Saturday, February 18, 2012

Faux Wood Floor- ‘Paper-Decoupage-Floor’

Or.... " HOW TO" 
** Please be sure and click the link at the bottom of this post and see how my kitchen floor turned out!  I updated my method of papering my floor, with great results there too! 

Bathroom floor finished 017 (3)
So in the progress of giving my bathroom a facelift—I decided I wanted a NEW FLOOR.
Bathroom In Progress 096 Problem…No Money. Bathroom In Progress 094 The vinyl floor we have now is old, Bathroom In Progress 092
SCRAPED… Bathroom In Progress 091 RUSTY… ????Bathroom In Progress 089 YELLOWED… Bathroom In Progress 090 GOUGED… and just plain yucky. Bathroom In Progress 007 Enter… brown paper.  I had two partial rolls from previous projects. I’ve been seeing (all over the place) all the wonderful ways people have used brown paper on furniture and thought ‘Hey, maybe I can do this on my floor!’
So I start looking around and found a video on Youtube--- Where Jami from the ‘an oregon cottage’ has been doing this on her floors. I emailed her and asked if she’d ever done right over vinyl--- she said, “No.” but offered a few suggestions—like try it first on a spare piece of vinyl. I didn’t. But it was good advice… I mean really, who has spare vinyl just laying around?  I’ve got too much other junk laying around – no room for vinyl.  So I just went for it. THANKS ANYWAY FOR THE TIPS AND INFO ,JAMI! But mainly for the encouragement to do the project.

*** So I cut my paper into about 36 inch lengths and then cut that into strips about 4 inches wide length wise (some strips were only 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide)Bathroom In Progress 008
This is my dry run---gauging how much paper I would need. As you can see I cut my paper into fairly even strips of various lengths. I then wrinkled them length wise… I DID NOT WAD INTO A BALL. I scrunched them into long strips
*** After I cut my paper and separated by size (roughly) 
Bathroom In Progress 011 I laid them onto the floor to get the lay out I thought would best resemble WOOD FLOOR. Already, you can see the floor resembles wood planks or strips.  Bathroom In Progress 104FRIDAY:  Then I started Friday evening.  I used ALL PURPOSE ELMER’S GLUE  I watered it down in a 1:1 ratio and brushed it onto the back of the piece…once I got it into the position I liked… I brushed it on very liberally,too.  I laid it in and staggered short and long pieces just as though I were laying a floor. Now this is our only bathroom; so the above photo is where I stopped over night… Cause well, we might need in there! ** you can also see water damage around the cut- off and base of the toilet, not pretty, but I'm just being real folks! 
I finished it the next day.Allowing time for drying in between—again, I might need in there! Bathroom In Progress 102 SATURDAY:  I DID NOT LET IT DRY 24 HOURS BEFORE WALKING ON… It was dry with in 12 hours, using my heater. (the glue was non-toxic or flammable—PLEASE MAKE SURE AND READ YOUR LABELS) Bathroom In Progress 105 SUNDAY: The next day I finished out the floor and waited the rest of the evening for it to dry… by Sunday morning the whole floor was finished drying. Bathroom In Progress 132

(it blends in with my shoes!) 
I bet you noticed my lovely lines—well, I wanted to give a bit more detail… so I used this… Bathroom In Progress 097 I got this little kit at the Dollar General for $1.50 !!! … (it was $5 but they aren’t going to carry it any longer) It had various shades of brown markers in it. It’s a CONCEALER for FURNITURE scratches . I mixed it up a bit and used all of them… all over the floor. Bathroom In Progress 129  The Next Weekend-- After that was finished. I stained it with Minwax wood stain. It shaded the lines a little to help blend.
TA-DAH!
I know what you’re thinking…’but it looks like paper with child-like colored lines all over.’  Well, you saw the pictures earlier in the week and…
Everyone who read …”I’m showing my new *wood* floor.”  in the EITHER WAY IT’S FAUX post, really thought I put in a floating wood-laminate floor. I THINK IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD FOR PAPER!!!
Bathroom floor finished 017 (1)
Depending on the light it looks more like wood than at other times. I used a yard stick and drew the lines onto the paper. I made my own and DID NOT FOLLOW the lines of the paper. Instead I let the stain get into the crevices of the paper and simulate a natural grain of wood. Bathroom floor finished 017 (3)
Bathroom floor finished 017 (15)
I got it sealed and used 2 coats of polyurethane.  I hope to put two more coats on during the summer—when it’s warmer and I can turn off the water heater again.  Bathroom floor finished 017 (14) We had been walking on it for a week and it has held up just fine. But it needed  a good sealer. Since I’m putting it in the bathroom—I used an oil based polyurethane.
I love it!

