Would you paint a wooden floor?

It always looks great in magazines, but whenever I walk into a real house with real painted wooden floorboards, it looks a little - how shall I say? - real average. Painted floorboards tend to chip and look hokey. Personally, I think it's like rag-rolling your walls - it will look good for a month, but then will start to look like you've done something as silly as try to paint your own car (or fridge, or iPod, or insert-professionally-finished-item-that-would-look-crap-if-you-painted-it). A painting expert has just had a chat with Elle Decor about the best way to paint wooden floors, and this method does sound like it has merit. I, of course, will never test it out for fear of having a bad floor. Here's what apparently works:

• scarify the surface with 150-grit sandpaper
• wash the floor with a powdered detergent cleaner to remove all dust and deposits
• allow floor to dry completely (this may take a couple of days)
• apply a primer suitable for your paint type
• allow primer to dry overnight
• lightly sand primer with 220-grit sandpaper
• wipe floor clean with mineral spirits, using tack cloth or a rag
• apply the first, thin coat of paint with a natural-bristle brush (which creates a smooth finish, rather than with a roller, which creates a stippled finish)
• allow paint to dry 24 hours

• apply two more thin coasts, allowing 24 hours between each

Related renovation stories:

How to paint

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All about wooden floors

Pictures: ElleDecor