White painted floors

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HOW TO DO IT

Painting floors white — it always has and always will be one of the most polarizing design choices I make, but what can I say…. sometimes you just need a coat of white paint!

Don’t get me wrong, I always try to save hardwood floors when I can, but over at our #ChurchLaneProject the floors had undergone decades of renovations, leaving the house jumbled with carpet in some rooms, original hardwood in others, and even new laminate flooring in the kitchen. Originally, our goal was to patch in the laminate and carpeted areas with a salvaged gym floor that we sourced from  Rebuilders Exchange in Ohio and then stain them to match the original hardwood. But after multiple failed attempts to get the perfect stain that matched the original floors, we turned to my trusty old friend... white paint! Sometimes it is exactly what an old home needs to bring everything together.

Like I always say… if you aren’t making anyone nervous, you aren’t doing anything special!

Here’s how we did it…

Materials:

  • Floor sander

  • Shop Vac

  • Broom and dust pan

  • Floor Paint tinted Shoji White in a high gloss finish

  • Paint brushes (anything will work just make sure it says it works “for all paints”)

  • Paint rollers (again anything will work just make sure it says it works “for all paints”)

  • Rolling applicator with a long handle

  • Roller Tray

  1. Make sure to sand and clean your floors before getting started.

  2. Get your paint! This is the best floor paint (other than a true epoxy) that we have found yet — it’s an industrial oil-based paint that is super durable but also reflects light in the most beautiful way. To note: the paint is tinted Shoji White from Sherwin Williams to match the walls.

  3. Work your way around the room with your paint brush to cut in all of your edges.

  4. Use a paint roller to fill in the remaining space in the middle of the room.

  5. Do a total of 3 coats and make sure to give it 24hrs in between each coat. After your 3 coats are complete give it a full 72 hrs to cure before walking or placing any furniture on it.

Pro Tips:

  • Embrace the imperfections

  • Remember to always leave yourself a pathway out

  • Notify anyone living/working in the space in advance that they won't have access to the space

Next

The Great Debate.