How to Decorate a Plywood Floor

Place a strip of low-tack painter's tape on the baseboards, right next to the edge of the floor. This will help keep paint off the trim.

Fill in any gaps between plywood panels with wood putty. Use a putty knife to smooth the putty into the cracks. Scrape off excess putty with the knife before it has the chance to set. Allow the putty to dry.

Sand the floor with a sanding block. Pay extra attention to areas that you repaired with putty. Wipe the floor off with a tack cloth.

Apply two even coats of porch and floor paint. Use a foam brush around the edges of the wall. Begin rolling the paint in the back of the room. Work your way toward the door. Let the first coat cure overnight, before painting the second coat. Allow the second coat to dry for approximately 24 hours before stenciling any designs.

Select a stencil design to repeat on the surface of your floor. Choose a paint color that coordinates well with your background floor color. Begin stenciling in the far corner of the room. Place the stencil in position.

Pour a small amount of paint on a plastic plate. Dip a makeup sponge in the paint. Blot excess paint off on a clean rag.

Dab the makeup sponge on the incised design on the stencil. Continue dabbing the sponge until the design has a smooth, even coat of paint. Carefully pick up the stencil. Wipe it off with a damp cloth. Reposition the stencil into its next spot. Use the markings on the stencil to help you set it in place. Continue until the floor design is finished.

Protect a painted floor by applying two coats of polyurethane varnish. You can roll varnish on with a paint roller. Applying the varnish with a wide, flat brush will give you the smoothest surface.