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Painting your floors is one of the easiest ways to completely transform a space, it gives tired wood, concrete, or even tiles a brand-new lease of life. Whether you’re refreshing a busy hallway, giving your kitchen floor a clean modern look, or adding a pop of colour to a home office, the right floor paint makes all the difference.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best types of floor paint for each room in your home, how to get that durable, long-lasting finish, and the products I personally recommend.
Why Choose Floor Paint?
Floor paint is a brilliant alternative to replacing flooring altogether. It’s affordable, easier than you might think, and gives you endless flexibility when it comes to colour and finish.
With a few coats of the right paint, you can:
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Refresh wooden floors that have seen better days
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Give concrete floors a sleek, modern feel
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Add personality to spaces with stencilled patterns or bold colour
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Protect surfaces from scuffs, scratches, and daily wear
The key is choosing the right formula for your surface, because what works in a living room won’t necessarily stand up to muddy boots or kitchen spills.
For Living Rooms and Bedrooms: Smooth, Stylish & Hardwearing
When it comes to spaces like living rooms, bedrooms, or even home offices, you’ll want a floor paint that balances durability with style. These areas don’t see as much heavy traffic as hallways or garages, so you can focus on getting that beautiful finish.
My top picks:
Little Greene Intelligent Floor Paint: Water-based, low-odour, and available in all Little Greene colours. It’s durable enough for daily life but refined enough for decorative projects. Perfect if you want a softer, more elegant finish underfoot.
Farrow & Ball Modern Eggshell: A hard-wearing option for wooden floors, giving a lovely mid-sheen finish that feels smooth and easy to clean.
Farrow & Ball Flat Eggshell: A newer addition to the Farrow & Ball range, Flat Eggshell offers a soft 20 percent sheen with impressive durability. It has a lovely heritage feel without looking shiny, but it is tough enough to handle everyday life. Designed for interior wood, metal, concrete, and even floors, it is a great option if you want something understated that still stands up to wear.
Farrow & Ball Full Gloss: If you’re after something a bit more glamorous (and brave!), this ultra-gloss finish bounces light beautifully and is perfect for a statement floor.
Top tip: These paints work beautifully for colour drenching, paint your skirting boards and doors the same shade for a seamless, contemporary look.
For Kitchens and Utility Rooms: Easy to Clean & Moisture Resistant
Kitchens, boot rooms, and utilities are some of the hardest-working spaces in your home. You’ll need a paint that’s tough enough to handle spills, steam, and frequent mopping, while still looking beautiful.
My top picks:
Tikkurila Betolux Akva: One of my absolute favourites for kitchens. It’s water-based, extremely durable, and fast drying (touch dry in just 15 minutes!). It can be used on wood, concrete, or even steel.
Farrow & Ball Flat Eggshell: If you want a more decorative option for kitchens or utility spaces, Flat Eggshell is worth considering. It is moisture-resistant, easy to clean, and tough enough for floors in busy areas, all while offering a softer finish than traditional satin paints.
Johnstone’s Trade Flortred: A solvent-based semi-gloss coating that’s resistant to mild chemicals, water, oil, and grease. Great for light-to-medium traffic areas and available in a range of colours.
For Hallways and Stairs: Durable & Scuff-Resistant
Hallways, landings, and staircases deal with more foot traffic than any other part of the home, so durability is key here. You’ll need a tough paint that can handle constant wear while still looking stylish.
My top picks:
Farrow & Ball Flat Eggshell: Ideal for high-traffic areas like hallways and stairs, Flat Eggshell combines a subtle eggshell finish with serious durability. It is scrubbable, stain-resistant, and scuff-resistant, making it a great choice for areas that see constant footfall while still keeping that classic Farrow & Ball look.
Johnstone’s Trade Flortred: Perfect for stairs or hallways, it gives a subtle sheen and is easy to touch up if needed.
Little Greene Intelligent Floor Paint: A great choice if you want something a bit more decorative but still practical.
Top tip: Keep a small pot aside for quick touch-ups every few months, especially on stair treads or doorways.
For Garages and Workshops: Heavy-Duty Protection
If you’re tackling a garage, basement, or workspace floor, you’ll need a seriously tough paint that can withstand vehicles, tools, and constant movement.
My top picks:
Johnstone’s Trade Flortred: Again, a great all-rounder for concrete and steel surfaces. It’s oil and grease-resistant and available in a wide range of colours.
Leyland Trade Heavy Duty Floor Paint: Formulated with polyurethane alkyd resins to resist chemicals, spillages, and heavy use.
Top tip: For extra grip, mix in Johnstone’s Anti-Slip Additive, especially useful in kitchens or laundry areas where floors can get slippery.
How to Paint a Floor: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Once you’ve chosen the right paint, the process itself is pretty straightforward. Here’s how to get that smooth, long-lasting finish:
Step 1
Prep the surface. Sweep and vacuum to remove dust, then wash the floor with a degreaser. Sand lightly if needed to remove any existing gloss or rough patches.
Step 2
Repair and clean. Fill any cracks or holes, then wipe away dust with a tack cloth.
Step 3
Prime if necessary. Use a suitable primer for your surface, especially if it’s bare concrete or glossy wood. Zinsser Bullseye 123 or Betolux Akva Primer are great choices.
Step 4
Apply your first coat. Cut in edges with a brush, then use a roller for even coverage.
Step 5
Let it dry fully. Always follow the drying and recoat times on the tin, patience pays off here.
Step 6
Apply a second coat. This adds durability and ensures a consistent finish.
Step 7
Leave to cure. Even once it’s dry to the touch, avoid heavy use for a few days to let it fully harden.
Painting your floors might feel like a big job, but with the right products and a little prep, it’s a weekend project that completely transforms your space.
Whether you’re refreshing tired wooden boards, updating a concrete floor, or giving your hallway a new lease of life, the paints above are reliable, durable, and available in just about any colour you can imagine.
If you’re ready to get started, explore our Colour Match Paint to find your perfect shade in a finish that suits your space. And if you’re not sure which product is right for your floor, just send us a message on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, live chat, phone (01388 608144), email or even WhatsApp. We’re more than happy to help with product recommendations!
Happy decorating,
Helen x
