How to Paint a Vinyl Floor + Stencil Technique

by

This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a small commission.

Do you have a vinyl or tile floor you are not in love with? Paint it! That’s right – I’ll show you how to elevate your floor with this fun painted floor project where I add this really cool stencil technique that makes this floor go from boring to cool! Learn how to paint your vinyl floor now! This also works for tile floors. 😉

Painting Your Vinyl or Tile Floor

There is one floor in our home that I didn’t care for, and I didn’t want to spend much to fix it. So I decided I would try a really cool painted floor technique and stencil it to really elevate the space on a budget! This is one project that you can easily do with this step-by-step tutorial. 

pin image with pink background, bold title that says "HOW TO PAINT YOUR VINYL FLOOR" and an image of the finished room

Getting Materials

When it comes to any project you want to make sure you have all the supplies you have on hand. You don’t want to start your project only to realize you don’t have all the tools that you need. 

Supplies Needed

By joining our insider’s list, never miss a DIY tutorial or room reveal! Join now!

Thank you for subscribing!

Step By Step Guide to Painting a Vinyl Floor + Floor Stencil

  • The first step in this process is really cleaning the floor. Vacuum and mop it really well. If you have any buildup, you might want to clean it with a heavy-duty cleaner.
  • Once clean and dry, lightly sand the floor. I am using my orbital sander. This will remove some of the sheen.
  • After sanding is complete, wipe it down. 
  • If you have not removed the silicone seals off the floor yet be sure you remove them because these are not paintable. We will reseal it once we are done. 
  • Next, prime the floor with a good primer; this is one I would recommend. To speed up the process a bit you can dump some primer right onto the floor and then roll it out with a roller brush. Let the first coat of primer dry. I let mine sit all night before adding a second coat. 
  • Be sure no one walks on the floor! I blocked it off with frog tape. 
  • In many cases you don’t need a second coat of primer, but I decided to do one just to be safe. Once the second coat of primer has completely dried it is time to start painting. 
  • Paint the floor with your desired color; I am using Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams for my base color. I am using Valspar Porch and Floor Paint. You will want to apply as many coats of paint necessary for full coverage, allowing for plenty of dry time in between. 
  • Be sure that you clean the floor well in between coats. I do this with a damp rag. I ended up having to wear a shower cap because I kept shedding hair while painting. 
  • I am using a foam roller for the middle of the floor, but overall the brush is doing a great job of covering the floor. 
  • You could just paint a solid color and leave it at that, but a fun pattern adds character. Once the floor has the coverage you want it is time to stencil the floor.
  • Begin by choosing a stencil you love. My stencil is the Metro Hex from Cutting Edge Stencils. I highly recommend practicing on a piece of cardboard first! It’s also helpful to buy two stencils to make the stenciling process go a bit faster.
  • You could also use your painter’s tape and simply tape out a pattern, like a checkered pattern, instead of using a stencil.
  • Choose the paint color you want to use for your stencil. I am using Pure White by Sherwin Williams. Once again I am using Valspar Porch and Floor Paint.
  • Use a stencil brush and a foam roller to apply your design. Use a stencil spray adhesive to ensure your stencil template does not move while you are working. I promise the spray adhesive is a game-changer. It holds the stencil in place while you’re painting, and it’s repositionable.
  • Once you are done with the first coat, let it dry and add extra coats until it is the desired color you want. 
  • When you get to hard-to-reach places and along edges, cutting the stencil into smaller pieces is super helpful.
  • There will be some imperfections that you can fix with small paint brushes. I even used a black Sharpie marker in some spots. 
  • In my stencil floor project, I opted to leave a black border around the room. You can absolutely stencil all the way up to the wall, but I felt this gave it the nice finished look I was going for. 
  • Use a foam roller to apply the Polycrylic finish and a brush to use around the edges of the room. This goes on quickly and dries quickly in between coats. Remember to wipe down in between coats. 

To see the entire floor stencil project, be sure to go to my floor painting highlights on Instagram. 

Tips for your Painted Floor Project

  • Wipe down the floors with a wet rag before painting. This goes for every single layer of primer, paint, stenciling, or Polycrylic. You don’t want any hairs or fuzz to be in the layers. 
  • Be sure you don’t use too much paint when stenciling.
  • Most likely you will need more than one coat of paint when applying your stencil design. 
  • Use a spray adhesive to help your stencil in place when stenciling your floor. 
  • This same process also works on tile floor!
  • I clean as usual with my normal cleaner and mop.

To see the whole bathroom reveal, including links to all of the decor, check it out here! Also be sure to learn how we did our DIY shiplap wall to really make this space stand out.

There you have it! How to paint and stencil a floor! If you like video tutorials be sure to watch the entire process on Instagram. Be sure to tag me on Instagram in your finished projects so I can see how amazing they turn out! #howwedoandyoucantoo

Update! We no longer live in or own this home, but the floor held up PERFECTLY for the two years that we did live there after I painted it. This was my kids’ bathroom, and with four kids it got a lot of traffic. I’m not saying painted floors will last forever, but with the proper prep, process, and products, you can get some good years out of them. It could be a good option to get you by while you’re saving up money for a more expensive floor renovation project. 🙂

Leave a Comment