Faux Finish Ideas for Floors

Faux Brick

• For a classic, elegant look, a faux brick finish is an ideal option for your floor. It is a relatively easy project, so even inexperienced painters may be comfortable enough to give it a try. Begin by covering the floor in a base coat. Gray, cream and beige typically work best as the base coat because the color will show through to mimic mortar lines in the finished design. Once the base coat is dry, apply a glaze coat on top. Choose a shade that mimics real brick, such as red, brown, gray or terracotta. For a truly realistic finish, combine two or three glaze colors so the faux brick has a weathered look. Use a cellulose sponge to apply the glaze, pressing it against the floor like a stamp. The rough texture of the sponge mimics the texture of real brick, but leave a uniform area around each brick section free of the glaze coat so the base coat peeks through to give the impression of mortar.

Faux Marble

• A faux marble finish on the floor can give a room an impressive, luxurious feel. It can be a complex project because it is a two-step process, so you may want to practice the technique on a board before applying any color to your floor. Begin with a white base coat that has a satin finish, which will show through in the finished flooring to simulate the marble's veining. Also choose two glaze shades that are similar in tone. Using two shades adds depth to the finished color for a more textured look. Apply the paint with two different brushes, and create squiggly swatches several inches apart. With a balled-up piece of cheesecloth, lightly blot the two colors into the floor, blending the two shades together as you work them into the surface. Use a swirling motion as you blend the colors so there is variation in how light and dark the sections of the floor appear. Once the floor is dry, you can use a fine-tipped paintbrush to add random veins across the floor with a white paint. Use a stiffer brush to soften the edges of the veins when the paint is partially dry.

Faux Tile

• If you have a concrete floor, a little labor and some paint can recreate the look of ceramic tile. This project is more labor intensive than other faux finish designs, but it definitely spices up the look of drab concrete flooring. Use a saw fitted with a concrete blade to score your floor in a grid-like pattern. The scoring should be approximately 1/8-inch deep so it mimics the look of grout lines. To color the concrete, apply a chemical-based stain. These products etch the surface of the concrete and impart color. When applying the stain, you can use a brush, rag or mop to add texture to the floor. Once the stain is dried and sealed, add grout to the scored line to provide a more realistic tile look.

Faux Rug

• To give your floor a more detailed faux finish, paint a faux rug or carpet. Mimicking an oriental style rug on your floor can add drama to your room, but you can copy the look of any rug style that you prefer. This faux finish project requires more artistic skill than the others, so have a picture of the rug design that you want to mimic on the floor to copy from as you work. If you are not confident in your ability to freehand a rug design, purchase stencils to create a pattern for your faux rug.