Ideas for Painting a Plywood Floor

White Wash

• A light coat of diluted off-white paint lets the color and the grain of the wood show through. Thin a latex-based paint with water. Experiment with this mixture on scrap wood until you get the depth of color you want. This technique may also be used with colored paints to leave a hint of color, such as green, blue or gray. If the coat of paint is too heavy, wipe some of it off with a cloth or newspapers.

Painted Rug

• A faux rug defines an area in the middle of a floor. Apply the painted rug over sanded bare wood or a painted surface. Outline the area with masking tape. Paint the base color of the rug and let it dry. Use stencils to create a pattern on the 'rug' if you're not artistically inclined or draw freehand if you are. Let each color dry if you'll be overlapping paints, such as adding yellow centers in the middle of flowers or dark green veins on lighter green leaves. Geometric shapes are interesting and are best used in a contemporary setting. Stripes and plaids require planning. Mark the stripes with painter's tape to ensure straight lines.

Pattern

• Mimic the look of herringbone, basket weave or parquet flooring with paint. Keep the colors in the brown and beige color families to ensure the floor looks like wood or use a more colorful design to distinguish the floor. When painting a large expanse of flooring, use a T-square to make sure the design is centered and straight. A slight 1/4 deviation in the beginning could result in a three-inch deviation over 20 feet or so. Consider dividing the floor in quarters and painting each quarter separately.

Sponge

• Sponging gives a textural quality to paint. The last color you paint with will be the most predominant shade. Use sea sponges for a more natural look. Gloves with sponges attached can make the job go a little faster. Be careful not to dip the glove into the paint. Practice your technique on scrap wood or paper until you are comfortable with your results. Give the wood a coat of the base color. Sponge paint the next color, let it dry and paint with the final color. Other texturing techniques for painting wood floors include ragging, combing and dry painting.