Decorating
Decorating: 11 Smart Finishes for Original Floorboards
Whether you go for glossy, painted or matt boards, make your wooden floor the star
Interiors trends come and go, but original floorboards never seem to go out of fashion. The beauty of solid wood instantly adds warmth and character to rooms, so if you’re lucky enough to have original planks in your home, make the most of them by choosing a finish you love, whether oil, varnish, stain or paint. Think about practicalities and your aesthetic sensibilities: is it a high-traffic area? Do you like things to look smart and traditional, or is lived-in and shabby chic more your thing? Take a look at the following floorboards for ideas and inspiration.
Distress to impress
A distressed floor can be a surprisingly effective way to add interest to, or ‘dirty up’, a minimal space. These oak floorboards have been painted white and then elegantly left to peel and flake. The result here is perfectly shabby chic, and looks brilliant with the super-modern furniture in tangy brights – a lesson in how not to be dull.
If you don’t have the time or inclination to wait for authentic wear and tear, you can DIY distress – search for tips online or seek out a workshop. The techniques are similar to those for distressing furniture (often applying waxes to certain areas so paint doesn’t stick, or scraping and sanding back patches of paint to reveal the wood beneath).
A distressed floor can be a surprisingly effective way to add interest to, or ‘dirty up’, a minimal space. These oak floorboards have been painted white and then elegantly left to peel and flake. The result here is perfectly shabby chic, and looks brilliant with the super-modern furniture in tangy brights – a lesson in how not to be dull.
If you don’t have the time or inclination to wait for authentic wear and tear, you can DIY distress – search for tips online or seek out a workshop. The techniques are similar to those for distressing furniture (often applying waxes to certain areas so paint doesn’t stick, or scraping and sanding back patches of paint to reveal the wood beneath).
Show off natural beauty
High-gloss varnish not for you? If you prefer a natural, matt surface to your floorboards, try oiling them instead. Oiled floors can be easier to repair if damaged or stained – you can sand down the area that needs touching up and re-oil (rather than having to start from scratch).
Instead of sitting on the surface, like varnishes and lacquers, oil sinks into the wood, adding another layer of conditioning. It’s a good idea to top up the oil every year or so to keep the floor pristine. Look for specialist Danish floor oils containing natural ingredients for a beautiful effect.
High-gloss varnish not for you? If you prefer a natural, matt surface to your floorboards, try oiling them instead. Oiled floors can be easier to repair if damaged or stained – you can sand down the area that needs touching up and re-oil (rather than having to start from scratch).
Instead of sitting on the surface, like varnishes and lacquers, oil sinks into the wood, adding another layer of conditioning. It’s a good idea to top up the oil every year or so to keep the floor pristine. Look for specialist Danish floor oils containing natural ingredients for a beautiful effect.
Perfect your pine
If you live in a period property, chances are you’re in possession of original pine boards. Sanding back and finishing with clear varnish is a classic way to show off the natural beauty of wood. In this updated country kitchen, the floor adds colour, warmth and personality, while the blue island unit cools the orange tones down.
Hire a professional sanding machine for a smooth, polished effect. Choose a tough varnished finish for kitchen floors to withstand mopping; if you prefer less sheen, go for matt or semi-matt options.
If you live in a period property, chances are you’re in possession of original pine boards. Sanding back and finishing with clear varnish is a classic way to show off the natural beauty of wood. In this updated country kitchen, the floor adds colour, warmth and personality, while the blue island unit cools the orange tones down.
Hire a professional sanding machine for a smooth, polished effect. Choose a tough varnished finish for kitchen floors to withstand mopping; if you prefer less sheen, go for matt or semi-matt options.
Paint it white
White floorboards are ever popular and no wonder – they instantly brighten and freshen up a room, and can make it feel larger, too. These slim boards have been painted in a durable white floor paint for a Scandi-chic look that will last the distance.
Think carefully before you commit to painting boards, however; once you’ve painted them, it can be hard to turn back (unless you fancy an epic sanding session!).
TIP Whether you’re painting, oiling or varnishing, always make sure the floor is vacuumed, scrubbed and squeaky clean before starting. Remove any beading, edging or skirting to ensure a perfect finish.
White floorboards are ever popular and no wonder – they instantly brighten and freshen up a room, and can make it feel larger, too. These slim boards have been painted in a durable white floor paint for a Scandi-chic look that will last the distance.
Think carefully before you commit to painting boards, however; once you’ve painted them, it can be hard to turn back (unless you fancy an epic sanding session!).
TIP Whether you’re painting, oiling or varnishing, always make sure the floor is vacuumed, scrubbed and squeaky clean before starting. Remove any beading, edging or skirting to ensure a perfect finish.
Stain a smart shade
A dark stain can look dramatic and elegant while still showing off the natural grain of original floorboards. In this bathroom, the chestnut floor looks stunning next to white sanitaryware. It’s a great solution if you don’t want to throw out your perfectly serviceable pine boards, but would prefer a different hue.
