By Alyssa Davis

Painting a basement floor can be an extremely economical and eco-friendly way of adding style and design. Instead of purchasing other flooring materials such as carpeting, tile or laminates, you can simply use paint to give the floor the look you desire. Of course, it’s always possible to simply paint the basement floor with a single color. But, why stop with just one color when you can add a cool painted design? If you’ve decided to try your hand at painting a design on your basement floor, here are some tips that can help get you started.

Proper Floor Preparation

Preparing your basement floor is an important part of painting it. Especially if you are going to take the time to add a design, you want to make sure that your paint job is as durable as possible. First, make sure you don’t have any moisture problems in the basement. Perform any waterproofing tasks before you start to paint the floor. You should also patch any holes or cracks in the floor, using concrete patching material. If the floor was previously painted, be sure to use a scraper to remove any loose paint. Then, vacuum or sweep to remove any loose dirt and debris. A TSP solution can be used to remove any grease or oil. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after cleaning and let dry completely. In many cases, applying a base coat of floor paint before painting your design is a good idea that will result in a better finished result. You should also follow the manufacturer’s instructions in regards to etching the floor or using a primer if necessary.

Planning Your Design

Once the floor has been prepared, it’s time to have some fun. There are many ways to paint designs on a floor, although some do take more artistic talent than others. If you want to paint borders or stripes on the floor, first paint the floor a solid color and let dry. Then you can use masking tape or painter’s tape to mark off the areas for the stripes or borders. Use a brush to paint the areas not covered by the tape. Once you remove the tape, you’ll have stripes or borders with crisp edges. If you are using different colors for your stripes, be sure to use a clean brush for each color, and avoid using two colors of paint directly beside each other until one of the colors has dried. You can also use stencils to paint interesting designs on the floor. You can either use a stencil brush to apply the paint to the floor using the stencil, or simply trace designs on the floor using a soft pencil. It’s also possible to draw designs directly on the floor using a soft pencil, especially if you have artistic talent. Sponge-painting a design using a stencil is also a great way to paint a cool design on the basement floor. Try using one stencil to apply a repeated border around the entire perimeter of the room for an interesting look. You can also simulate the look of an area rug by painting a rectangle on the floor. Use a sponge or brush to add texture and design. You can even use a small brush to add tasseled edges to the faux carpet if desired.

Floor Painting Tips

Regardless of the pattern you choose, be sure to always wear clean soft socks when working on the floor to keep the area clean. Always allow paint to dry completely. You might also want to provide additional protection to your painted design by sealing it with a polyurethane varnish. Always allow the floor to dry for several days before moving furniture and throw rugs back into the room.

About the Author: Alyssa Davis, who writes exclusively for Metal-Wall-Art.com, offers many suggestions for creating bold interiors with

metal wall art for kitchen

and

wall art decor

.

Source:

isnare.com

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