Choose wood flooring carefully when considering how it will affect the aesthetic and livability of your home, considering color, texture, grain pattern and hardness – they will all impact its lifespan and impact your living environment.
Light woods like maple and oak offer design solutions that meet many aesthetic preferences, while darker floors such as walnut add depth and drama to a room. Grain patterns and knots also add character and distinguish each wooden floor.
Color
When selecting the color of your wood flooring, take into account both your design style and amount of natural light a room receives. Lighter hues tend to work best with contemporary or modern interior design styles while darker hardwoods may work better in traditional or coastal spaces.
If durability is your top concern, hardwoods like oak and maple with high Janka hardness ratings should prove more resilient against heavy foot traffic than softwood species such as pine.
Sauri suggests using wide plank boards with minimal seams if you opt for dark floors, and staying away from warm white hues or colors with orange undertones which might clash with their tones.
Grain Pattern
Wood grain adds character and warmth to any room in your home, whether subtle or striking depending on its species and how the boards were cut.
Hickory offers natural visual contrasts of light and dark brown that add visual texture and character to a space, while red oak’s subtler grain lines still lend rustic charm to your home.
Wood grains add character and variety to your floor, from knots and streaks to sapwood. Although these features tend to be more prevalent in Rustic and Natural grades, they can still be included into Prime and Select floors as well.
Hardness
Hardness plays an integral part in determining your wood flooring’s durability and lifespan. Harder species tend to withstand everyday wear and tear better, making them suitable for households with children or pets.
Wood hardness is determined using a rating system that takes several factors into account, including the amount of force necessary to drive a steel ball halfway into a plank. The Janka hardness scale provides an invaluable way to select which hardwood floor species fits with your lifestyle and home decor vision best.
Domestic species like red oak and maple boast high Janka ratings, while exotic woods such as hickory rank even higher on this scale – perfect for homes with children and pets. Other characteristics worth keeping in mind when selecting wood species for homes include grain patterns and finish durability.
Durability
Wood flooring comes in various species and hardness levels; for homes with pets or kids, harder species such as oak or maple will provide better scratch resistance.
Consider your grain pattern when selecting wood species; its variation could help hide dents and scuff marks more effectively than more uniform patterns would. High traffic areas might benefit from more varied grain patterns for optimal appearance.
Light can alter the hue of wood floors, with some species darkening with time and sunlight – a process known as patina. To mitigate this effect, UV inhibitor finishes are recommended, or you could try choosing large pale natural fiber area rugs to brighten up and keep your floors looking their best.
Style
Homeowners seeking wood flooring must first determine which aesthetic they prefer for their home. Knots and graining may add character, while those seeking something sleeker may opt for smooth surfaces with clean designs showcasing knots.
Other considerations when purchasing wood flooring should include how it will feel underfoot. Pine is known to feel cool to the touch and has similar characteristics as tile flooring; however, extended standing may lead to discomfort on feet.
Dark wood floors feature an eye-catching aesthetic, drawing attention to architectural features and furniture silhouettes. Herringbone and chevron patterns also provide visual interest for rooms featuring multiple windows on multiple sides while also helping create an air of flow between spaces that connect.
