Crisp, clean-looking hardwood floors are one of the most attractive flooring options. If a hardwood floor is installed in a room with lots of ornate molding and fancy trim, you might want to dress it up by adding a border. Marquetry, a technique featuring inlaid wood or other materials, has been around for centuries. In new construction, borders or areas of contrasting or complementary wood are laid at the same time as the rest of the floor. An easy way to add a pattern to an already installed floor is to use wood stains to create a faux-marquetry pattern. Materials: Wood stain in contrasting colors
Razor knife and several sharp blades
Metal straightedge
Small paintbrushes
Stir stick
Masking tape
Polyurethane
Paintbrush
- Begin with a clean, freshly sanded floor. The old finish must be removed so the new stain can penetrate the wood. Make sure the area is very clean, with no dust remaining.
- Use a straightedge to draw your pattern on the floor with a pencil. A geometric pattern with straight lines works best.
- Use a razor knife and metal straightedge to score or cut along the lines you've drawn (figure A). This separates the various areas of the pattern and will prevent each stain color from bleeding into the area next to it.
- After you've scored all the pattern lines, begin staining. Mix the stain well, and apply with a small paintbrush, using a different brush for each color. Take your time, making sure to stay within the scored lines (figure B).
- When the entire border or pattern is stained, let it dry for at least 24 hours, and then seal with two or three coats of polyurethane.
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