Use crumpled paper bags (to create a faux leather floor)
or a roll of brown Kraft paper from the postal supply aisle ( you can cut this in strips to mimic hardwood floors )
Use paper bags over existing vinyl floors or concrete. Damage may occur, so avoid using the method on wood or other floor treatments you may want to revive some day.
Remove any furniture and apply painter's tape to cabinetry and baseboards near the floor to protect them. Sweep the floor thoroughly. Mop the floor and allow to dry completely. Sweep once more to remove any other debris.
Prepare your paper
If using paper bags Tear the bags into flat pieces and discard the seamed bottoms. Pieces should be irregular and varied in size. Keep them small enough to handle easily. Crumple the pieces up, then smooth flat to give a textured look to your finished floor.
Start in the center and work out toward the walls, planning to finish near an exit. Open windows for ventilation while working.
Pour clear polyurethane directly onto the floor where you will be laying the first piece. Smooth the poly into an even coat with a brush or your hands.
Lay the paper on top and apply a second thin coat of polyurethane to the top. Smooth out any bubbles. Continue laying paper in this fashion, overlapping the edges slightly.
Use scissors to trim the edges around the room so they are flush to the wall.
Allow the polyurethane to dry for hours, then apply a second coat. Apply a total of four to six coats, letting each dry for one hour before applying the next. Allow the final coat to dry overnight to 24 hours.
Sweep and mop the finished floor as usual. Apply additional coats of polyurethane as the floor dulls with time--approximately one to three years, depending on use.
The basic technique looks like faux leather. The finish can be altered with stain, stamps and paper choice. Alter the preparation of the paper for additional design choices.
Stain the floor with wood stain prior to applying additional coats of polyurethane. The torn areas of the paper absorb more stain and add a weathered, natural look to the finished floor.
Create decorative borders on the flooring with stamps and paint. Purchase stamps created for stamping walls. Dip them in an oil-based paint of your choice and apply to the floor. Allow to dry completely before coating with polyurethane.
Kraft paper is available in colors other than basic brown. Choose one color or combine several. Keep in mind the torn edges will be darker than the original paper color.
Cut the paper into standard shapes instead of tearing. This will give the look of stained concrete or tile. Cut into equal-size squares. Make allowances for the overlap when laying them to keep the floor symmetric. Use one color of paper or alternate colors for a checkerboard effect. Or, cut a design from a contrasting piece of paper and apply over the faux leather-finished floor, such as a yellow star burst as a focal point in the center of the room.
