Learn how to paint tile floors with a stencil with my step by step DIY tutorial. Get the look of farmhouse cement tile on a budget!
I've just finished renovating my work studio, and you can take the full tour of the space right here. In the corner of my studio was this wood stove area featuring some outdated, pinky beige tile:
Because my studio is a fun place for me to experiment with DIY ideas and because this tile gets low traffic (if any), I thought it would be the perfect candidate for a tile painting makeover!
Here's how this corner looks now:
Nope, I didn't rip out the old tile and install some new ones - I painted & sealed the original tile with chalk style paint, a stencil, and some Varathane sealant! Read on to learn how I painted this floor tile and how you can too.
(I was inspired by both Remington Avenue and Blooming DIYer to paint & stencil my floor tiles!)
How to paint floor tiles with a stencil
First, I sanded the original tile with an orbital sander to make it rough so it would accept paint better. Then, I cleaned it thoroughly with a de-greaser.
Next, I taped off the trim and baseboards around my tile area with painter's tape.
Then, I put some Chalked Paint in Charcoal in a paint tray and used a small paint brush to paint over the grout lines and into the edges of my tiled area. I decided to use chalk style paint because I like how it sticks well to surfaces, but if you use a regular latex paint you should prime your tiles before painting.
Next, I took a high density foam roller and painted all of the tiles with the Charcoal Chalked paint. I ended up painting them with two coats of paint.
Applying the stencil
Now comes the fun (but time consuming) part! Cutting Edge Stencils sent me this beautiful Santa Ana Tile Stencil to try for free, and I thought it would be the perfect pattern for this area. Once my base coat was really dry (I waited a day), I taped the stencil down onto the tile with painter's tape. Using a foam roller with a very small amount of Linen White Chalked paint on it, I painted carefully over the stencil.
I started in the corner of my tiled area, and stenciled every other tile, let those dry, and then completed the rest of the tiles.
Some of the tiles were really hard to stencil - like the corner tiles and the ones around the feet of the wood stove - so I took a small craft paint brush and touched up any areas that needed it with some more white paint.
Once the tiles had dried thoroughly, I sealed everything with Varathane polyurethane in a satin finish. I'd recommend doing at least two coats, maybe three, of sealant to protect your beautiful paint job.
And that's it! My tiles look like they're brand new and they boast such a fun, bold pattern!
I found this project pretty straight forward, but it was definitely time consuming. I'm not sure I'd do it on a very high traffic area, but I have seen other bloggers do it in kitchens and bathrooms with apparent success!
Watch my video tutorial below to learn how to paint floor tile with stencils:
UPDATE: Did my painted floor tile last after 2 ½ years? Click right here to find out and get more painted floor tile tips and tricks!
How to Paint Tile Floors with a Stencil
Learn how to paint tile floors with a stencil with my step by step DIY tutorial. Get the look of farmhouse cement tile on a budget!
Materials
- De-Greaser
- Chalked Paint (I chose Charcoal and Linen White)
- Paint Tray
- Small Paint Brush
- High Density Foam Roller
- Stencil
- Painters Tape
- Small Craft Paint Brush
- Varathane polyurethane in a satin finish
Tools
- Orbital Sander
Instructions
- First, I sanded the original tile with an orbital sander to make it rough so it would accept paint better. Then, I cleaned it thoroughly with a de-greaser.
- Next, I taped off the trim and baseboards around my tile area with painter’s tape.
- Then, I put some Chalked Paint in Charcoal in a paint tray and used a small paint brush to paint over the grout lines and into the edges of my tiled area. I decided to use chalk style paint because I like how it sticks well to surfaces, but if you use a regular latex paint you should prime your tiles before painting.
- Next, I took a high density foam roller and painted all of the tiles with the Charcoal Chalked paint. I ended up painting them with two coats of paint.
- Now comes the fun (but time consuming) part! Once my base coat was really dry (I waited a day), I taped the stencil down onto the tile with painter’s tape. Using a foam roller with a very small amount of Linen White Chalked paint on it, I painted carefully over the stencil.
- I started in the corner of my tiled area, and stenciled every other tile, let those dry, and then completed the rest of the tiles.
- As I painted around a stove, some of the tiles were really hard to stencil so, I took a small craft paint brush and touched up any areas that needed it with some more white paint.
- Once the tiles had dried thoroughly, I sealed everything with Varathane polyurethane in a satin finish. I’d recommend doing at least two coats, maybe three, of sealant to protect your beautiful paint job.
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Hello,
Genius idea.
Thanks.
Thank you
This is awesome! People always talk about the power of paint, and this is a tremendous example. I'm amazed by this transformation. Thanks for sharing your tutorial.
I would love to try this in my master bathroom! We have beautiful cherry wood cabinets and tile that is kind of that color - very dated. We built our home in 2006, laid our own tile. I thought I was stuck with it forever, but now I have hope. I’d like to try a light grey base with white overlay. I need light after having so dark. I can paint the cabinets light or white, too. Thank you for sharing. I had no idea.
I love this! My sister said I could paint her tile this summer when I visit! Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
How fun!! Thanks for stopping by 👍🏻
Love this! What size stencil was yours?
Your painted tiles look absolutely amazing!!! I love how you did it. Thanks for sharing your DIY at the #HomeMattersParty so we could feature you this week. 🙂
Thanks, Nicole!!
Fantastic tutorial and makeover! I would love for you to come over and link up this post at Thursday Favorite Things! The party is still live tonight through midnight. Leave a comment for a chance to be featured next week. Enjoy the weekend!
https://followtheyellowbrickhome.com/inspiring-diy-projects-and-makeovers-at-thursday-favorite-things/
Thanks, Amber
That is awesome, looks amazing!
Thank you, Denise
Hi Blog Admin
I enjoyed reading your post on tiles. I am a fan tiles, used anywhere in a house. Tiling of n the floor is surely the best way to have a durable floor, be it is in the kitchen, bathroom, of other area of the house. Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts with us.
Thanks for stopping by!!
This looks great - thanks for the tutorial. I'm inspired to try this at home around my wood stove. How does the paint stand up to the heat from the fire?
Thanks Michelle. So far so good 🙂
Awesome work! Love hot the design makes that corner pop!
Hi, I realize this is an old post, but loved this so much, I decided to do my own. I used the same brand paint and colors. Bought the same poly- however, today when I started trying to use the poly, the charcoal chalk paint started bleeding. Did that happen to you? Thank you for the inspiration.
No I didn’t. I wonder if it was mixed well?
I'd love to try those tips. Thanks for sharing this. 🙂
Hi, could you do that with marble floors?
What paint to use on bathroom floors? How does one make them waterproof?
Hi my tiles are black can I just add a white stencil on top without painting the whole tile
Dear Christina,
thank you so much for the video! Found it when I searched for painting furniture, though some of your tips will still be useful there aswell. Love how calm and relaxed you talk, easy to follow, pleasure to watch. 🙂
Love this! Is it a wood burning stove? Can the chalk paint handle the heat?
Hi Nicole! We're actually not sure because Christina doesn't use the stove. Sorry!
Hi, just wondering how the paint has held up to heat from the stove? Thanks!
Christina doesn't use the stove there so... really well! LOL! Honestly, we're not sure how it would hold up to the heat.