There’s something about a deadline that makes decisions happen.
My parents are coming to visit in April, and suddenly these upstairs bedrooms that have been sitting in limbo feel … urgent. Not in a stressful way, but in that motivating, okay let’s finally finish this kind of way.
So, here we are: painting the upstairs floors.
I know, I know. Everyone says: “Don’t paint wood floors.”
And, I get it — in theory, I agree. We actually made it a priority to refinish all of the downstairs floors, and are so glad we did. But upstairs? It’s a different story. These floors have been through it. Years of wear, plus months of renovation traffic, tools, dust, dropped materials … they were not in great shape when we bought the house. While we could have refinished them, I didn’t feel like that was the best use of time or budget at this point.
Instead of forcing something that wasn’t working, I decided to lean into something different.
The Case for Painted Floors
I’ve always loved painted floors.There’s something about them that feels
- light and airy
- a little nostalgic
- slightly coastal, but imo slightly southern too (in the best way)
I have been a long time admirer of William McClure’s art and interiors. If you don’t know his work, check out his instagram here. I’m obsessed with every space he touches, and he is kind of known for painted white floors. So, I guess you could say I’ve been dreaming of a way to incorporate them from the beginning. That softness works really well layered with the rest of what we’re doing.
Think jute rugs layered on top, warm wood tones brought back in through furniture, and a mix of antique and new. It keeps the space from feeling too precious. A little more relaxed. A little more lived-in.
The Color Decision
We’re painting the floors Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee.
This has been one of my go-to colors for years, and for good reason. It’s that perfect balance of warm, creamy, and bright.
For context:
- Walls: Alabaster
- Trim + windows: Shoji White
Spent some time deciding whether to do the floors in Shoji White as well, but ultimately decided against it. Everything would have blended together a little too much. I wanted just enough contrast so the space still has dimension and depth, without anything feeling harsh. Swiss Coffee felt like the right middle ground.
A Few Things We’re Learning (If You’re Considering Painted Floors)
This is one of those projects that seems simple … until you’re in it.
A few things already top of mind:
Prep matters more than anything
You can’t shortcut this. Cleaning, sanding, and properly priming the floors is what determines how well this will hold up.
Use the right paint
Not all paint is created equal here. You need something durable (we’re using a porch enamel) that can handle wear over time.
Expect character, not perfection
This isn’t going to look like factory-finished hardwood. And that’s kind of the point. Painted floors have a softness to them. In fact, I asked the painter to brush on the last coat so we could see brushstrokes- I very much wanted it to look imperfect.
Plan for rugs
Especially in high-traffic areas. I’m already designing these rooms knowing where rugs will live, both for comfort and longevity.
The Vision (and Where We’re Headed)
I’ve been pulling together a vision for these bedrooms, and it’s starting to come together!
We’ve already ordered:
- the beds
- the paper globes (which I’m obsessing over)
- and the rugs (which I’m very excited about)
Currently on the hunt for either:
- antique nightstands
- or a long dresser to anchor one of the rooms
Something with a little age and warmth to balance out the painted floors.
Stay Tuned …
We still have a bit to go, but getting the floors done feels like a big turning point.
I’ll be sharing more as things come together — including how the paint holds up, where we land on furniture, and (hopefully) a finished reveal soon.
Just in time for April ✨
