Painted Floors

Painting a floor can give form to a room where everything is function, offset the formality of a living room, and restore life to a tired stairway. It is a bit of trompe l'oeil underfoot -- a visual pun that plays to an entire room.These floor projects illustrate the point. Though painting is still a practical solution for covering less-than-perfect floors, particularly those in upstairs hallways and bedrooms where second-quality lumber is often used, it can also lend comfort or drama to a space. In lieu of rugs, an all-white floor can seemingly enlarge and soften a living room where the focus is rightly on the decorations. It gives the room sparkle and intelligence, and can be applied to a modern space as easily as to a classical one.Bear in mind that, in the grand tradition of folk artists and decorative painters, you will make mistakes. Most of these -- a squiggle, a hesitant stroke of the brush -- will be so insignificant they won't be worth bothering about. If anything, they'll give your project character, a human touch. But if you do make a mistake you don't want to live with, just wipe the area with a clean cloth, let it dry, and start over again.If painting a floor seems a more intimidating project than, say, painting a night table, it's a good idea to do your first one in an out-of-the-way bedroom or an upstairs hall. And try to remember that the same rules apply to painting a floor as to the rest of life. Be prepared. Don't expect perfection. And always leave yourself a way out.