Hardwood flooring is a beautiful choice many homemakers are turning to these days. Not only do the floors look classy and are easier to clean, but they also bring up the value of your home by a large margin.
When it comes time to choose a floor color, however, the variety of choices can seem overwhelming at first. There are different wood types and different colors to consider. How do you get started?
To make the process simpler, we’ve gathered some tried-and-true tips for you to use when making that important decision.
Bring Wood Samples Home For Testing
It doesn’t matter how many times you look at the samples in the store. Nothing beats seeing those samples in the setting of your own home. Get the most out of your renovation and bring different wood samples home with you.
This way, you have the chance to place those samples all around the house and test them in person. You’ll see the specific way the color of your walls interacts with the color on the sample. You’ll see the way the accent of your cupboards meshes or clashes with the sample.
You won’t get the same effect if you only try to remember what colors brighten your home. With that sample in hand, you’ll experience the sample firsthand without any guessing work involved.
Keep in Mind Artificial and Natural Light
When you test your sample, don’t forget to check out the color in both artificial and natural lighting.
Colors appear different depending on what sits around them and lighting is an important aspect to keep in mind.
You’ll want to see how they look on a cloudy day versus on a sunny day. What about when its dark? How does the wood appear when you’ve turned on the lamps?
Test all of these so that you know what to expect from all aspects of your new floors.
Color Combinations are Important
A lot goes into combining different colors. A great way to ensure that your hardwood floor colors don’t clash with the rest of your decorations is to know which colors go with each other.
The great thing about hardwood flooring is that they bring in a natural color that often plays well with a large variety of different colors.
It’s a good idea to keep in mind the different tones of the wood. Is the wood more of a warm color or a cooler color? Once you know this, it’s fun to play around with the different combinations.
Warm decorations work well with warm wood floors, but a pop of cool accent brings a spark of interest. It all depends on how much contrast you wish to include in your home. Too much contrast may lead to an uncomfortable feeling.
It’s all about finding the right balance that works for you and your family.
Plan as a Whole
It’s important to take a step back and observe your room as a whole. The color of wood floors needs to work well with everything else you plan to put into the room.
Sometimes this part is easy if you are changing everything about the room. It’s as if the room is an empty canvas, allowing you to choose new combinations without trouble.
But if you only want to renovate the flooring, don’t forget to think about the entire space. Everything from furniture, paintings on the wall, and even the ceiling.
Those dark floors look great on their own but they might clash against your favorite couch if you’re not careful.
Consider Wood Durability
Hardwood floors are susceptible to wear and tear. With proper treatment and care, this wearing down gets minimized. But it’s still prone to small scratches and blemishes no matter how careful you are.
Some woods are softer than other woods and this is something you should think about before choosing one over the other.
If you have animals or children, choosing a harder wood is the best option. The wood will remain more durable and retain its beauty for longer. You wouldn’t want to choose something like pine wood, which is considered one of the softer woods.
Instead, oak, maple, or hickory would be a better choice.
Color Shifts Over the Years
Alongside the natural wearing down over time, hardwood floors also shift in color. This is due to the fact that the tiny scratches collect enough to change the color. It reveals the color underneath any colored stains applied to the wood when installed.
It also happens if a section of wood gets exposure to a lot of natural sunlight over many years. This leads to a faded out color that won’t match the areas that stay out of the sun.
It’s good to keep in mind these different qualities when choosing the rooms you want hardwood flooring. For example, if it’s an open space with a lot of natural lighting, a darker wood isn’t a good choice.
Contact a Consultant
If this is your first time installing wood floors, it’s a good idea to enlist the knowledge of an expert. They’ll give you the best advice when choosing between different woods and the best wood floor color.
They’ll give you tips and ideas on how to get the most out of your new flooring installation. They’ll even give you an idea about the different pricing ranges.
If in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact a professional company.
There’s No Need to Rush When Choosing the Right Floor Color
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by it all, take in a deep breath. There’s plenty of time for you to reach that perfect decision.
Take the time to consider every option and every pro and con. Your floor color is an important one, but it doesn’t need to be stressful. In fact, taking your time makes the entire process more enjoyable, going from one combo to the next.
Don’t worry. There’s a perfect combination out there waiting for you to find it. Look at our wide plank hardwood gallery for examples if you need inspiration.
When you’ve settled on the wood floor colors you want, contact us and we’ll help you get started!