While it is possible to paint wood floors without sanding by using a high-adhesion primer, sanding is recommended for the best results. Sanding ensures a smoother surface and better paint adhesion.

It’s generally best to sand wood floors before priming and painting, Hoffman says. You can use a palm sander or regular sandpaper (he advises starting with coarse grit and finishing with medium).

Painting the floors is usually a simple do-it-yourself job even for the inexperienced homeowner. ... Use a hand-sanding block with medium grit sandpaper and lightly sand the entire floor surface.