How to paint wooden flooring

Follow our five simple steps to achieve fabulous flooring in your home

What you’ll need:

Tools needed to paint wooden flooring

Paint:

Floor paint

Essentials:

Brush
Masking tape
Paint tray
Sander
Roller
Sponge
Vacuum cleaner

1. Sand

Sanding the floor

If your wooden floor has a coat of varnish on it, you’ll need to give it a light sand to make the surface porous again. There will be lots of dust, so it’s a good time to also sand your skirting, as for best results, you’ll need to paint it after you’ve painted the floor.

2. Clean

Vacuuming the floor

Vacuum the floor and wipe down sanded surfaces with degreaser to remove all traces of dirt, dust and grease.

3. Tape

Masking the edge of the skirting board

Ensure the surface is dry and then mask the edge of the skirting board that meets the floor with tape.

4. Paint

Applying paint to the floor

Give your paint a good stir and if you’re using the roller for the first time, use a spray bottle to lightly coat it with water. This will help reduce fluff and help the roller absorb more paint.

Cut in around the edges using a brush and then use your roller to paint the whole floor. Apply two coats and consult the can to check drying times. If the color change is strong, more coats may be required.

5. Skirting

Painting the skirting

Once it’s completely dry, cover your beautifully painted floor and mask off the wall along the edges of the skirting board. If necessary, apply sealer along the edge of the skirting where it meets the wall and smooth it out with a sponge. Then apply two coats of your chosen color with a brush and check the can for information on drying times between coats. Carefully remove the masking tape and step back to enjoy your work!