This redwood floor is in the dining room of one of Carroll Avenue's beautifully restored Victorians in Los Angeles, though the stenciling technique would work well in more contemporary homes, too.

This week we’d like to introduce LRM Interior Design’s Stacy Shawver, our Administrative Assistant. And just because she’s busy keeping the office organized and tip-top doesn’t mean she’s not interested in interior design!

Stacy’s inspiration for this week was painted floors—but not just any painted floors. She was inspired by painted floors with a little extra.

“Instead of just rolling on a coat of paint to any floor, this image shows that you can add life to a dull floor with a pattern,” says Stacy.  “You can liven up any bare floor with some paint and a stencil!”

Stencil on a painted “area rug” or just edge the room with a stenciled pattern. What about a stenciled runner in a hallway instead of paint? Don’t rule out the outdoors either. Stenciling would be a great way to brighten patios, decks or concrete walkways.

It is imperative, although extremely tedious, to clean the floor thoroughly before you stencil. Make sure that you cover the floor with a quality varnish after painting. Or better yet, hire a professional to do the stenciling, painting and sealing for you! LRM Interior Design can design an original, custom design for you, create the stencil and have it painted and sealed: a one-stop process.

Add some personality to your floors with a stencil. You may never use carpet again!