Learn how to paint tile with Rust-Oleum Home Floor Coating with this easy two step process. See how I painted our outdated ceramic tile with this easy tutorial.
Have you ever wanted to update your floor but you didn’t have the resources or time? I’ve wanted to replace the old tile since we moved in a few years ago. Then I began researching floor tile paint and I found an easy solution; Rust-Oleum Home Floor Coating 2 step paint. I was a little hesitant to paint all 400 square feet of the downstairs back house. I can happily say though, that this project was well worth it and much easier to complete than I thought it would be. Let me show you how to easily paint your own tile.
Here is the outdated tile in our mother in law suite. It’s not in terrible condition, I just wanted something different.
Table of Contents
Outdated ceramic tile before using Rust-Oleum Floor paint

I don’t love the dark grout and the pink/cream tones in the tile. To be honest, the grout isn’t dark, it’s just dirty.

This is the living area in the downstairs of our mother in law suite.


You can see I’ve already placed painters tape around the perimeter of the downstairs.


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Supplies needed to paint the floor tile:
- Rust-Oleum HOME Floor Coating base coat- I used the color French Gray and I used about 1.5 gallons
- Rust-Oleum HOME Floor Coating Matte Clear Top Coat
- Paint brush
- Fine finish paint roller and roller extender
- Paint tray
- Painters tape
- Degreaser
- Mop
I’m sharing my tips below on how to apply the floor paint kit. Always refer to the Rust-Oleum website before starting a project of your own.
Before you leave, also check out 15 awesome painted tile projects here.

I get asked a lot if you can use this floor tile paint on a kitchen tile backsplash. I’m sure you can but it’s formulated for a floor. If you are looking to paint a tile backsplash, check out my post below.
I’ve got you covered with my painting kitchen tile backsplash with Homax Tough as Tile product.

Let’s get back to painting this outdated tile floor…
How to prepare tile for Rust-Oleum HOME Floor Coating
Rust-Oleum suggests cleaning the surface really well. They even suggest using a degreaser to make sure any dirt and grime is gone. Once the surface is clean and dry, it’s ready for paint.
Covering the baseboards and walls with painters tape is a good idea but optional.
How to paint tile floor with Rust-Oleum HOME Floor Tile Paint
- Clean the floor well and let it dry.
- Apply painters tape if you choose to.
- Use a paint brush to cut in the edges of the wall with the base coat around the perimeter. Work in sections and don’t do it all at once trying to always keep a wet edge.
- Pour the base coat into a paint tray and dampen the roller with plenty of paint.
- Use the paint roller to roll a section of the floor. Once one section is complete, move to the next always trying to keep a wet edge.
- After applying one coat of base coat paint on the surface, let it dry at least six hours.
- Apply a second coat if you feel that one coat isn’t enough.
- Once the base coat paint has dried a full six hours, apply the sealer coat (2nd step) the same way you applied the paint.
- Use one coat of sealer, two coats if you want extra durability letting the sealer dry for at least 2 hours in between coats.
- Allow 24 hours for light foot traffic and 72 hours for replacing furniture.





You can see how easy this floor tile paint was to cover the existing floor.

The sealer (2nd Step) goes on with a slight film, but dries totally clear.

You can see that once the paint dried it had a darker/grayer look to it!


I’m not sure why but for some reason the tile looks so much cleaner and more modern now!


Painted Floor Tiles before and after

I love a good before and after! What do you think?
Painted gray tile in the living room

I’m so pleased with how the painted floors turned out. We even did the “scratch test” and moved the furniture around a little- no paint peeling!
I feel like the gray color was a good pick to “modernize” the space. I also like that it won’t show dirt easily.




I feel like I can officially call this space done now! Time to work on the upstairs.
Check out more of my Paint reviews below:
Best White Paint Products for Kitchen Cabinets
Valspar Cabinet and Furniture Paint Review
Best Metallic Paint for Furniture
Heirloom Traditions All-in-One paint review
Valspar One-Coat Exterior Solid Stain & Sealer Review
Using Rust-Oleum Home Floor Coating to Paint Outdated Tile Floor

Learn how to use Rust-Oleum Home floor coating to transform outdated tile floor. I've shared how I easily created painted floor tiles.
Materials
- Rust-Oleum Home Floor Coating base coat and sealer- I used the color French Gray
- Paint brush
- Paint tray
- Painters tape
- Degreaser
- Mop
Tools
- Fine Finish paint roller and roller extender
Instructions
- Clean the floor well and let it dry.
- Apply painters tape if you choose to.
- Use a paint brush to cut in the edges of the wall with the base coat around the perimeter. Work in sections and don't do it all at once trying to always keep a wet edge.
- Pour the base coat into a paint tray and dampen the roller with plenty of paint.
- Use the paint roller to roll a section of the floor. Once one section is complete, move to the next always trying to keep a wet edge.
- After applying one coat of base coat paint on the surface, let it dry at least six hours.
- Apply a second coat if you feel that one coat isn't enough.
- Once the base coat paint has dried a full six hours, apply the sealer coat (2nd step) the same way you applied the paint.
- Use one coat of sealer, two coats if you want extra durability letting the sealer dry for at least 2 hours in between coats.
- Allow 24 hours for light foot traffic and 72 hours for replacing furniture.
Notes
These are the steps I used to paint our outdated tile floors. Always refer to the Rust-Oleum website as well before starting a project of your own.
Amy
Sunday 16th of July 2023
Looks amazing, I am in the process of doing the same thing. When taking off the tape does the paint peel after drying?
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Friday 21st of July 2023
Thank you! and No it didn't peel.
Janice E. Bennett
Monday 15th of May 2023
How’s does it hold up with cleaning?
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Tuesday 16th of May 2023
Great so far! I'll be doing a full review here soon so stay tuned.
Lauren H.
Friday 5th of May 2023
What a great improvement! What sheen did you use for the topcoat?
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Saturday 6th of May 2023
Thank you! I used the matte top coat.
Jackie
Friday 18th of February 2022
This floor turned out so beautiful. I love it!!! I am having our kitchen cabinets refaced here in Cocoa, FL and would love to do something like this to our tile after. Thanks for all the tips!
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Sunday 20th of February 2022
It's been a great affordable face lift for these floors. Let me know if you have any questions.
Deb
Saturday 27th of November 2021
Hi, I love the large space. I’m about to do the same. How were you able to keep furnitures/appliances off the entire 1st floor while you painted. Don’t rust oleum paint can’t dry in process. I’m asking cause I want to do the kitchen first then next following weekend do the living room. There are no separations in the tile from room to room. Will it look bad if applied days later?
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Monday 29th of November 2021
I did it all at once and moved all the furniture out, but I don't see why you wouldn't be able to do it in sections. I don't think it would look bad if you applied it days later at all! Let me know how it goes.