Let's talk wood floor makeovers, shall we? In particular PAINTED wood floors. Unquestionably, the one pictured above needed resuscitation, and the after is certainly head-turning. But looking at a painted floor and living with a painted floor are two different things. What do you think? Are painted wood floors divine or--if budget allows--is sanding and sealing the way to go?
Tagged : Makeover-Mondays
Material : paint
Decor Element : Rugs & Flooring
I have found that either hard wood floors or painted floors are the way to go. Carpets are impossible to keep clean and if they are wall to wall expensive to replace every couple of years, which you have to do, because they are basically germ collectors. With wood floors (paited or not) you can santitize them every month and not worry what kind of bateria may be growning on them. One has to wonder how much the current epidemic of allergies children and adults are experiencing is due to the unsanitary conditions wall to wall carpet in homes have created.
@DM...Never thought of that. Good point.
I'd have waited until I could have replaced them. I just can't see cracks in floors as being clean. Ever. Maybe if they'd have filled the cracks first.....? Maybe.
When I lived in Oak Ridge Tenn, in one of the original government built homes, the floors were abysmal even if they were wood. I finally talked my housemate into letting me paint the old floors black. What an incredible difference it made! The gloss of the paint reflected plenty of light, the uniform look of fresh paint took the whole place up a notch. That was years ago and the last time I was in the house the floors still looked good!
I must herald the lowly paited floor...We are in the middle of an extensive renovation & we are doing it ALL, and living in the midst of it. Time and money are precious these days, but I couldn't stand looking at the old mismatched linoleum- dirty, dinged and did I say UGLY! I painted it with a mix of oops and half used cans in a taupey-charcoal grey interior latex- 1/2 flat & 1/2 satin. It is amazing! It is temporary- but its holding up very well to our country life (read dirty) and dogs and 2 young boys. After living with this for a few months, I am surprised this isn't done more. Making the color uniform helps with the mismatched textures. If, in a while, it dosen't look good anymore- we can always slap another coat on. So easy-and cheap. My painted floors have saved my sanity. Love em.
Though I'd typically agree with Kath above, that floor in the first photo would be very difficult to refinish well. It has funky patched areas (that probably aren't the same wood species) and all sorts of irregularities. A floor like that is better painted, covered, or replaced. It all really depends on the condition of the floor.
It all depends. I would refinish. But if the floor is to far gone/out of budget and I would have to say paint. There are some awesome creative ways to change it up you see more now than before.
I faced this dilemma when I pulled up the carpeting in my bedroom. What a disappointment after picturing a beautiful wood floor beneath the carpet. I couldn't make the leap of painting the floor, so I took a sort of time-delayed-decision approach. I refinished (by hand with small equipment) about six inches all around the perimeter of my room. I put a room-sized rug that barely overlaps the refinished edge atop that. It's not a permanent solution, but gives me time to think about what I want to do. It also looks pretty good!
I love painted floors. Lived with both wood and painted floors in my century home for 10 years. Painted floors wore great, were a cinch to sweep and mop and felt great underfoot.
This whole conversation is a little silly, like debating to paint a room in a dark shade or a white. There are no wrong answers, just depends on what effect you want in your home and what furniture/fixtures/features you want to highlight.
Sometimes a budget wont accomodate refinishing. I think it looks fantastic. Throw a nice contrasting runner rug down the center and go shoeless.
I'm one of those who adamantly stand by the "if it's wood, refinish." There's so much else out in the world to paint, refinishing and letting warm wood shine is the way to go.
never ever ever paint wood floors. refinish them. they will look stunning.
My personal opinion is to refinish, not paint, especially not white. Unless you have no pets, small children or shoes in your home - ever - the floors will end up looking crappy within a couple of years. I've seen a few friends go this route and they've all ended up stripping the paint off the floors and refinishing them or laying carpet over them.
