if you want the grain of the wood to show through.
Best patterns to team with chevron
9. Honeycomb hive
This interlocking hexagonal patterned floor is in a pale grey colourway that perfectly complements the palette of the open-plan kitchen it graces. As a proven way to enliven a dull floor or to bounce light around in a dark room, a lightly-coloured painted floor lifts and brightens – which is particularly beneficial if there is only one window for natural light.
TIP: Care for your painted floors as you would hardwood floors. Damp mop with vinegar and water or a mild soap solution.
This interlocking hexagonal patterned floor is in a pale grey colourway that perfectly complements the palette of the open-plan kitchen it graces. As a proven way to enliven a dull floor or to bounce light around in a dark room, a lightly-coloured painted floor lifts and brightens – which is particularly beneficial if there is only one window for natural light.
TIP: Care for your painted floors as you would hardwood floors. Damp mop with vinegar and water or a mild soap solution.
10. Key to success
The drama of a crisp black-and-white key pattern painted on an entrance hall floor is much like a rug; it can create a bright and welcoming atmosphere in a lobby or entrance.
TIP: A glossy floor is dramatic but will show scratches. A satin finish has some sheen but is more forgiving.
The drama of a crisp black-and-white key pattern painted on an entrance hall floor is much like a rug; it can create a bright and welcoming atmosphere in a lobby or entrance.
TIP: A glossy floor is dramatic but will show scratches. A satin finish has some sheen but is more forgiving.
TELL US
Have you painted your floors with a pattern? Which patterns do you think work best for what rooms? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
MORE
To Paint or Not to Paint? That Is the Floorboard Question
Floor Art: 16 Patterned Floors That Pack a Punch
14 Things You Never Thought to Paint But Should
Have you painted your floors with a pattern? Which patterns do you think work best for what rooms? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
MORE
To Paint or Not to Paint? That Is the Floorboard Question
Floor Art: 16 Patterned Floors That Pack a Punch
14 Things You Never Thought to Paint But Should
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Super cool! These are such a big statement - I especially love the wide stripes.
In the right place, they all look fanastic. Just not my style.
Something I have been considering. Thanks for the article.