STENCILED PORCH FLOOR
Every house should have a screened-in-porch! Seriously. You can dine or lounge outside enjoying the sounds and smells of nature, feeling the breeze (even if it’s coming from the fan above), without dealing with the bugs or the sun beating down on you. It’s delightful. I need one. You do, too.
The screened-in-porch walls in our fixer upper flip house were in great shape and didn’t need updating, so we swapped out the old, tattered light fixture with a new fan light and then focused on the floor. After a crew was able to remove the seemingly non-removeable blue carpet, sand down the leftover glue, and seal the concrete with white floor and patio enamel, I got to work.
The budget didn’t allow for the beautiful cement tiles I had my eye on, so I went with a budget-savvy, high-impact solution and stenciled the floor. If you have the patience, and preferably a painting partner, I highly recommend this project.
MATERIALS
Floor stencil
Painter’s tape
Paint (I used Benjamin Moore Floor & Patio Low Sheen Enamel, which doesn’t require an additional top coat.)
Stencil brush or roller
Paper towels
I used a 12” x 12” tile stencil from Royal Design Studio Stencils. Different patterns are available in different sizes. Buy two of them, rope in a detail-oriented friend to tag-team this effort, and pay that friend in copious amounts of wine upon completion. (Thanks, Mom!) Royal Design Studio has helpful tutorials and ideas. We mapped out the patio design and started in the center, then worked our way out towards the edges of the floor.
It was tedious work, and not friendly on the knees, but it transformed the outdoor space. The neutral palette lends itself to a wide range of décor options for the future homeowners. These beautiful stenciled floors make a big design impact and they’re so easy to maintain – just clean with soap and water.
BEFORE