Four easy timber floor ideas that'll transform your room

So you have floor boards (winning), but they're not living up to their potential. Stylists and resident DIY gurus Christina and Jess from We Are Triibe have four alternatives to standard stains that'll raise the bar style-wise and are easy enough to do yourself in a couple of days.

Lime

Liming your floor boards will lighten and brighten the space. As the name suggests, lime wash was originally a solution made of lime, water and colour pigments. Paint companies have simplified the process for us, selling more effective and durable stains from the can. Depending on the number of coats applied, lime washing can have a transparent finish, retaining the unique features of the timber.

Oiled

If your timber floors are looking lackluster and grey, a fresh coat of oil could do the trick. As seen in this Parisian apartment, oil finishes tend to bring out the grain of the wood, turning your floorboards into a feature. The oil is absorbed by the timber as opposed to sitting on top like a varnish. It conditions and draws out character. As maintenance, re-oiling is suggested every two-to-three years.

Soap wash

Similar in look to a lime-wash floor, soap wash is a product that you apply to your timber floors after you have sealed them with a protective layer of white oil. White oil is an all-natural substitute to lime-wash, which is more translucent in appearance while still whitening your floors. Soaping your floors helps to maintain the durability of the timber, while also continuously brightening them. As soap wash has a white pigment in it, it allows you to gradually build up the colour you would like to achieve while still allowing the timber to maintain its natural properties.

Painted

Painted floors are an ideal way to hide any imperfections in older floorboards or to make a unique statement of colour in your space. Keep in mind with paint, your timber’s grain and character will be covered, which may be the perfect solution for weathered floorboards.

For further instructions on how to try these sweet looks out at home download Triibe's timber floor tip sheet here.