How to Paint a Checkerboard Floor

You can make your floor look like this.

Checkerboard floors are a trendy and easy way to make your room look different. It can be done in any color and with any size squares. Most people would prefer to make checkerboard floors using tiles, but painting directly onto the floor is only slightly more difficult. The checkerboard pattern looks particularly attractive on wooden floors, which have a more appealing texture than cement.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Non-slip floor paint
• Super-thin painter's tape (about 1/8th inch)
• paint roller or brush
• chalk or pencil
• ruler or tape measure
• Paint pan
• face mask (optional)
• lacquer (optional)

1. After cleaning your floor and prepping the surface, you have two options for how to continue. You can either use tape to separate each square or draw lines using chalk or pencil. Drawing the lines makes for a tighter checkerboard pattern, but using the tape is slightly more forgiving and requires a great deal less work. Measure the room and decide how large each square should be. If your floor is tiled, this work may already be done and you can go straight to painting or tinting each tile separately. If the floor is wood, cement or has odd-sized tiles, you will need two people to measure large rooms. One should stand on either side of the room and both should have a ruler or measuring tape. Start at the farther back wall and measure going away from it until you reach the opposite wall. You should have evenly spaced parallel lines made of tape or chalk when you are done. Use the same process from the side walls.

2. Once you have completed making a checkerboard pattern on the floor, double-check for stray debris. After making sure the floor is ready, pour the first color of paint into the pan. Use a small roller if you have taped the floor. If you used chalk, you will need to use a wide flat brush for better control. Start at the farthest corner from the door and work your way from there, painting every other square. Watch that you do not accidentally box yourself in. You may also need to use a face mask if you are sensitive to fumes.

   Once you have finished painting the first color, wait for it to dry completely. Make sure you have clean feet or shoes on or use plastic sheeting so that you do not damage the previously painted squares. Using the contrasting color, paint the remaining squares using the same method you used for the first and allow them to dry completely.

3. Once the floor is completely dry, double-check it. Some spots may need a second coat of paint. If you used the chalk method, you may want to use a small decorating brush to neaten up the corners of each square. Allow the paint to dry again if necessary. Once the floor is dry, you may remove the painter's tape. At this point some people may leave the floor as is; however, you can use a layer of lacquer to seal in and protect your new checkerboard from damage. Ask the paint shop about paints and lacquers appropriate for floor use.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint on a dry hot day and keep the windows open.

• Start early in the day to give the house ample time to air out before you go to bed. If possible, do not sleep in the house for a day or two after painting.

• Paint fumes can be intoxicating and even deadly. Make sure you have adequate air flow before beginning.