A timeless and adaptable option for your house, hardwood flooring brings warmth, elegance, and value to any area. Choosing color is one of the most critical decisions when installing hardwood flooring. Your room’s mood and style are influenced by the color of your hardwood floor, which sets the tone for the entire space. 

In this guide, we will explain the factors that influence how to choose hardwood floor color. 

How to Choose Hardwood Floor Color

You can choose your hardwood floor color by considering the following things.

Consider Your Style and Aesthetic

Consider your general interior design style and personal preferences before getting into the specifics. Your hardwood floors should complement your current or future decor in terms of hue. Consider the following style categories:

• Traditional: Timeless, elegant, and frequently characterized by rich, dark wood tones.
• Contemporary: Sleek and minimalistic, with a preference for light to medium wood tones or even outlandish hues.
• Rustic/Farmhouse: Warm and inviting, usually with salvaged or distressed wood in warm, earthy tones.
• Transitional: A fusion of old and modern that offers a variety of color options.

Your alternatives will become more manageable if you know your personal preferences.

Analyze the Lighting

Natural and artificial lighting can substantially influence the appearance of the hues of your hardwood flooring in your room; this is how:

• Natural Light: A wider range of colors can be used in spaces with lots of natural light. Think of lighter hues like honey, oak, or maple to create a bright, airy atmosphere.
• Low Light: Lighter colors can create a more airy and welcoming atmosphere in spaces with little natural light. If you prefer darker floors, though, complement them with brighter décor and lots of artificial illumination.

Consider Your Color Scheme

Your existing color scheme or desired color palette should guide How to Choose Hardwood Floor Color. Harmonize the floor color with the room’s walls, furniture, and other design elements. Some considerations include:

• Monochromatic: Choose a floor color that matches or complements the predominant color in the room for a cohesive look.
• Complementary: Opt for contrasting colors to create visual interest. A dark floor against light walls, or vice versa, can be stunning.
• Neutral: To maintain flexibility in your decor, neutral hardwood floor colors such as beige, gray, or greige can be versatile choices.

Maintenance and Durability

Your hardwood floor’s hue may affect how noticeable grime, wear, and scratches are. Lighter wood floors are a sensible option for high-traffic areas and homes with pets or children because they tend to show fewer flaws. Darker floors can disguise some flaws but may make dust and scratches stand out more.

Temperature and Mood

The way a room makes you feel is influenced by color psychology. Warm-toned hardwood flooring, such as red oak or cherry, can make a space feel snug and welcoming. More fabulous colors like gray or ash can give a more contemporary and chic vibe. Consider the feeling you want to generate when selecting a color for your room.

Samples and Test Areas

Pay attention to the value of samples and test sites. Many flooring companies offer small samples or let you buy a few planks to see how the flooring will look in your home. You can evaluate how the color works with your lighting and decor by testing it in a small area of your room.

Consider Furniture of Home

The arrangement and design of your furniture also influence your choice of carpeting. Consider the other furniture in the space, advises Case Architects & Remodelers’ Allie Mann. “Is your hardwood in a high-traffic kitchen area, or are there other objects in an area so only a portion of the flooring is revealed?” Mann continues, “Lighter, colorful furnishings pair well with warmer, lighter flooring, while cooler-colored furnishings may work best with darker floors.”

Give Priority to Wearability

The choices you make when selecting a wood floor for a busy family will differ from those of a single person. Dallas states, “I won’t install an extremely dark floor if a client has dogs and kids. “Hair and dirt are easily seen on dark floors.”

Notice the Ceiling Height

What connection exists between the floor stain you choose and your ceiling height? Tracy Morris of Tracy Morris Design claims that this is the case. She advises using a light stain for your floor if your ceiling is low. “It will appear to raise your ceilings by six inches.” You can also accomplish the opposite. Morris advises choosing a darker hue if you have high ceilings and desire a cozier atmosphere in your room. Your ceilings will appear to be six inches lower.

Follow the Trends

Avoiding trends is the best course of action when selecting a floor stain. Youngblood says, “You’ll be living with your floors for long since it can be time-consuming and expensive to replace.” She also advises painting the walls a particular color if it’s a hue you adore to integrate it into a space. Paint is much simpler to modify, according to the designer.

Think About Painted Floor

Wood floors that have seen better days can be applied with a fresh coat of paint. Although painted flooring is sometimes associated with a beachy, rustic style, it can also be exquisite (see this Florida vacation home by Lindsey Coral Harper for proof). Use only genuine floor or deck paint designed to withstand daily wear and tear from being stepped on. White flooring is also a classic favorite, but Ann Pyne of McMillen cautions against switching: “White painted floors can’t be reversed—the white paint gets between the boards!”

Conclusion

You can easily choose floor color by considering the factors mentioned above on how to choose hardwood floor color. Home remodeling requires making a critical selection regarding the color of the hardwood floors. You can decide to improve your room’s aesthetics and usefulness by considering your style, lighting, color scheme, maintenance requirements, mood, and testing samples. Take your time and choose a color that you’ll adore for many years because your hardwood floor is a long-term investment.