How to Stencil on a Wooden Floor

Apply floor wax remover according to the remover's label instructions to take off any wax buildup. Remove leftover residue or debris with the vacuum and damp mop.

Practice painting the stencil design by first taping the stencil in place onto a sheet of practice paper. Apply paint to your stencil brush and dab it on some paper toweling until it is almost dry.

Brush the paint over the cutout in a gentle, circular pattern along the edges, working toward the center of the cutout. Change the direction of the brushing occasional until the design is completely filled in. Continue to practice until you are comfortable with the technique and the amount of paint needed.

Measure off the area and mark where the stencil corners will be placed with tape or chalk. This is a practice run for placing the stencil across the floor, preventing the design from not fitting properly or being off-center.

Tape the stencil corners down with masking tape according to your marks. Borders can begin from a room's corner, while a center-focused stencil will start in the center of room. Begin stenciling the design using the dry brush technique explained in step three. If doing a border or large area, you will need to work across the room moving the stencil with you. Take care not to smudge newly stenciled areas as you move across the room.

Quickly wipe away any mistakes with a wet cloth. Excess paint on the brush or loose stencils will cause paints to seep under the stencil or the stencil to shift.

Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours. Make sure the floor is clear of any tape, chalk markings and dirt by vacuuming and damp mopping. Apply two to three coats of polyurethane, letting it dry for 24 to 48 hours between coats.