How To Paint Wood Floors

Painting wood floors is a great way to give any room in your home an instant makeover. It’s easier than you might think and with the right tools and materials, you can get professional results. This article will show you how to transform your wood floors from dull to dazzling in no time. 

Products & Tools Needed

• Orbital Sander / Large rotary sander
• Sandpaper (60-80, 100-120, 250 grit)
• Paint brush or paint roller
• Wood paint
• Cloth
• Painter’s tape

Step 1: Prepping and Cleaning

The first step is to prep the floor. Remove all furniture from the floor you want to paint. Pull out any nails or staples that are sticking out of the floor.

The next step is to thoroughly clean the floor before sanding begins. Make sure the floor is free of any dust or dirt that could so that the sanding process goes smoothly. Vacuum up any dust and wipe down the surface with a damp cloth. 

Step 2: Sanding

Once your floor has been cleaned it’s time to begin sanding. Start by using coarse grit paper (60 or 80) and work around the edges of the room first. Use circular motions while sanding until all surfaces are evened out and smooth. Move onto finer grit paper (100 or 120) for an extra smooth finish. Sanding your floor as thoroughly as possible is important to have your paint stick to the floor and to be able to walk barefoot on your floor afterward. 

Step 3: Taping the Room

Once your floor has been sanded and is completely dry, apply painter’s tape around the edges of walls and trim so that only the floor area remains exposed.

Step 4: Painting

Using either a brush or roller, apply one coat of paint over the sanded surface area making sure to evenly spread out each coat as much as possible without creating drips or puddles near edges of walls/trim lines as this can create uneven borders once dry if not wiped away quickly enough. Let it dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Sand it lightly with a fine grit sandpaper (250) to smooth out any impurities or bumps. Brush away any dust. Now you can apply a new coat.

Repeat this process for each new layer of paint. Ideally, you should apply 2 to 3 layers to have optimal results.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

Once the paint has dried overnight (or longer depending on product instructions) remove the painter’s tape from wall/trim lines carefully so as not to peel away fresh paint underneath it. Put your furniture back in place while being careful not to drag it over the floor and damage your new paint…and voila! Your freshly painted wood floors are complete!  

Painting wood floors is an easy way to give any room in your home an instant transformation without having to spend too much time or money doing so. With just a few simple and easy-to-execute steps like cleaning, sanding, and painting, you can achieve great results right at home. So grab your supplies today and get ready to take on this fun project! Good luck!