***edited to say:  I've updated on how this floor has held up and you can read about it here

** If you're inspired by my bathroom floor over vinyl. Please be sure and see my kitchen floor  (it was featured @ Catch as Catch Can- #196 My Repurposed Life) with updates on technique.  As always feel free to email me with questions!  My email is the orange coffee pot top right side bar with "mail" on it! Thanks! 



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55 comments:

Fuller Ridge said...

Fantastic!! I love this idea!!! How cool to be so brave! I think this is awesome and I am wondering if I could do this in my kitchen??? What a great idea to ponder!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Wow! That floor looks great! What a neat idea.

Jocelyn said...

Oh my gosh, that is amazingly cool. I never would have called that it's paper. Will it stand up to water?

PS--I never would have tried it on a scrap either, but that's because I'm very impatient. A leap before I look kinda girl.

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

amazing! give yourself a big ole "pat" on the back! hahahah
You really did a fabulous job, and what a huge transformation. I think the markers made a big difference, pure genius! :)
gail

Pamma said...

I think it looks absolutely fantastic! Great job, may have to try something like this in my bathroom which last year I painted with porch paint and sealed with polyurethane. Mine has held up well, just looking for a change.

Great job.
Pam

Shelley said...

You're a genius!! I've been wanting to do paper floors in our family room, but don't really like the layered/jumbled way they seem to turn out. Love the wood plank idea. . . thank you, thank you for sharing your process! :)

Mr. Tennis said...

Amazing! I am speechless. This is the most clever thing I have seen in awhile Pat. Ann

Granny said...

That floor looks fantastic. I just showed it to Grampy and he said he wished we'd bought that kind of laminate. I then showed him your paper strips and he was amazed. Like Shelley ^above^ I don't like the layered/jumbled look but love the way yours turned out.

Carla said...

Wow, that looks great! Good job.

Angel said...

You know what? The fact that you DID it is amazing! And it looks amazing too!!! If it doesn't last, oh well, it was only worn out linoleum right? I'm sitting here thinking, couldn't you use other kinds of paper too??? Hmmmmm....

Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures said...

I am so very impressed. I gotta share this on facebook. You blew me away with this post. It really doesn't look like paper at all.

shannon i olson said...

wow, we did our walls in paper years ago and it is still holding up great, your floor is just amazing great job!

RHome410 said...

I can't imagine how you came up with the idea to use paper as flooring... I'm so impressed. Great result!

Patty said...

Oh Good job!! Our bathroom(circa 1950) is just too ugly for words. We used a roll of contact paper to cover up the black fiber "tile".

Kolein said...

PAT!!!!!!! I'm screaming over here!!! It's gorgeous! You are SO brave!!!!! That floor should win some kind of award or something! I mean, do the interior design folks on those TV programs know about YOU!!!? Brave woman! Brave! I hear a Tarzan yell from the trees!

The floor looks like the real thing and you paid about 2 bucks for it!!!!!!! You are the new ROCK STAR of floor creations!!!!

WOW!

xo
~K

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Thanks for all the sweet comments.
It was interesting to see it come together and turn out the way I envisioned it... The one thing that kept me going was... the vinyl was shot anyway! Go ahead what's the worst that could happen?

The fact that it fools the eye is a compliment, and not just in pictures either...people that have seen it in person --do a double take when I tell them its paper.

you can't tell at first glance.

Pat

Unknown said...

