Linoleum floors can become pale and lose their glamour with time. But if replacing the whole floor covering is not your top priority, you can go for painting the floor with a new design and style.
It might sound challenging to pick the perfect style for your linoleum floor and paint it with the best suitable design. But I am hopeful that with my guidelines for painting linoleum floor ideas, it will be a piece of cake.
Here, I’m going to show you ins and outs of linoleum floor painting. I’ll give you some of the best ideas and give you a complete guideline. At the same time, I’ll also provide tips and clear your confusion.
10 Unique Painting Linoleum Floor Ideas That Make You Feel Fresh
Which one is harder between choosing the right design for the floor and painting the floor itself? Well, for most people, the first one is always more difficult to come up with. But you don’t need to worry as I’m going to present 10 painting linoleum floor ideas here.
Idea 1: Solid Color
It is the simplest of all the linoleum floor painting ideas out there. If you find it complicated to remove and replace your furniture and time becomes a factor for you, you can go for painting with a solid color.
In solid colors, monochromatic colors can make the room elegant. Grey and similar colors generally suit kitchen and bathroom floors better.
Idea 2: Stripes Pattern
If you have a slight affection for monochromatic colors, you can give stripes a think. Here, you just need to divide the floor into parallel lines of equal distance and choose a pattern for the colors. The procedures are quite similar.
You can use stripe patterns in libraries, living rooms, and reading rooms. Though monochromatic colors are mostly used in this pattern, you can think of them as references and choose your own color palette.
Idea 3: Checkerboard And Extra
Checkerboard designs are always classic and have room for modification. You can choose any two colors from the color chart for horizontal and vertical stripes and another color for the crossing point – it will be a new buffalo check.
In the balcony and hallways, checkerboard patterns fit naturally. You can even make them diagonal. It will add a new dimension.
Idea 4: Water-ish Texture
As you are not using tiles or any other prebuilt floor covering, you have the freedom to generate ideas. That’s why you can paint the floor the color of ocean water.
Ocean blue or even a bit deeper shades of blue can be soothing for your mind. Add different shades of blue and draw according to your imagination. This type of floor paint can be your perfect choice for the bedroom.
Idea 5: Hand-painted Tile
Painting on linoleum floors is quite similar to hand-painted tiles without the cost of them. So pick a convenient tile pattern and repeat it all over the place. Even an easier pattern like a square with parallel lines on the edges can become exquisite.
To choose the pattern you can make a quick google search on hand-painted tile designs. You have got the liberty to use any color. So, show your creativity.
Idea 6: Stencil
This is another spot for you to make a fusion of your ideas. You just need the knowledge about making a stencil which will take 10 minutes of your time to watch a tutorial. Don’t forget to use the tapes here to get rid of color splitting.
Stencils are best of use with spray paints but if you have brush paints they will also work fine. Especially in the corners and edges, you must come back to brushes.
At the entrance use some warm colors and vibrant designs. For the indoors, minimal is more gorgeous.
Idea 7: Combination Of Stencil And Solid
Instead of filling the whole floor with stencil designs, use a very limited number of them. Firstly, pick a color and make a floor of solid painting. Now choose two stencils of two sizes, a large one and a small one.
Use the small stencil in the free space of the big ones and thus you will get a better output without doing much of the hard work. And it will also look outstanding.
Idea 8: Bold Border In Black And White
The simplest color from the color palette, black and white, can create magic if they are properly used. At first, paint the whole floor with solid white color. When the color dries properly, put two painter tapes parallelly around the border and paint black.
This design can be amazing if you use it in the corridors or near the edge of the furniture in the kitchen. The black borders will make the room more elegant and will be eye-soothing.
Idea 9: Make a rug
You might restrict yourself from using all the space that you have. Choose a design, colors, and paint within a particular area on the floor since you don’t have to paint the whole floor.
Since this rug or carpet shape in the middle will take the attention, you need to clean the leftover linoleum floor and choose the design carefully. This will enhance the beauty of your room by making a huge difference.
Idea 10: Amalgamate
Given that you are already aware of the previous design ideas, you can artistically create a combination of them. Make the floor of solid color first and go for the borders. In the middle of the floor, try some stencils.
This type of blending of design fits your living room, reading rooms, and hallways. Choose the colors from the shade of the light used there and it will turn out to be very pleasing.
4 Steps To Paint Your Old Linoleum Floor To Make It New
Floor painting can be very tedious if you don’t do the steps properly or fail to execute them accordingly. So, to give you a heads up, we are going to learn about painting linoleum floors in a detailed way.
Step 1: Required Tools & Materials
Before beginning, you need to know about the requirements for floor painting. You need some tools and materials.
- 120-grit sandpaper
- Paint roller
- Clean cloth
- Sanding pole(optional)
- Stencil (optional)
- Painter’s tape
- Paint
- Liquid deglosser
- Primer
- Sealer
Now that you have got all the tools and materials, we can move to the next step and prepare the floor for painting. Before doing anything, pick an unnoticeable part of the floor, paint that tiny part and leave it to dry.
Step 2: Start Sanding
If the color satisfies you, then start sanding the floor with sandpaper. You can use a sanding pole to protect your hands and knees from sanding. A proper sanding on the floor will make it shiny.
Step 3: Start Painting
After sanding, wipe and clean the floor. Grab a paint roller and apply the liquid deglosser to the floor surface with it. The deglosser layer on the floor will help the paint bond strongly.
Always start from the opposite side of the entrance or the corner so that you don’t end up at a dead end. This applies to the painting too.
