Lots of people use floor paint these days. It can be a quick, cheap way to give your floor a completely new look, and to transform a room at the same time.
The trick, however, is choosing the right paint. This means not only finding the right paint to complement the style you want to achieve in the room, but also to find something that will work well on the surface you are painting on.
Use Specialist Paint
Firstly, don’t be tempted to slap on any old paint. You should always use the right paint for the right job – but this is particularly important when dealing with floors.
Floor paint has been manufactured to be hard-wearing. If applied properly, it should be able to take high levels of foot-fall and plenty of wear and tear. This means you won’t be patching it up all the time.
Also, why not choose a floor paint that is quick drying? Don’t forget that painting a floor will render a room completely out of action. The quicker the paint dries, the sooner you can get back in there.
Read the Label
Before you get carried away by colour and snap up the first tin of floor paint you see in the right shade, read the instructions and make sure it is suitable for the surface you want to paint on. If you don’t, you could well either have problems applying it or in its durability – and either way, you will have wasted your money.
Many paints can go on to both wood and concrete but it really is worth checking. Also make sure the paint is suitable for interior or exterior use, depending on where you are planning to paint.
The Finish of Your Floor
Next consider the finish you would like on your floor. Do you want a gloss look? Something that really reflects the light in your room and brings sparkle to the space?
Gloss can work well on a Concrete Floor in a very modern home. Or perhaps you want a matt finish? This might be more suitable if you want to make less of a feature of the floor.
Suppose you have wooden floorboards and you want to paint them white to achieve a New England style – then a matt ivory or antique white could look perfect. Otherwise, you may be looking for something in between – perhaps an eggshell or a gloss.
Once again, don’t buy bucket loads of paint until you are sure you know exactly which finish you wish to achieve.
Think About Colour
Most important to the eye and to the whole interior design of the room, however, will be colour. Think carefully before you make your final choice – and buy tester paints to try out.
Colours always look different on charts and in the shop. You need to take into account the light in your room, the size of the space and everything else you are going to have in there too.
It goes without saying that a light floor paint will brighten up a space while a dark colour will create a warmer, cosier atmosphere.
Other Considerations
Check your floor paint out for other special qualities too. We have already mentioned quick-drying paint, but perhaps you would like it to be non-slip, solvent free or self-priming?
Do your research properly and you could have a fabulous new painted floor that is not only stylish, but also highly practical and long-lasting.
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