Easy DIY flooring – cheap flooring ideas you’ll love

This is the second in a new series of DIY quick wins: ideas for quick and simple home DIY projects. Yesterday, we looked at ways to revamp your kitchen cabinets in as little as an hour with ideas from installing an in-cupboard pull-out bin, to revamping your under-sink storage with a super-organised and easy-to-fit pull-out storage.

Easy DIY flooring to transform your floor

Today, we’re focusing on easy DIY flooring projects. Maybe you have an area in your home awaiting future renovation and don’t want to splurge on hardwood floors or porcelain tile just yet. Instead, you’re seeking budget-friendly flooring options for a temporary fix. I faced the same dilemma in my porch and managed to achieve a stunning transformation with just £50. Read about it here. Or perhaps your bathroom could use a refresh, but a full remodel is out of reach for now, and you’re looking for quick and affordable flooring ideas.

Whatever your reason, I have plenty of DIY flooring ideas to inspire you. Before diving into the specifics, let’s revisit some key tips to help you tackle a 1-hour project effectively. The secret to success lies in meticulous planning and organization. You wouldn’t believe how many hours I’ve lost looking for misplaced tools, charging drills mid-project, or making last-minute trips to the store for the right materials!

Top tips for easy DIY flooring projects

• Plan everything out before you begin—nothing should be left to chance.
• Identify the steps, tools, and materials you’ll need for the type of flooring you’re installing.
• Gather all supplies beforehand, and ensure tools like utility knives, saws, and drills are in working order.
• Charge any battery-operated tools ahead of time so you’re not slowed down by dead batteries.
• Look up tutorials or instructions specific to your chosen flooring type to avoid common mistakes.
• Keep extra materials on hand to avoid delays in case you run short.
• When working with paint, choose those that include primer for better coverage.

Now that we’ve established how to work quickly, we need to decide exactly which project to tackle. I’ll admit some of these projects will take a bit longer than an hour unless you have a tiny space or room. Don’t shout at me! I thought it would be more useful to include a wider variety of home DIY project inspo and be a bit cheeky with the timeframe than stick strictly to the 1-hour deadline!

Choosing the Best DIY Flooring

While some of these projects can be completed in an hour, others might take a bit longer—especially if you’re dealing with larger areas or challenging corners. But don’t worry, I’ve included a range of affordable flooring ideas that can work for any skill level or timeframe.

Easy DIY Flooring – Carpet

If you have a carpet with underlay and gripper rods already in place, then replacing the carpet will take very little time.

Removing the Old Carpet:

• Start by grabbing a corner of the carpet with pliers and pulling it up, avoiding the gripper rods.
• Use a utility knife to cut the carpet into strips, which makes rolling and removing it much easier.
• Roll the strips tightly and secure them with string or strong tape. Cutting smaller sections makes the process quicker and less cumbersome.

Fitting New Carpet:

For first-time DIYers, start in a small space like a hallway or bedroom. This makes handling the carpet roll easier. You’ll need to:

• Measure the area and purchase the new carpet in advance.
• Lay the carpet in place, starting with the longest side.
• Before cutting, make sure it’s stretched properly to avoid wrinkles.
• Use a carpet bolster to tuck edges under the skirting board, ensuring a smooth finish.

If you attempt this DIY for the first time, starting with a small space will make the process quicker as the carpet roll will be easier to handle. Get help from a second pair of hands if you can, as this will save time and effort.

You’ll need to follow these steps – measure up & purchase the carpet in advance Top Tip: It’s worth investing in a carpet fitting kit comprising a knee kicker, a bolster and a cutting tool to ensure the best quality finish.

Easy DIY flooring – Vinyl flooring DIYs

DIY Vinyl Flooring Options

Vinyl flooring, available as rolls, vinyl planks, or stick vinyl tiles, is an excellent choice for those seeking budget-friendly and easy-to-install flooring solutions.It pays to consider the sub-floor with vinyl flooring as it can be quite soft or thin meaning that any imperfections underneath can show through. Underlay is a good option for extra warmth and comfort underfoot, or sheets of ply-board can be a cost-effective way of leveling the base layer.

Similarly to carpet fitting, the most time-consuming part is cutting the vinyl to fit into any corners and around any obstacles like radiator pipes. Leave the roll of vinyl flooring for approx 48 hours in the room it’s intended for before fitting to allow it to acclimatise to the room temperature.

