The Surprising Interior Design Trick That Can Make Your Floors Pop

When seasoned interior designer Ashley Clark of sKout Interior Design was customizing her own Southern California home, she wanted to try something new. “I have seen pictures of painted wood floors for years and always wanted to try it!” Clark says. “I was nervous about scratching and maintenance, so I was hesitant to try it on a client project, but when we built our house it was the perfect opportunity to try it in my own space!”

Clark ultimately decided to test out this technique in her home’s separate bonus room, in the hopes of creating a low-maintenance and relatively low-cost floor design. She went for an unfinished oak that cost $3 per square foot, and then selected a floor paint from Benjamin Moore in the color “Simply White.” 

Courtesy of Ashley Clark

She brought on a professional painter, who applied two coats of primer and two coats of paint over the course of two days—but she says homeowners can also take this on as a DIY project. “It was actually super easy,” she says. “I can still see the grain and imperfections in the wood, as well as the seams and patterns on the floor. It is just perfect!”

Even more perfect? The painted floors have made it through the ultimate test: her dog and three sons. “So far no scratches!” she says.“ I will definitely now present this as an option to clients and a great way to do something a little bit different and save money.” 

While Clark opted to paint her new wood floors, she also recommends this idea to those looking to upgrade their existing flooring. “If you have original floors in your house that have seen better days or you just do not like the color, this is a great option,” she says. “You could paint it any color or even a pattern and really, really transform a space.”

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