How-To: Hand-Printed Patterned Floor

From October 2006 to January 2009, we produced 10 volumes of MAKE’s original sister publication, CRAFT. There are many project gems on the pages of those 10 volumes. Here is just one.

HAND-PRINTED PATTERNED FLOOR

By Catherine Weis

MATERIALS
Tape measure
Blue chalk “snap line” for measuring your space and creating a centerline from which to start your pattern
Cardboard
Scissors
Oil-based floor paint
Paintbrush or roller

Step 1: Measure the room.
Take a measurement of the room and consider the following: how much room do you have to work with, where do you want your centerline, and are there any big pieces of furniture that you want to work around?

Step 2: Sketch your centerline.
From there, figure out where your patterns will fall. Sketch out a full grid on the floor with a snap line (the measuring tape that snaps blue chalk on the floor from a taut string). If you are working with stencils of varying sizes, I’ve found that it helps to measure where the big stencils will go from the centerline of the pattern, and then to radiate smaller stencils out from the larger ones.

Step 3: Make your stencils.
Sketch out your shapes onto the cardboard, and cut out the spaces you want to paint within, making sure to keep an edge of about 5″ around all openings (to allow for paint to accidentally run over and not touch the floor). You can also sketch out the design on the floor itself, if you’re good at filling in the lines; then paint the sketch by hand.

Step 4: Place your stencil, and paint.
If you’re working with cardboard like I did, line up your stencil on the floor grid. I recommend beginning with the centerline of your grid and working your way out to the edges. Then paint away! I used a roller with some wood floor paint in off-white.

Step 5: Repeat.
Lift up the stencil, place it back down along the grid, and paint the shape again. Continue until you’re done with this shape (stencil).

Step 6: Start the next row.
Begin on the outside of your grid with a different or the same stencil and begin painting your next row. When you’ve finished your pattern, allow the paint to fully dry for a day before replacing furniture or rugs.

You can still pick up a back issue of CRAFT Volume 09, the Green Crafting issue, at the Maker Shed.