Painting Your Wood Floors: Big Mistake or Brilliant Design Hack?

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I bought a 100-year-old house with wood floors that had seen a lot of wear and tear. And many other parts of the house were quite literally falling apart (or off the house as was the case in a screened porch), but there was no renovation money left to redo the floors.

So I opted for an inexpensive, quick fix for the worn-out floors: paint them sea-foam green.

Painted floors are colorful and breezy, and evoke a certain laid-back vibe. But a wide expanse of paint that’s exposed to feet, paws, shoes, and dirt can get beat up fast. And so a debate rages on whether painting a wood floor is a cheap way to add color to your home—or a giant mistake that disrespects wood.

We talked to experts to get the skinny on the pros and cons of painting wood floors. (And how to paint floors properly if you’re tempted.)

Why would someone paint a wood floor?

Adding the old pop of color (even if it’s white or gray) to a floor also adds style and personality to a room, or helps brighten it.

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Wood floor absolutists might shudder at the thought of painting over a wood’s grain. And we get that. Yet some wood floors are beyond saving and may need to be replaced. If that’s not an option, painting the wood might be a good stopgap.

Refinishing a wood floor can cost an average of $1,815, according to HomeAdvisor. (Painting a floor comes down to elbow grease and the cost of the paint you choose.)

Adding the old pop of color (even if it’s white or gray) to a floor also adds style and personality to a room, or helps brighten it.

“Painting a wood floor can be an attractive option, as it can help to create a unique look and add contrast to a room,” says Chris Alexakis, an interior designer and founder of CabinetSelect.

Another plus? You can add a pattern to your wood floor for an added decorative element.

The downsides of a painted floor

The main drawback to painting a floor is that it can scratch, chip, and peel if you’re not careful or didn’t paint correctly.

And if you do eventually want to go for a natural look, rehabbing a painted floor is not easy—and could, in fact, be impossible to reverse.

But perhaps the biggest pitfall of a painted floor is that “it can affect your home’s market value,” says Steve Elliott, owner of Restoration 1 in Minnetonka, MN. “There are still buyers who prefer original and well-maintained flooring to customized ones.”

So before you run out and buy a can of paint, do some serious thinking about the future of your floors.

Do the prep

If you decide to go ahead with painting your wood floor, it’s imperative to correctly prep the surface.

“Fix and fill any cracks, gaps, or nail holes before painting,” advises Alexakis. “I would also recommend sanding the floor to ensure a smooth surface.”

Before you begin to paint, ensure the floor is clean, free of any peeling prior finishes and that any wax- or oil-based cleaning products have been removed.

“If you don’t perform this work, you may inadvertently eliminate the possibility of ever restoring the wood to its original, natural color,” explains Robert Taylor, owner and president of the Real Estate Solutions Guy. “Your paint will seep down between the cracks and holes, requiring deeper sanding [and cost] to remove the visible paint.”

Pick your paint carefully

Familiarize yourself with the difference between oil- and water-based paints. Oil-based paints can be hard to apply but are extremely durable. On the other hand, water-based paints are easier to work with but can scratch more easily.

“I painted the floor of our daughter’s room white,” says Daniel Morris of Fire and Saw. “I used an oil-based pigmented sealer to prime the floor and then rolled two coats of premium hard-wearing fence paint on top.”

Apply your paint with a brush.

“If you use a nap roller, you’re going to get a rougher finish,” says Doug Greene, owner of Signature Properties in Philadelphia who purchases and remodels 200-year-old homes. “You’ll get a better and smoother finish on your floors by getting on your hands and knees and brushing.”

Lastly, consider what kind of sheen you want—a matte, glossy, or satin finish. While it comes down to your preference, “having some level of gloss does increase the protective coating,” says Greene. “However, with satin, you get a more subtle look to your finish.”

As a final touch, you can add a polyurethane topcoat for extra durability. Morris recommends letting the paint cure for an entire week to harden properly. Also, be sure to properly vent the space to clear the paint fumes.

The bottom line

In the end, whether or not to paint your wood floor comes down to your budget and personal aesthetic.

“Painting could be a great option if you’re looking for an easy and cost-effective way to change the look of your space dramatically,” says Nick Lines, director at Internal Doors. “On the other hand, refinishing may be the better choice if you are looking for something that won’t need regular maintenance or touch-ups.”

On the fence about painting an entire room? Then consider painting a mudroom or a covered porch that can handle a few dents and scratches.

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