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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, S ep te m be r 5, 20 19 | 22 How to decorate with kids underfoot Dear Debbie; Would you recommend painting a nurs- ery � oor? We like the idea of adding some fun colour/s but don't want an area rug. A bare � oor is easy to crawl and play on. There is a builder's laminate � oor in the room now that is warn and has some (ink) stains. Martha Dear Martha; A painted � oor is an exciting option for a child's room. This is their primary play- ground and an inviting space will feed into their energy and sense of adventure. Add- ing colour to the � oor makes a big impact; it's one of those surprise decorating ele- ments that can provide you with any style or mood you choose. In an attic room where the ceiling and walls are slanted and uneven, leaving those surfaces plain contributes cohesion. Bring in colour with a brightly-hued painted � oor to boost the character - it will also make a small room feel larger. Shown here is a nursery with pots of lively colour provided by Farrow and Ball's vibrant pink Rangwali. This happy colour re� ects its charm around the room. The walls are Peignoir, which has the slight- est blush of pink. Any other colours come from toys and stuffed animals. Other co- lour options for a child's � oor are mid-tone blues and bright greens. Go with white or a pastel shade of the � oor colour for the walls and ceiling. If you are feeling adventurous why not apply a unique design over your painted � oor. Stencils are an easy way to trans- form the surface with daisies or geomet- ric shapes. There are animal stencils, all kinds of � ora and fauna, cartoons, letters and numbers. Create a painted rug or sten- cil your chosen motifs randomly across the � oor. I came across a fun idea for a game that was painted over a grey base shown here. You could draw around kids' feet and trace then � ll in with paint. Or have them make their own footprints - the paint is wa- ter-based and washable, but this will take some maneuvering. The curvy lines are painted freehand connecting to the vari- ous � nish spots, which can be stenciled or drawn freehand. Train tracks and stepping stones are also interactive designs that will encourage hours of play. Although some would disagree with painting over a wood � oor, in your case it sounds like a great idea. Depending on the quality, laminate � oors can be a challenge to sand and by the time you have removed the stains and � xed any damaged areas you'll � nd that you have sanded through the wood laminate. Clean your � oor and sand the � nished surface lightly. Look for a good primer that is manufactured to cover pre� nished or painted surfaces. There are excellent � oor paints that are environmen- tally friendly and durable. Some don't re- quire primers. Paint the ceiling � rst, then the walls. The � oor is the last to be painted so that it doesn't get splattered. If you decide to continue the � oor colour up over the base- boards, use painter's tape to mask off the bottom of the wall. When applying the � oor paint, start at the area furthest away from the door. Two coats are best, especially to get solid coverage for dark colours. Water- based and acrylic paints dry quickly to the touch, but it takes a few days for them to completely harden. Wait before you con- tinue with stencils or other designs. Written by Debbie Travis and Barbara Din- gle. Email decorating questions to: house- 2home@debbietravis.com. Follow Debbie at instagram.com/debbie_travis, facebook. com/thedebbietravis, debbietravis.com. Advertorial Add fun and games to your child's floor with paint and some tiny footprints. This brightly painted floor will keep you and your toddler feeling in the pink from morning to night. SAM McDADI 905.502.1500 sam@mcdadi.com Owner/Sales Representative B.Sc., M.B.A. SAM McDADI'S HOME OF THE WEEK 1318 Duncan Road, Oakville - $3,288,000