Step 4: Add Your Finishing Touch
If you are interested in painting the trim of the room, make sure that you have used painter’s tape on the edge of the walls. Begin with a primer and let it dry. After that, you can go for solid color or stencil patterns- whichever you prefer.
You can use one or two coats of your paint to increase durability and give enough time in-between so that the coats get dried properly. But don’t overpaint since you will both waste paints and damage the surface.
After the painting is over, put some finishing touch with the sealer. It will help the paint to last longer. Finally, remove the tapes carefully and you are done.
5 Mistakes You Should Avoid During Painting Linoleum Floor
Though the steps of painting linoleum floors seem very straightforward, a simple mistake can mess the whole thing up. So, to reduce your chances of mistakes, I’m going to show you some of the common mistakes that you should avoid.
1. Poor Preparation Of The Floor
The preparation is highly significant for the painting of the floor. Proper cleaning of the surface, right sanding, using an adequate amount of deglosser, and putting the painter’s tapes on the wall edges correctly – all are of similar importance.
2. Wrong Brush And Paint Selection
When painting the floor, choosing the right brush and roller is crucial. Don’t jump right in for the cheapest one in the market. The same warning applies to the paint. Always remember that the cheap one will cost you more in the long run.
3. Underestimation Of The Paint Amount
If you are not sure about how much paint might be necessary, try to overestimate. But don’t buy less amount of paint and suffer later as it will lead to different shades. Keep in mind that you might need two coats of paints, so prepare accordingly.
4. Not Waiting Enough Time For The Coat To Dry
It is quite self-explanatory. You must wait for the drying of the previous coat before going to the next one. Without doing so, you can spoil the coating and the floor might look gunky.
5. Not Barricading Off The Recently-painted Room
This one is very common where you forget to give a barricade or close the door and someone mistakenly walks on the surface. This gets worse when the floor paint is messed up and some paint also comes out with the feet.
5 Tips To Make Your Linoleum Floor More Shiny
Linoleum floors can be of exclusive beauty and aesthetics if they are properly maintained. But keeping that shiny surface might become tiring if you don’t follow the drills. Here are some tips that to help you achieve it.
Tip 1: Regular Cleaning
With regular cleaning using a vacuum cleaner or mops, you can get rid of most dirt. This is important because if you don’t clean up often, you can’t restore the original shine once it gets faded.
Tip 2: Frequent Maintenance
Linoleum floors need more maintenance to keep their glamour. You need to clean and wipe them on a regular basis and make sure they are re-waxed. The re-waxing procedure should be done every two to six months. But while re-waxing, don’t forget to check the instructions from the manufacturer.
Tip 3: Using Cleaning Solution
Apart from the regular cleaning, make a cleaning solution of vinegar and warm water and rinse the linoleum floor with it. After the cleaning procedure, try to remove as much water as possible from the floor so that it becomes almost dry.
Tip 4: Toothpaste
This trick can be helpful if you are struggling with scuff marks on the dry linoleum floor after finishing the floor cleaning. Take some toothpaste and apply it to the spots. Keep rubbing the place with a rag until it becomes lightened.
Tip 5: Be Aware Of Soap
If you are using soap with the mop for cleaning, do not leave any soapy residue on the floor surface. It can cause damage to the floor. To reduce the risks, you can think about using a steam mop instead of the regular one.
FAQ:
Is It A Good Idea To Paint Over The Linoleum Floor?
Painting over the linoleum floor has a higher probability of making the floor dirty and the surface hinders paint bonding. And though the painting won’t last but can survive several years if the painting is done properly.
Whether painting over the floor is good or bad depends on you. If you have the opportunity to replace the linoleum floor, then I’ll not recommend you to paint over the old one. But to give your floors a new look within a limited budget, painting is a good idea.
Do You Need To Sand Linoleum Before Painting?
You need to sand the linoleum surface before painting. The linoleum surface is glossy and this stops the paint from bonding. When you sand the floor correctly, the paint bonds more with the surface. So, in order to increase the durability of the floor painting, sanding is important.
Sanding is an important part of linoleum floor painting. You must sand the linoleum surface before painting so that the paint lasts.
What Paint Will Stick To Linoleum?
You can choose enamel floor paint or enamel porch paint of your desired color which are available in any paint store. The reason for being so is that Enamel paint is very durable and hard-wearing. Using enamel paint will also protect the floor from getting marked easily.
Since the materials in linoleum floors are different, you need different paint for them. Regular latex enamel will not be durable enough. Enamel floor paint can be a good option here as it sticks to the linoleum.
How Do You Change The Color Of Linoleum Flooring?
By using the primer properly, you can create a cross-link between the coat of paint and the surface. Then, if you start painting with the right color, the color of the linoleum floor will change.
Painting over the linoleum floor is tricky itself but changing the color is easier. You need to choose the desired color and put multiple coats. Don’t forget to put primer first and then 2-3 coats of paint should be adequate for the paint to last.
Can Linoleum Floors Be Painted With Something Inexpensive That Will Improve Their Appearance?
Inexpensive painting on linoleum floors can improve their appearance. If you select the perfect design and materials it’s possible. You can change the atmosphere of the room by painting the floor and it should last for several years.
Painting over the linoleum floor is very budget-friendly. Even inexpensive painting on linoleum floors can improve their appearance. What is more important is how you are preparing the floor for painting and which type of paint you are going to use.
Final Words
You can go for painting over linoleum floors which can be reasonable and aesthetic. But you need proper floor preparation and you should follow the steps. Be careful while choosing your materials, don’t make common mistakes, and use the given tips.
This article should be helpful for you and you can have a clear idea of linoleum floor painting. I hope it gives you the confidence to go for your linoleum floor painting with these amazing ideas.
