To Paint or Not to Paint? That Is the Floorboard Question
Can't decide whether painted floorboards are right for your house? Let Houzz help you make up your mind
Love the look of painted floorboards but not sure it’s right for your house? You’re not alone. It can be tricky to figure out if you’re in for a lifetime of upkeep you’ll come to resent and whether the happiness you think you’ll get from living with floorboards you absolutely love will be a reality. But painted floorboards can give a home such a lift that the lure of reaching for that paintbrush is hard to resist, especially if you’re living with floorboards badly in need of some TLC. Take a look around the rooms in these homes to help you decide.
But the grounding tones of natural timber could be just what you need for a stylish look and feel. The timber in this room is so gorgeous it has been used on the wall to act as a bedhead, too.
IN THE KITCHEN
White floors could give you just the excuse you need to inject some colour elsewhere in the room. Imagine a bright ceiling such as this paired with … shudder … golden-toned or yellowing pine floorboards. Only white will do.
White floors could give you just the excuse you need to inject some colour elsewhere in the room. Imagine a bright ceiling such as this paired with … shudder … golden-toned or yellowing pine floorboards. Only white will do.
If your floorboards are particularly beautiful or full of character unadorned, it would be a tragedy to cover them up. The extra-wide, recycled floorboards in this lovely kitchen are a show-stopping feature in their own right.
Adding colour to a kitchen is easy if you start from the floor up. And you can always paint over it when you feel like a change. This white kitchen looks positively cheery with a lime-green floor.
If you like to change your surrounds whenever the mood strikes, natural floorboards could give you the freedom you need to do so in a hurry. Use artwork, soft furnishings and accessories to bring it to life in a new way.
In areas of high traffic, such as a kitchen, painted floorboards will start to show wear and tear and give the room a lived-in feel. If you can embrace that extra character, painted floorboards could be for you. Paired with sleek, ultra-modern furnishings, a scuffed floor can offer interesting contrast.
Painted floorboards can also add a sense of fun that’s difficult to match. Choose the best-quality paint you can afford to minimise wear when you’ve gone to the trouble of painting a design as fabulous as this.
IN THE LIVING AREAS
Floorboards painted white create the perfect backdrop for carefully chosen furniture and accessories.
Floorboards painted white create the perfect backdrop for carefully chosen furniture and accessories.
An unpainted floor in a setting like this is the only way to go. The natural tones work beautifully with the leafy view beyond.
Painted floorboards can work with just about any style, so don’t dismiss the option as being just for shabby chic or eclectic looks. With its painted white floorboards, this elegant living room looks fresh and inviting.
IN THE DINING ROOM
Natural floorboards are the way to go in this contemporary space – they make this open-plan kitchen/dining a warm and welcoming place to be. Unless enough colour is added through accessories, or even the floor itself, a painted floor runs the risk of making a room appear cold and uninviting.
Natural floorboards are the way to go in this contemporary space – they make this open-plan kitchen/dining a warm and welcoming place to be. Unless enough colour is added through accessories, or even the floor itself, a painted floor runs the risk of making a room appear cold and uninviting.
When your timber-lined walls are already white, staining the floorboards a darker colour can be the better option. The floor in this dining room grounds the space enough to accommodate that giant dining table. A darker floor is also a godsend for those lacking the time or inclination to regularly reach for the broom. A white or pale-coloured floor will show up the dirt far more readily than one like this.
Just when you thought you’d made a decision, though, you come across a dining room like this. It’s the perfect setting for a fun-filled gathering.
YOU TELL US
Have you lived with painted floorboards? Which look do you prefer? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
YOU TELL US
Have you lived with painted floorboards? Which look do you prefer? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Painting a bedroom floor white can give it a light and airy feel, and makes bedding and artwork colours pop beautifully.