How to Make a Plywood Floor Look Like a Hardwood Floor

Sweep and mop the plywood floor to remove all debris and prepare the surface for sanding. Use a slightly damp mop with only water to wet the surface of the plywood.

Sand the plywood lightly with 220-grit sandpaper. Sweep away any dust that remains after sanding.

Apply one coat of sanding sealer to the plywood floor with a large paintbrush. Let the sealer dry completely before you continue.

Paint a base coat on the floor using a paint roller and interior latex paint. The base color will be seen as the small spaces between the faux wood boards, so choose a dark brown or a color that corresponds with your design. Let the paint dry completely.

Apply 1/8-inch wide masking tape to the floor to create the faux wood boards. If you want to create the look of 4-inch boards, you will need to apply lines of tape four inches apart all the way across the room. Stagger tape between these lines every few feet so it appears that the boards have end joints.

Mix together 2 tbsp. burnt umber universal tint, 3 drops India ink, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and 2 tsp. white sugar in a plastic cup.

Work on one faux board at a time by applying the stain to the taped off area with a fan brush. Use long strokes in the direction of the "grain" you are trying to create.

Drag a large, dry paintbrush through the wet stain in the same direction as the wood grain to soften the effect and add additional graining. You can always reapply the stain and start over if you are unhappy with the effect.

Continue to paint one faux board at a time until you have covered the entire floor using the wood grain paint technique. Mix more stain as you need it to prevent the stain from drying out in the cup.

Allow the paint to dry, then carefully pull up the tape.

Apply two or three oil-based polyurethane clear coats to the floor, allowing each coat to dry completely before you apply the next. Check the label to make sure the polyurethane is safe for use on floors.