How to Change a Linoleum Floor with Paint

While it’s easy to add wine home decor or garden-inspired outdoor wall art to perk up a room, you may think that refurbishing an old linoleum floor is going to take a major remodel. Surprisingly, waking up your old, tired linoleum floor may be as easy as adding a coat of paint.  Most people don't consider painting a surface like linoleum, but it is actually quite simple.  Painting your linoleum is a very inexpensive method to update the look of the linoleum in your kitchen or other rooms, and involves a simple process that nearly anyone can accomplish.  And because there are thousands of options when it comes to paint color, you can really customize the room by painting the linoleum. 

Preparing the Surface

You want to start out with a completely clean surface.  First, sweep the linoleum to remove any debris, and then mop with a solution of vinegar and water, or with a mopping solution that contains a degreaser.  Next, you will sand the floor lightly.  The sanding action will give the paint a better surface to adhere to, and will also make the paint last longer on the linoleum.  Once you have sanded the entire floor, sweep and mop the floor (again, with a degreaser in the mop water).  You want to make sure that any dust from sanding is removed and that your surface is smooth and ready for paint.  Keep in mind that any dust or dirt left on the floor will show through in the paint's finish and make your floor have a lumpy look.  Use masking tape or painter's tape to go around the bottom edges of your cabinetry and baseboards to protect them from paint. 

Priming and Base Coat

After the surface is prepared, you can begin to paint your linoleum with an oil based primer.  This is important to make the work that you do last longer.  Water based primers will allow the paint to flake off more easily.  An oil primer is also optimal because it repels water – and you will be mopping your floor regularly with water.  Give the oil primer coat on your linoleum floor a couple of hours to dry thoroughly.  Then, apply your base coat.  Depending on the color of your linoleum, you may need to apply more than one coat of paint in this step.  Allow each coat to dry completely before applying another coat of paint to your linoleum.  You might want to use a roller at this point for the larger surface of the floor, and then a smaller brush for trim work.

Be Creative

Once your final base coat has dried, you have the option of using masking tape or painter's tape to lay out different designs to make the floor more appealing.  For example, you can create a diamond pattern, circles, or other geometric shapes with tape, and then use a contrasting paint color in the taped-off sections.  Be creative and play off other design elements in the room to come up with interesting patterns for your painted linoleum floor.  Or you can add an antique look to the floor by rubbing the floor with a mixture of half stain and half glaze, applied with an old rag. 

Finishing Coat

Once you have finished applying any designs to the floor, you are ready for the final step – the finishing coat.  Painting the floor with three layers (minimum) of clear coat will seal in your work and keep it from peeling off.  Allow each layer of clear coat to dry completely before moving onto the next layer.  The curing process for the paint that you have applied to your linoleum floor is about a week, so avoid walking on the floor with your shoes (socks are okay) for that period of time.