Selecting Hardwood Flooring For Your Home

Posted on: 25 August 2015

There are so many flooring options out there that you may have thought the biggest decision was behind you when you chose to go with hardwood. However, hardwood flooring offers numerous options as well, from the wood and its finish to the plank width. The hardwood floor you choose has a significant impact on the overall look of your room. Choose flooring that enhances your home's design. 

Cool, Light Hardwoods

Some hardwoods, such as oak, are naturally light and cool in color. Others are light and can be stained gray for a cool finish. Gray is a neutral color, so such a hardwood floor complements numerous design schemes. Gray hardwood is not very traditional, though, so it might be more appropriate for a contemporary home.

Warm, Light Hardwoods

Many hardwoods, such as walnut and beech, naturally display warm tones. Similar to gray, their light hue also makes them a neutral base for your décor. A hardwood floor in light, warm tones also adds warmth to the ambience of your home. Use this option if you want a floor that is subtle in how it complements your furniture.

Rich, Warm Hardwoods

Quite often when you think of hardwood flooring, you think of the deep, reddish tints typical of red oak, sandalwood and cherry. Indeed, this style of hardwood is a classic. The rich colors certainly pop more than with the lighter varieties, so it can compete with bold-hued furnishings. Nonetheless, consider this option for a traditional or historical home.

Ebonized Hardwood

Manufacturers sometimes apply a black stain to wood. The stain can be translucent or opaque, but the effect is still a black floor. Any furnishings placed on top of an ebonized wood floor automatically stand out. This is a statement floor appropriate for modern or Asian-inspired homes.

Wood Strips

Choosing a color still doesn't end the selection process. The width of the planks also affects the look of your flooring. Strips are the most common and tend to be the most budget-friendly option. Whatever the finish of the wood, strip flooring adds texture because the grain is interrupted by the cut. Hardwood strips still make a solid foundation for any room design.

Wood Planks

Wood planks are the rarer and more expensive option. Planks range from three to seven inches. As Better Homes and Gardens points out, this allows the natural grain of the wood to show through. Plank flooring also tends to resemble antique hardwood floors. If you have a historical house, or you want the wood to take center stage, plank flooring is probably the way to go.    

Whether you choose ebonized hardwood strips or cool, gray planks, your hardwood floor serves as the foundation for each room's design. Contact a local outlet, such as Thayer Decorating Center, for further assistance.

Share

Swimming Pool Design Dilemma

I decided to have a swimming pool put in my back yard last summer. I remembered the pool that my grandparents had when I was a little kid, and I thought that it would be just a simple rectangular pool like theirs. But when I began researching and talking to swimming pool contractors, I found out that I had a lot more design options than I had originally thought. Picking out the pool design and pool features that I wanted was harder than I would've thought, but I wound up with a great free form pool with a few fun features. I love it and I use it daily. I decided that I would start a blog to share what I’d learned about swimming pool design, and how to work with contractors, to help others resolve their own pool design dilemmas.

Latest Posts