To speed up the cutting process, use a contour gauge to create a template to go around door frames, toilet basins, baths and pipes etc.

Then, to ensure the vinyl stays in place, glue it to the subfloor and use a soft broom to smooth it out flat to avoid bubbles and sagging.

In a bathroom, seal around the edges with clear silicon sealant to prevent moisture penetration. You would ideally remove skirting boards before you install vinyl flooring and then replace them over the top of the vinyl. This DIY could be completed in an hour if you had all the tools and materials ready, the subfloor was prepared and ready and the space was small or had few awkward cuts. Top Tip: You can always cut more off, but you can’t put it back on, so err on the side of caution when cutting around the edges and go back to cut more off a little at a time to ensure you don’t get any unsightly gaps (they’ll bug you every time you see them otherwise!).

Peel and stick tiles aka Floor Pops

Floor Pops aka stick-on/self-adhesive floor tiles are effective for speedy makeovers. Stick-on floor tiles come in a huge array of designs and styles and again, it’s the cutting out that takes the most time, so you definitely want to invest in a profile gauge or make a DIY contour gauge for convenience and precision. This DIY could be completed in under an hour in a very small space, like perhaps a porch or small hallway or a bathroom like I did above.

Remember to:

• Consider your subfloor condition. If it’s uneven, imperfections may show through, but underlay or plywood subfloors can help create a smooth surface.
• Let the vinyl acclimate in the room for about 48 hours before installation.
• Use a contour gauge to measure around tricky areas like doorframes or pipes.
• Secure the vinyl to the subfloor with adhesive, and smooth it out with a soft broom to avoid bubbles.
• In areas like bathrooms, seal edges with silicone to prevent moisture from seeping underneath.

Stick Vinyl Tiles and Peel-and-Stick Flooring:

Peel-and-stick vinyl tiles or stick tiles are a great option for DIY enthusiasts who want a quick and cost-effective update. These stick floors come in a variety of designs, offering a similar look to real wood or ceramic tiles without the high price point. The biggest challenge is cutting around corners, so having a profile gauge or contour tool on hand will save you time.

This type of flooring is particularly well-suited for small spaces like porches or bathrooms, where labor costs for professional installation might not be worth the expense. In fact, this is one of the cheapest flooring options available, and with proper maintenance, it can last for years.

DIY Laminate Flooring Projects

Laminate floors are another excellent DIY project for those on a tight budget. They come in a variety of styles, including laminate tiles and planks that mimic the look of solid hardwood flooring or stone. Installing a floating floor system is relatively simple, and because laminate is low maintenance and durable, it’s ideal for living spaces with heavy foot traffic.

• Always ensure your subfloor is smooth and dry before installation to avoid complications later.
• Laminate flooring typically uses a click-and-lock system, making it a great DIY flooring option for beginners.
• Don’t forget to measure carefully and leave a small gap around the perimeter to allow for expansion.

Easy DIY flooring – Floor paint

Transform with floor paint.

Painting a floor is one of the quickest transformations, as can be done with a large roller most of the time. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines for application advice and be sure to choose a paint suitable for the material you are painting. You can paint over tiles, concrete, and even floorboards.

Prep is important as with all painting projects; make sure the surface is clean, dry and sound.

For a perfect finish, you’ll likely need two coats unless you use paint designed to cover with a single coat and you might need to apply a topcoat/sealant/varnish depending on the product you use.

You could use a stencil to create a patterned tile effect. I did this on our garden path and it looks very realistic. People often comment on the ’tiles’.

Thanks so much for reading; if you found it useful, I’d love you to subscribe to my mailing list for fortnightly newsletters (one day I’ll be organised enough to send them weekly but I’m averaging monthly at the time of writing this post!).

Affordable and Budget-Friendly Flooring Solutions

For those searching for inexpensive flooring options, cork flooring, vinyl planks, and even floor paint can offer a fresh, new look without the hefty price tag. Cork, made from the bark of cork oak trees, is an eco-friendly and cost-effective choice, while floor paint offers a quick fix for old concrete floors or existing floors that just need a facelift.

In Conclusion

There are countless affordable flooring ideas to suit any space or budget. Whether you’re laying carpet tiles in a rental property, fitting vinyl plank flooring in your kitchen, or refreshing your bathroom with stick vinyl tiles, these DIY projects can make a big impact with minimal time and cost.

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