The diverse range of colours available can easily make selecting a wood flooring colour a difficult and overwhelming experience. Having hardwood flooring is a big investment, so you really want to make sure you’re happy with the final product. Here at Celtic Flooring Company, we want our customers to be as satisfied as possible with their wood flooring, and because of this, here are some things we suggest you consider when deciding on which colour hardwood floor you want fitted.
1. The species of wood you’ve selected
The range of colours available for you to choose from depends on the species of wood you have selected. Just like colours, there are many species of wood available to you, and some can be more restricting on colour than others. For example, while Pine wood flooring is considered better when left to its natural colouring, other species, such as Oak, allows for a wide selection of colour options for you to choose from.
2. Consider the size of your room
The size of the room is very important when deciding on the colour of hardwood flooring. If you are intending on having hardwood flooring laid in a small room, you should probably lean towards selecting a lighter colour, as lighter options can make small rooms look wider and larger. On the other hand, darker wood in small rooms can leave the space looking small and cramped. If darker wood is your preferred style, try keeping the rest of the room (such as the walls and furniture) light to avoid a gloom and doom atmosphere. Darker wood is more beneficial in larger rooms, as it brings the walls closer and leaves a cosier style to the room.
3. Consider the volume of traffic in the room
Think about how busy the room is in day to day life. Are you somebody who hosts guests frequently, or do you have kids and/or pets which play in the room? Be aware that a busier room means an increased likelihood of your hardwood floor getting scratched and dented. If you’re looking for something which hides these imperfections effortlessly, consider natural colour wood as scratches and dents can blend in and seem like they are a feature of the wood. Darker colour wood can also hide some scratches and dents, yet it makes dirt and dust more noticeable. Where lighter and white colours are better at concealing dirt and dust, wear and tear is more visible.
4. Consider the existing furniture and décor of the room
If you are revamping the entire room, then great. You have a bit more freedom to choose from. For many, you’ll be keeping the existing furniture and décor of the room. If you’re the latter, then you be thinking about how your hardwood floor will interact with things such as your sofa, coffee table, cabinets, drawers, the walls, and skirting boards. Contrasting colours should be your aim. Matching your hardwood floor with your furniture not only makes for a boring and clustered look, your new floor will not give off that wow factor you’re looking for.
5. Look at the level of light exposure
You should keep in mind that lighting has a big impact on which colour wood you should consider. Every room has a unique level of lighting, and even then, it is continuously changing throughout the day. If your room has a high amount of natural light, it may be better to choose a darker colour wood, as natural light will keep the room from appearing too dark and dull. However, if natural light is limiting and the room is not so bright, selecting a lighter colour wood may be more ideal. Furthermore, the colour of the wood during the daytime will give a different effect than during the night. Think about the time you are most likely to be using the room in question. You are more likely to be in a bedroom during the night, so take greater consideration of a colour during lower levels of natural lighting and under artificial lighting. A kitchen, however, is a room which is will be used throughout the day, and so think about all levels of lighting the room, and the hardwood flooring, is exposed to.
6. Use wood samples
Try and take advantage of wood samples, they are a great way of getting a real feel for how colours work within your environment. Having samples can make comparing colours to your existing furniture and décor easy. Placing them beside sofas or skirting boards and walls gives a strong insight regarding how the colour will look. Try leaving the room for a moment and come back to look at the sample to get your initial opinion of the colour upon re-entering the room. Also, try samples during different lighting periods, such as daytime and night-time under artificial lighting, as lighting has an effect on the colour of the wood. Without samples, you will not fully grasp how the colour will look in your room, and you run the risk of being disappointed following installation.
Anything we missed? If you have some good advice or have any questions, leave a comment below.