Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?
15 Charming Color Ideas for Painting Hardwood Floors
Say it with us: You are allowed to paint your floors!
If you’ve come to this article you’re probably facing a common dilemma: To paint or not to paint your wood floors. That is the question that keeps homeowners up at all hours of the night, after all. If that’s you: Take a deep breath. Welcome. This is a safe space where you can dream about painting your hardwood floors without all your friends calling you crazy. We promise, you’re not. Hardwood floors are made to stand up to a lot, but after years of daily wear from kids, pets, and a whole lotta of living, they may not look their best—even with regular cleaning and maintenance. And, refinishing floors isn’t cheap. (Angi reports that it costs anywhere from $1,101 to $2,666 to refinish hardwood floors in 2024.)
So, if you’re ready to take the paint plunge and don’t know where to start, look no further. Below, we’ve picked out a few of our favorite tried-and-tested paint colors to help you make the decision. From bright whites and happy yellows to soft blues and calming greens, there is a shade for every style of house and every type of homeowner. Love cottagecore? Try one of our painted pattern ideas. Feeling like you are ready to go all-in on modern farmhouse style? One of our favorite whites will be the perfect backdrop for your happy abode. Regardless of where you land on the country decorating scale, we have a paint color that’ll you’ll love for years to come. Just don’t forget the sealant!
Before you pick up your paint brush, check out our other painting stories that will walk you through everything you need to know:
Mix Paint and Stain
Love the look of a painted floor but don’t want to cover up alllll your hardwoods? Take inspiration from this happy English-inspired kitchen and use a mix of paint and stain to create a checkerboard pattern.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: New White by Farrow & Ball
Cabinetry Paint Color: Sudbury Yellow by Farrow & Ball
Wallpaper: “Fruit” by Morris & Co.
Go For Soft Blues
Blue kitchens are totally trending, so why not extend that to your floors? Here, designer Hadley Wiggins paired steely blue cabinets with a striking-but-simple painted floor, allowing the converted barn’s wood walls to steal the show.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: Lead Gray by Benjamin Moore
Cabinetry Paint Color: Blue Toile by Benjamin Moore
RELATED: These Are The Best Blue Paint Colors For Your Kitchen Cabinets
Drench The Room in Warm Whites
A muddied white finds a home on all the surfaces of this light-filled New York barn home. When balancing whites with dark wood tones, opt for ones with a little bit of warmth.
Tip: Minimize scuffs on painted floors by giving them a topcoat of Rust-Oleum Parks Pro Finisher in Crystal Clear Satin.
Get the Look:
White Floor Paint: For similar, Fleur de Sel by Sherwin-Williams
RELATED: These Are The 20 Best Warm White Paint Colors Ever!
Pick Sunny Shades
If you love your white walls but don’t want your home to be totally devoid of color, try a sunny yellow on the floor. In this rustic dining room, a sun-baked ochre shade sets a come-as-you-are tone. The choice is also rooted in history: During the early 1800s, the 19 Shaker communities that stretched from Maine to Florida used color in a consistent fashion, with yellow ochre being their preference for painted floors.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: Citron by Farrow & Ball
RELATED: Let The Sun Shine In With Our Favorite Yellow Paint Colors
Balance Colorful Decor With Soft Gray
Go for gray! In this pattern- and patina-filled bedroom, a soft, blue-hued gray offers a respite from all the color in the decor.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: Light Gray Floor & Porch Paint by Valspar
Pick Bright White
Finding the perfect clean, crisp white is no easy feat. So, we did it for you! Look no further than the Farrow & Ball shade used in this bright and airy California cottage. We think you’ll agree it lives up to its name.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: Strong White by Farrow & Ball
RELATED: Our Best 85+ Dining Room Ideas to Make Your Entertaining Space More Inviting
Let Wallpaper Lead
This charming California bathroom got a colorful makeover thanks to the work of designer Alison Kandler. The wallpaper set the tone, while a pairing of complementary blue and green colors was chosen for the checkerboard floor.
Get the Look:
Wallpaper: Birds by Galbraith & Paul
Green Floor Paint: For similar, Feel the Energy by Benjamin Moore
Blue Floor Paint: For similar, Waterfall by Benjamin Moore
Play Up Patina With Fresh Hues
When playing up the vintage patina in a space, opt for fresh, clean colors to offer a respite from the rustic. In this Missouri lake house, a happy green on the floor plays nicely with a mix of antique chairs and woven picnic baskets. Thomas Jefferson was also a fan of the look as he painted the entrance hall of his famed Monticello a similar grassy green.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: Cypress Vine by Behr
RELATED: Tour More of This Lakeside Cabin That Has All the Old-School Charm of Summer Camp
Pick Complementary Shades
Can’t decide on a single color? You don’t have to! In this Cape Cod cottage, homeowners Steve Ballerini and Colin Bohrer opted to paint the floors of their upstairs suite in two differing shades of blue.
Get the Look:
Bathroom Floor Paint Color: Stiffkey Blue by Farrow & Ball
Bedroom Floor Paint Color: Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball
RELATED: These Are The Best Paint Colors for Small Bathrooms
Go Muddy Underfoot
When white-paint-loving blogger Liz Marie Galvan got the chance to pick out her favorite barely-there shade, she went with this delightfully warm putty tone on the floors to complement her bright white walls and cabinetry.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: Tapestry Beige by Benjamin Moore
Wall Paint Color: Pure White by Sherwin-Williams
Paint a Classic Checkerboard
In her country cottage living room, designer Mary Graham, one half of British design team Salvesen Graham, chose to pair her white walls and patterned sofa with a bold painted green-and-white checkerboard pattern on the floor.
Get the Look:
Green Floor Paint Color: Olive Colour by Little Green
White Floor Paint Color: For similar, Pure White by Glidden
RELATED: Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Decorating With Color, According to Designers
Stick to a Calm Gray
Calling all millennials: This will be your new favorite shade of gray. When paired with wood tones and quietly patterned textiles, a creamy gray takes on a calming, classic feel.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams
RELATED: These Farmhouse Bedroom Ideas Will Turn Your Space Into a Dreamy Retreat
Mimic Nearby Nature
Paint is an easy way to give your outdoor space a quick facelift. This screened-in porch relies on a soft, natural green on the floor and door—meant to mimic the nearby trees—to contrast the beautiful stonework.
Get the Look:
Floor and Door Paint Color: For similar, Sea Green by Benjamin Moore
RELATED: Our Dreamiest Screened-In Porch Decorating Ideas to Inspire You Any Time of Year
Pick a Designer’s Trusty Favorite
This creamy neutral is a go-to shade for designer Heather Chadduck Hillegas, who used it in both her back entry and kitchen! Here, she chose to age the painted floor, giving it a timeworn look. DIYers can achieve a similar feel with fine grit sandpaper and a little elbow grease.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: Swiss Coffee by Behr
RELATED: See More of Heather's Signature Style in This South Carolina Home
Try Something Moody
Dark paint colors make a great choice for hardwood floors with more to hide. In this white farmhouse bedroom, a moody black-blue grounds the room and looks positively buttoned up thanks to the other pretty primitive pieces in the room.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: For similar, After the Storm by Sherwin-Williams
RELATED: These Dark Blue Paint Colors Will Add Design Flair to Any Room
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isn’t working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!
Watch Next
70 Rooms That Perfectly Embody Farmhouse Style
The 50 Best Neutral Paint Colors
The 25 Best Farmhouse Paint Colors
The Complete Guide to Reclaimed Wood