I think it is fab!! You should be very proud.
Blessings
Diane

thistlewoodfarm said...

I think you are amazing. I thought it was wood. Fabulous job! Just stopping by to visit from the 36th Avenue blog hop!

Have a blessed and wonderful day!
karianne

camp and cottage living said...

Pat
I love it too. It sure looks like laminate from here.
You are such a brave and daring lady-I would've been
afraid to try this. You've done a great job with your bathroom!

Cindy said...

Good for you, girl, that looks fabulous and very much like wood. I would not have known the difference if you had not said what it was.
I'm glad you're so happy with it! That is wonderful!!!

Prior said...

Pat I LOVE LOVE it. I have seen the crumpled up Paper than looks like stained concrete, but this is amazing! Never thought of the strips, you should be so proud, what a lot of great work!
Lezlee

Anonymous said...

5:15 a.m. here and I just read your post. I thought I would only wake up AFTER my cup of tea. This post just gave me a major jolt. Beautiful, creative, bold and brave. Such a wonderful success. Congratulations, Pat!

Gail said...

OMGoodness Pat, you did a great job and your floor looks fantastic! Have a wonderful day, Gail

RURAL said...

That just blows me away!! And here I thought I was so clever using brown paper to line my linen closet, LOL.

Amazing job, you are so creative, and it does look like wood. Wonderful! You should submit this project to those blogs that feature DIY. It's a sure winner.

Celebrating another word verification free blog.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

I think this is just A-Maz-Ing!! I've seen her floors and they look really nice too. But your's looks like wood planks. Just amazing!

Kristina @ ReMadeSimple said...

Wow! So creative-I would have never thought that what you used was brown paper! Congrats on finding a super thrifty solution to your old floors.

Meg said...

Oh. My. Word! That is amazing!! I'm your newest follower and I would love a return follow. I'd also love if you linked up to my little party: http://www.nutmegplace.com/2012/02/show-off-saturday-2.html

Hope to see you there!

Anonymous said...

It looks amazing! Great job. I can't believe its paper.

Lora said...

I think this turned out awesome! If I had not read the post, and just looked at the after picures, I would never have believed it was kraft paper.

Way to go!

Lora

nannykim said...

Ok, GIRL!! you need an award for doing all of this when you only have one bathroom!!! YIKES!!!!!!!!! I could never have done it...well, not without a commode handy!! It looks great and I would have never guessed that it was paper!! woweeeee--you are one brave or Desperate chick! I think when we don't have money we often come up with some pretty cool ideas....of course I have often come up with some pretty screwy ones too!

Call it Adventure said...

That's amazing! Shoot, it looks so real! Definitely keeping this idea locked away. I love seeing cheap bathroom upgrading ideas because the bathroom is a space I'm pretty picky about and I just know I will not be satisfied with the bathroom in the first place I move into after college. I can already feel the grime that only a fresh-graduate can afford. :) Cute blog, by the way.

Sherry said...

O.K. I think that this is the most creative and amazing change I have seen in blogland. I thoroughly enjoyed this post and my visit to your blog.

Meg said...

Your floor is being featured today on Show Off Saturday! Thanks for linking up! www.nutmegplace.com

The Polka Dot Closet said...

OMG this is the most amazing thing I have ever seen, I tell you, it does not look like paper, no matter how many times I look or how many times I turn my computer screen around!! fabulous!

Carol

michelleml said...

Love it you did an awesome job maybe i can give this a try in our new house

Anonymous said...

Love that you did this! I asked Jami about doing it with planks and she said she personally hadn't....I went back to check out her video again and saw your post on her blog. I am soooooo glad you did this. It gives me the courage to attempt it now too. Absolutely amazing!

Nadine @ Chic with the Kool-Aid Mustache said...

I discovered your blog this morning and I've enjoyed reading your posts and you've completely inspired me now to do this in my house! I was planning on the brown paper bag floor but this is so much cooler! I am a new follower and I visited The Dilletante Proprieter blog too and you're right...she's funny and talented!

Katie Mansfield said...

