Should wood floors match throughout a house? And not just the wood itself. What about the color? Is it ok to have different color hardwood floors in your home? If you’re planning a renovation, remodel, or update, these are important questions to ask. Now, let’s find your answers.
There are several hardwood flooring options on the market, including:
- Ash
- Black walnut
- Beech
- Cherry
- Hickory
- Maple
- Red Oak
- White Oak.
Each one of the above wood flooring options has differences in color and style, and their unique characteristics only add to the warmth and charm these surfaces convey. But what if you love more than one grain? Pattern? Shade? Can you have different color hardwood floors in a house?
Short answer: yes! It’s your house!
Should Wood Floors Match Throughout The House?
There are many instances when one buys a home that already has one or two rooms with hardwood floors. Further, sometimes a homeowner may be considering installing hardwood floors and wonder if all the rooms should have the same color and style of flooring. The answer to this question depends to whom you speak to.
Some people are adamant that all the hardwood flooring in the home should match and then others say that you can install different types of hardwood flooring in different rooms.
So, Who Is Right?
Spoiler alert: you are right.
The fact of the matter is that there is no absolute rule that a home must have the same type of hardwood flooring in every room. In general, most experts state that one does not need to have absolute uniformity in the home flooring but one should consider strategically mixing the different types of hardwoods so they complement each other for a balanced, and gorgeous, aesthetic.
Selection of Hardwood Flooring
Rather than worry about the color match, we recommend the following when selecting high-end hardwood floors for your home:
- If you have a large room, go for a darker color such as Brazilian walnut or Mahogany, which impart a luxury feel. If the room is small, choose a lighter colored wood like ash, white oak, or maple; this will make the room appear larger.
- If you are installing hardwood in a long walkway, do not install it running parallel to the length of the hall, because it will make it look narrow. Rather, install the hardwood in a perpendicular pattern and it will make the hallway appear wider. If the hallway is separated by a door, then you can choose to install the hardwood in a different direction on either side or even add a new color of hardwood.
- If your budget is limited, then you have the option of using different species of hardwood and yet make the home look beautiful.
Different Types of Hardwood
If you do decide to use different types of hardwood in two adjacent rooms, then you can separate them by using T-moldings or wooden borders in the door threshold. Another way to separate the rooms is by using a different grain of hardwood as the separating piece, which will highlight the two different areas.
In some open-concept homes, one can also use different types of hardwood to differentiate specific areas of the home. For example, for the entrance, you may use laminated hardwood but in the hallways, you may have a parquet pattern; this type of flooring also helps complement the design of the home.
Matching Hardwood
If you already have hardwood flooring in one segment of your home and you want to match the other floors with the same hardwood floor, this can be a difficult task. The reason is that no matter how similar your hardwood flooring selection is, there will always be a slight difference in tone which will create a mismatch. The reason is that the different series of the same type of hardwood flooring do vary in tone and this difference becomes more apparent when the flooring is installed.
Hence, rather than trying to match the hardwood flooring, select a grain of wood that will complement what you already have. If you are adamant that the hardwood floors have to be the same, then another option is to consider sanding and refinishing all the hardwood to match. Finally, if you insist on having the same type of hardwood flooring on every floor, you may have to remove the hardwood which is already installed. Then start fresh again by installing the same type of flooring in every room.
In the end, if you have one area of the home with hardwood flooring and want to install hardwood flooring in other areas, speak to a flooring expert on the best option. There is no right or wrong when it comes to matching or installing different color hardwood floors; at the end of the day, it is all a matter of personal preference. But by consulting with an expert, he or she may provide a solution that is not only aesthetically better but also cost-effective.
Should wood floors match throughout a house? Contact East Coast Flooring & Interiors today; we are happy to discuss your project, needs, and solutions!