Spruce Up Your Bathroom By Following These Easy Steps To Paint Linoleum Floors

In the past, linoleum was a popular bathroom flooring choice among builders, since it was both affordable and durable. For the modern homeowner, however, it's one of the fastest things that can date your bathroom. If you feel like the linoleum floor in your bathroom is making the space feel drab, and it's not within your budget to replace it, then you may want to consider painting it. It's an easy way to give your floor a fresh new look, and it's a much more affordable alternative than ripping it out and putting in all new flooring. For DIYers on a budget, you really can't beat the power of paint!

One thing you need to know before painting your floors is that bathrooms have high humidity levels and are subject to heavy foot traffic, so you'll need to use a paint that's able to withstand both of these conditions. One of the best types of paint for linoleum floors is Rust-Oleum's Home Floor Coating, which is a two-step system consisting of a base coat and a top coat. Another option many DIYers have had great results with is porch/floor paint, such as Sherwin-Williams Porch & Floor Enamel (though it's technically designed for wood and concrete floors). Both paints dry to a hard, highly resilient finish.

For supplies, you'll need a paint tray, foam paint roller, paintbrush, and painter's tape. You'll also want to use an extension pole for your roller to make application easier (it'll save you from having to paint on your hands and knees). If you're ready for a bathroom refresh, follow these tips to give your linoleum floor a statement-making makeover. 

Start by cleaning your linoleum floor. If using Rust-Oleum's floor paint, you can skip sanding, but you should lightly sand the floor if using another paint. An orbital sander makes this easier. Next, tape off the baseboards and any fixtures. Use a paintbrush to get paint into the crevices and around the edges and a roller to apply the first coat of paint. Start in the farthest corner of the room and work your way out. Allow it to dry for several hours, and apply a second coat. Once it has fully dried, seal it with either Rust-Oleum's top coat or a clear coat like Behr Pro Polyurethane Floor Finish, then remove the tape. While the paint will be dry to the touch in a few hours, it takes up to 30 days for it to fully cure.

Though painting a single color can make a big impact, there are a few ways to level up the style even more. Try using a stencil like the LYMSSESS Large Floor Stencil to create a repeating pattern that can make your linoleum look like stylish floor tiles. You can even use stencils to paint a faux rug on the floor by painting a rectangular area with a border trim. Another option is to use painter's tape to create a pattern such as checkerboard, plaid, or stripes. Simply paint the floor one color and let it dry; then tape off your desired pattern, and fill in the design with a second (or even multiple) colors!