Are You Gutsy Enough to Paint Your Floor White?
Sleek and glossy or softened by wear, white floors charm
I've always wanted to live in a space with painted white floors. I love the open and airy feeling and how all the furniture and art just leaps out at you. I work on a lot of remodels, and because we're often matching new floors to old, I don't find myself with the option of doing something new or different in the flooring department unless it's tile or stone. But we had a fire in our house last April and now find ourselves having a choice for flooring. I've been agonizing for over 6 months between herringbone white oak, dark walnut stained oak — or white painted floors. Having a golden retriever doesn't help: I want white, but I'm not sure I'm willing to deal with the reality of it. I'm dying to hear from people who have actually done painted white floors, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this! Take a look at these examples, and tell me what you think:
I love how simple and calming a space like this feels. If it had a stained wood floor ... it just wouldn't be the same room! I prefer the patina of wear and tear on white floors, with the scraps and gaps.
White floors in an all modern setting: white on white. The light fixtures take center stage, and the shapes of the furniture stand out.
What makes this room is the contrast between the texture of the herringbone painted floors, traditional architecture and moldings, and the contemporary bed and furniture. The black-and-white palette pushes the envelope even more.
Distressed white painted wood floors are a signature of the shabby chic or farmhouse styles. You really can't go wrong with layers of whites, creams, oatmeal and beige.
White floors let you stand back and appreciate the unusual table base and simple contemporary furnishings in this room.
Tip: This classic black and white palette can stay minimal as seen — or you can add some color with a single chair or painting and change the room in an instant.
Tip: This classic black and white palette can stay minimal as seen — or you can add some color with a single chair or painting and change the room in an instant.
This space feels like a gallery, and the white wood floors add a bit of warmth. The lines between the planks follow the long lines of the room and the lighting above. Painted white floors can go from country to modern in no time.
The shapes of the chairs and the pattern of the yellow bedspread are that much more apparent in this all-white room. The white floors lift the shapes away from the ground.
There’s a reason many art galleries prefer all white walls and white floors — there is no competition for the art and accent color. My eye just goes from image to texture to color and back again.
White floors in this kitchen’s sitting area work well with the glam stools. The legs of these stools and the shape of the table stand out, as does the turquoise, of course!
Browse thousands of trendy bar and counter stools
Browse thousands of trendy bar and counter stools
The smooth white floors in this glam room allow for dark glossy blue walls. This room isn't just gutsy in the use of white floors!
If you want to do dark walls like this elegant charcoal gray but you’re afraid your house will be too dark, white floors will counterbalance it all. The traditional furnishings, dark walls and white floors help showcase the art on the walls.
High-gloss cocoa walls and white floors add up to a sleek and modern space. White floors can go from modern to country to traditional to rustic — it's all about how you execute them.
Are white floors for you?
More:
Painted wood floors
Browse more home design photos
Are white floors for you?
More:
Painted wood floors
Browse more home design photos
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