Decorative floor accents will provide any home with that extra something special that is so reflective of individual style. Plain floors have many makeover options todayand many are not only beautiful, but cost-effective as well. The following article offers ideas and methods to create flooring that will enhance your entire dcor and give your home an original stamp of beauty.

Adding floor accents will not only transform a plain floor, but they may even screen or camouflage damaged areas of your floor. While carpeting and decorative rugs are always an option, the subsequent ideas here are specific to your actual floor. No matter what kind of floor you have from wood to cement, there are many design possibilities to give your floor an overhaul in appearance. From designs that incorporate the entire floor to small accents that border your floor, there are many possibilities to consider.

If you were not able to install the expensive parquet floor you had your heart set on at the time you opted for a plain wood flooryou have the creative option of stenciling a faux parquet floor that is not only inexpensive, but utterly realistic and charming. Using various shades of stain a simple design of diamonds and squares would work best on a newly sanded raw wood floor, but it may be beautifully employed on a stained wood floor. Rather than stenciling with paint, you stencil with waterbased stains and may finish however you choose. This design makes a great border for any room, but especially in a formal living or dining room.

This same type of stenciling also works well to create an interesting center point for your flooring or to enhance a special table. Variations on the design could include checkerboard, leaf or floral patterns. Paint may be employed to great effect but it will not provide the look of a parquet floor. Many crafters prefer stamps and these could be used in place of stencils for a similar look.

If you like the look of paint, there are many ways to use it on your floor from single colors that cover the entire floor to patterns that border the floor to designs that are randomly interspersed. Consider a garland motif that rings your living room floor like a wreath or a fun colorful floor of stripes for a childrens playroom. You may even opt for a painted floor to resemble a tiled floorblack and white squares throughout the kitchen perhaps. Of course, paint is also great for a staircase and designs that are very formal to country rustic abound.

Stencils also work great for outdoor flooring like patios and decks. A wood burning tool and some outdoor paint will work magic to spice up your wood flooring. Consider wood burned leaves strewn about your deck and painted with an iridescent green paint. Also, a lilac border is simple to create and will give your flooring a bit of lovely lavender color to perhaps match your deck furniture cushions.

If you are afraid to transform your floor permanently, consider buying flooring remnants or rolls of vinyl to decorate and lay on top of a section of your existing flooring where it can be appreciated as a focal point. Cant afford an Oriental rug? Try painting or employing decoupage to a piece of vinyl for the look without the high price. Of course, the value is simply a bonus; these methods are lovely in and of themselves and consulting with a professional artist in your area may even prompt you to design an elaborate floor mural.

To find patterns that you like, scour art books as well as carpet and flooring centers. Often you may find something there you can easily reproduce on your own.

Copyright 2006, Ian White