Painting Tile Floor (Tutorial) – Paper and Stitch

Painting a tile floor is easier than you might think. And very budget-friendly.

I’ve painted flooring before, but painting over river rock flooring like the one in our bathroom, felt like a completely different animal. I used a different paint from last time, to try something new. And also had a completely different process for painting this time around.

In the end, the painted floors turned out better than expected. Especially after this hack I figured out while I was working on the project. Wanna see the before and after photos, budget breakdown, and tutorial? Click through for all the details.

Painting floor tile before and after

Before we get started, here’s a side by side before and after of painting floor tile like mine. The difference is huge, especially for the price point. This entire project cost me less than $100 and it completely revamped the space until we’re ready for a full renovation with new tile, etc. 

Budget Breakdown

I already had the paint brush, rags, and Krud Kutter. So all I had to buy was the paint coating and sealant (both come in the kit). So my total cost was only $70.

BUT if you had to buy every item that I listed in the supplies / materials list, it would still cost less than $100. Here’s the breakdown…

1. Krud Kutter… $10
2. Rustoleum Floor Coating and Sealant (kit)… $70
3. Paint Brush… $7
4. Rags / Old T-Shirts… free

TOTAL: $87

Now that you know the price, what do you think of the transformation? And would you try this in your own home?

Supplies needed for painting flooring

• Krud Kutter – Any cleaner and degreaser will work, but I like this one bc it’s all in one.
• Rustoleum Home Floor Coating Kit – I linked the exact one I used (and the color as well, it’s matte ultra white). This kit also comes in other colors and another finish as well (gloss). Here are all of the other floor paint options, outside of the white. 
• paint brush – Any 2 inch paint brush (or larger) will work. The bigger the brush, the less time it will take to complete.
• rags or old t-shirts – These will get destroyed because they’re going to dabbing up excess paint. So only use something that you are okay with throwing away after the project is complete.

Painting tile floors (and river rock)

1. Cleaning and degreasing the floors.

I started by sweeping the floors really well and then using a degreaser. I like Krud Kutter. — It cleans and degreases at the same time, so your paint will have a solid base, ready for the paint to adhere.

2. Painting the flooring with a brush.

Next, is the painting. I used a ‘two step system’ for this and I highly recommend it. Basically, you’ll need the base coat floor paint AND the top coat. It takes out the guesswork of knowing with top coat to use and all of that. So I like that aspect of it. Makes things easy.

So first, I applied the base coat with a brush. I mostly did 1-2 foot areas at a time before pausing on the brushing and switching to a rag. But toward the end, I did larger areas like 3-4 feet at a time and that worked too. The longer you leave the paint on before patting it with a rag, the less paint will come off. 

3. Removing excess paint with a rag.

While the paint is still wet, I went back with a rag and patted over the surface gently to pull up some of the paint. And remove any brushstrokes. Doing this part with the rag is what really helped me get more depth of color in the floors and let some of the original rock colors come through. I think this part of the process was the key (for me at least) to making the floors feel more lived in and less sterile.

4. Repeat.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the entire floor is covered. Wait for the floor to dry according to the instructions on the paint you are using.

5. Add the top coat.

Once the floor is dry enough to add the top coat (according to instructions on packaging), use a roller or brush to paint the top coat over the base coat layer. If you’re using the same Rust-oleum Home floor coating as me, it says to apply the top coat six hours after applying the base coat. And it also recommends two coats.

Wait for the floor to fully dry before walking on it, according to the instructions on the can.

Is the paint you recommend specifically paint for tile?

The paint I used is specifically recommended for many types of flooring. According to the packaging, the Rustoleum floor coating can be used on tile, concrete, vinyl, wood, linoleum, laminate, and more. 

Is there a special grout paint needed for painted floors?

There is no special grout paint needed. You can use the Rustoleum floor coating for the tile (or in this case river rock) AND the grout as well. It adheres well to both.   

More DIYs to Try

If you like my bathroom makeover and want to know more about it, including the full budget breakdown and sources, head over here to check it out: small bathroom ideas on a budget.

And one more: DIY tile floors with painted floor tiles.