I found you through Down to Earth Style. This is amazing.

Unknown said...

You just blew my mind ... Cant believe its paper !!! Great job and thanks for the inspiration

Brandi said...

This is amazing! Your floors look so good. I can't believe you achieved that look using paper. So awesome!!!

Renee said...

What tools did you use to to lay the paper? It looks soooo smooth! Kudos on a job very well done. I'm attacking our powder room with a similar technique in a few days and would love tips. :)

Lisa Raymer said...

Well done! Don't forget to sand the floor lightly before you recoat. I decoupage floors professionally (23 years!) and used to use oil-based sealers. If you don't sand, it will appear to stick at first, but as it cures it will gradually peel off or lift up, leaving lighter areas that look awful. I have 6 more 'how-to' decoupage floors videos out soon, following my BASIC one. Create marble, slate, granite, etc... and how to skim with cement over linoleum and tile, then decoupage. The paper only sticks 'so so' directly over linoleum but I have done it, too, with success. I am Lisa Raymer, Decoupage Floors

sherry said...

It's cute not being perfect with your country look :) I imagine it took a lot of time thinking about how to create the wood plank look and I came across this brown paper wood flooring idea online and thought you might like it... http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Living-Rooms/Hardwood-Flooring--Naaah-its-DECOUPAGE/detail.esi?oid=29094305 And here is a link to how to create a wood grain on paper. I think white paint over the brown paper is how to do it.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGMNc9BZqK8

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Hi Sherry!
Thank you for stopping by. Not sure how you found my post...but I do appreciate the links you've offered.
I've not done anymore floor decoupage...but this technique with wood graining tools certainly looks 'faux-real'!!!
I might consider doing this if I ever do another floor.
OR!!!
I might do some sanding on my bathroom floor and try it there.
...if I ever feel that adventuresome.

thanks again. Pat

Unknown said...

Love it! How much overlap do you suggest?

Unknown said...

You just put it over your linoleum?

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Hi Erica--
Yes... I did this application right over the linoleum.
thanks for stopping by and thanks for asking!

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Hi Cheryll --
about 1/4 to 1/2 inch...with each piece.
thanks for stopping by and hope that helps.

Lynx said...

Hi. Just found your blog from cozy little house. Browsing around and found this post. We did this type of floor in two bathrooms and a kitchen, cutting out pieces to look like stones. We loved it. We used two colors of kraft paper, brown and a pinkish color. We crinkled the paper before laying it down to give it a more realistic look. Also, we didn't use glue at all, we used the polyurethane to stick it right to the floor. It was on the floor for a couple of years and then we sold the house, so, don't know if the new owner kept it in place. We did leave the paper and polyurethane if they wanted to touch it up, and now I wonder why I left behind that good stuff! We loved the look of the stones, but I really love your wooden look too!

AMonogrammingCrafySewingMomma said...

I'm wanting to do this in my living room...but it's a high traffic area...Not sure the best way without being able to walk on it...

WriteOn said...

Hi,

Nice job! When you laid it directly over the pervious linoleum, i noticed there are grout lines (i don't believe it's actual grout, but groove lines) after the paper planks were laid over the top and after it settled in, did those lines begin to show thru on the paper planks after the floor was walked on a bit? I thought maybe since the paper is so thin & there was no subfloor laid down underneath that those lines might start to show thru. Please reply asap, i am dying to know before i try this over my linoleum tile floor that has the same grout/groove lines. Thanks!!

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

No the lines representing grout lines in my linoleum don't show through.
The floor has held up nicely...and it looks like wood.
hope that helps and good luck with it!

Martavi said...

If the amount to be removed from the door is minimal, you can tape a piece of sandpaper face up ( towards the door bottom) at the spot where it is rubbing on your floor and it will gradually take care of itself....use artist's tape so it doesn't mark your floor if you leave it awhile. Love your project, am going to try it on my concrete craft room floor if I can.......Martavi

Anonymous said...

has anyone tried this with regular wall paper?

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

I've not used wall paper. But I've seen it done with craft paper squares-- so I would think it can be done!