How to Paint Canvas Flooring

Don't worry, your creation won't look like this!

Add that special punch of color and design to just about any room in your home by painting canvas flooring. Though painting canvas flooring may appear tricky and complex, it is surprisingly easy to do. To speed the process a bit, purchase pre-primed canvas flooring.

Things You'll Need

• Pre-primed canvas flooring
• Latex paint
• Paint rollers
• Paint tray
• Varnish
• Acrylic paint, variety of colors
• Paint brushes
• Stiple brushes
• Stencils
• Sketchbook
• Colored pencils

Instructions

1. 

   Lay the canvas flooring out on a flat surface, or hang on a wall using bull-dog clips and nails (to ensure it will stay in place). Using the paint roller and latex paint, roll on your background color of choice. Be sure to roll on more than one coat if the paint doesn't give the coverage you are looking for. Allow each coat to dry completely.

2. 

   Determine the design for the piece of canvas flooring by drawing it out using colored pencils in a sketchbook. Experiment with the stencils by tracing them out, and then coloring them in. Practice using the stiple brush with the stencils in the sketchbook, as well, until you are comfortable with the technique.

3. 

   Paint your design on to the piece of canvas flooring using acrylic paints. If you are painting free-hand designs, take your time and do not rush. Using a rounded brush head will prevent brush strokes from being as apparent in your freehand work. If you are stipling the stencil work on to the canvas flooring, be sure to allow the paint to dry before doing any stencil pattern over-lapping. Allow your design to dry completely.

4. 

   Add at least two coats of varnish to seal the canvas flooring. Allow each coat to dry completely. This varnish coating will protect your design and give the flooring the ability to be walked on safely.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a projector to display a design on the canvas flooring, and then trace it out in pencil.

• Try using a patterned roller to create a repeated pattern along the border, or throughout the entire piece.

• Consider doing a faux finish similar to what is painted on walls.

• If you are using tape to hold the stencil down, be sure to use low-tack painter's tape.

• Do not rush through painting the coats of paint or they will peel.

• Do not rush through rolling on the varnish or it will form into a gloppy mess.

Resources

• Paint a floor canvas using a projector