Always experiment with stains by patch-testing on a spare piece of board or in an unseen area with different hues until you get the shade you desire. Try a dark oak or walnut hue, then finish with three coats of clear varnish for a glossy, grown-up look. Don’t be tempted to use coloured varnishes on very pale boards, as chips and scratches will show through.
A dark stain can look dramatic and elegant while still showing off the natural grain of original floorboards. In this bathroom, the chestnut floor looks stunning next to white sanitaryware. It’s a great solution if you don’t want to throw out your perfectly serviceable pine boards, but would prefer a different hue.
Always experiment with stains by patch-testing on a spare piece of board or in an unseen area with different hues until you get the shade you desire. Try a dark oak or walnut hue, then finish with three coats of clear varnish for a glossy, grown-up look. Don’t be tempted to use coloured varnishes on very pale boards, as chips and scratches will show through.
Use colour wisely
A coloured painted floor can add real wow factor to a room. It also covers up a multitude of sins if your ancient boards are looking less than lovely. And it detracts from the dreaded ‘wood clash’, when you have too many tones of pine, oak and beech competing with each other.
This flat, matt blue looks fabulous, and offers a sophisticated alternative to white. Choose a special floor paint designed for heavy traffic that will resist spills, stains, scuffs and scratches. Make sure you sand first, and fill any holes and cracks before you wield your paintbrush. Also check your tin to see whether you need to prime your boards first, and apply knot sealant so they don’t peek through.
Discover why blue and white are a winning combo
A coloured painted floor can add real wow factor to a room. It also covers up a multitude of sins if your ancient boards are looking less than lovely. And it detracts from the dreaded ‘wood clash’, when you have too many tones of pine, oak and beech competing with each other.
This flat, matt blue looks fabulous, and offers a sophisticated alternative to white. Choose a special floor paint designed for heavy traffic that will resist spills, stains, scuffs and scratches. Make sure you sand first, and fill any holes and cracks before you wield your paintbrush. Also check your tin to see whether you need to prime your boards first, and apply knot sealant so they don’t peek through.
Discover why blue and white are a winning combo
Polish things up
Let the light reflect by going for some serious shine. A high-gloss polyurethane varnished finish can help bounce light around a room, can be easier to keep clean and tends to be more resilient to scrapes than waxes or oils. Look for a varnish that won’t yellow over time, and apply multiple coats to build up shine.
Let the light reflect by going for some serious shine. A high-gloss polyurethane varnished finish can help bounce light around a room, can be easier to keep clean and tends to be more resilient to scrapes than waxes or oils. Look for a varnish that won’t yellow over time, and apply multiple coats to build up shine.
Think whitewash
Don’t want to go for a bright ’n’ sparkling white-painted floor, but not too keen on wood either? One compromise could be whitewashing – using white paint thinned down with water (try a one-part water, two-parts paint mix).
Unlike conventional, thicker painting, this lovely, pale effect allows the wood’s grain to peek through, and has a cottagey, homespun feel. Apply repeated coats until you get the look you require, then finish with a sealant to make it more durable.
Find more ways to harness white’s power
Don’t want to go for a bright ’n’ sparkling white-painted floor, but not too keen on wood either? One compromise could be whitewashing – using white paint thinned down with water (try a one-part water, two-parts paint mix).
Unlike conventional, thicker painting, this lovely, pale effect allows the wood’s grain to peek through, and has a cottagey, homespun feel. Apply repeated coats until you get the look you require, then finish with a sealant to make it more durable.
Find more ways to harness white’s power
Let it lye
This beautiful solid-wood floor is made from oak bleached with lye and finished with a soap treatment. This is a technique popular in Scandinavia that lightens wood for a sophisticated, paler look. Here it adds to the light, airy feel in this modern dining room. Look for products in specialist flooring stores, or buy pre-treated boards.
This beautiful solid-wood floor is made from oak bleached with lye and finished with a soap treatment. This is a technique popular in Scandinavia that lightens wood for a sophisticated, paler look. Here it adds to the light, airy feel in this modern dining room. Look for products in specialist flooring stores, or buy pre-treated boards.
Leave it rough and ready
Perfectly smooth, filled boards aren’t for everybody. In this striking Essex barn, these characterful rustic boards speak for themselves. The scratches, texture and gaps only add to the country vibe. A neatly laid, engineered-floor would have looked much more sterile in this context.
TELL US…
How have you finished your wooden floor? Share your tips and ideas in the Comments below.
Perfectly smooth, filled boards aren’t for everybody. In this striking Essex barn, these characterful rustic boards speak for themselves. The scratches, texture and gaps only add to the country vibe. A neatly laid, engineered-floor would have looked much more sterile in this context.
TELL US…
How have you finished your wooden floor? Share your tips and ideas in the Comments below.
You might assume they’d look too gothic or severe, but in fact, black-painted boards can look dramatic, modern, grown-up and sleek, as proven in this stylish kitchen-diner.
As you’d expect, they go brilliantly with white walls, but they also provide an excellent neutral backdrop, allowing other colours to shine. Wooden furniture also stands out beautifully against a black floor, as seen with these stools.
Bear in mind, however, that some people believe black floors can show up dirt, dog hair and dust even more than white floors…