Upgrading to hardwood flooring is a great way to give your home a makeover. Changing your floors might seem like a huge undertaking, but it’s a way to replace one element of your home decor that will make a big difference.
By getting hardwood floors, you can completely change the look of your home!
Since it’s such a major change to the look, though, you’ll want to choose hardwood flooring that suits your personal style and provides the exact look and feel you want.
Here are some tips to consider when choosing hardwood flooring for your new home or home renovation.
Choose Between Solid or Engineered Hardwood
One of the first choices to make when considering new hardwood flooring in your home is whether you want solid or engineered hardwood.
Both options provide the look of hardwood that you want, but there are a couple of key differences.
Longevity of Material
With solid hardwood, you might have a bit more longevity. Solid hardwood can be sanded down more times before it becomes too thin. However, solid hardwood does not do as well with moisture, so you’ll want to keep it out of kitchens and bathrooms.
Moisture Resistance
Since engineered hardwood contains layers of plywood with a layer of 100% natural wood on top, it handles moisture much better and can be installed in a wider variety of rooms, including the kitchen.
Flexibility of Use
When choosing solid vs. engineered hardwood, think about how much you want to spend and how durable you would like your floors to be. Some people prefer solid hardwood for a more traditional flooring, while others like the more flexible use of engineered hardwood.
Consider Environmental Impact
Though there are many different traditional and engineered hardwood flooring providers, find one committed to sustainability and better air quality to make a purchase you can be proud of.
If you’ve ever heard of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), you know hardwood flooring can come with VOCs like formaldehyde that could contribute to a lower air quality in your home. However, there are hardwood flooring companies committed to keeping the levels of VOCs in their products as low as possible.
You should also look at a company’s environmental impact and commitment to protecting natural resources and wildlife when deciding where to get your hardwood floors. If you source your hardwood flooring from a company you trust and know your environmental impact is small, you can enjoy your floors that much more.
Use Color to Highlight Your Decorative Style
After choosing either solid or engineered hardwood, you should then consider style elements like color. Choosing a color will also lead you to the wood species and finishing style that will best match your decor and vibe.
Some colors to choose from include: light/medium/dark brown, gray, and natural. Take a look at your home and the furniture/decor you have now. Which color would best suit your taste?
One option is to use contrast to highlight the other features of your home. For example, dark brown flooring against light-colored countertops provide an eye-catching contrast many people love. Another way to create this look is to use light-colored flooring with dark counters and furniture.
However, your style might be better suited by creating a more homogenous look. For example you might prefer light brown flooring to go with your light gray furniture pieces for an all-around light and airy vibe.
You can also choose a natural or neutral colored hardwood to then add more bright and vibrant colors to your decor. For example, a natural-colored wood goes well with splashes of pink in your furniture, wall coloring, and decorations.
Color has the power to warm up or cool down a space, highlight or blend with furniture, and showcase your personality. Enjoy choosing a hardwood flooring color that suits you best!
Select a Finish that Suits Your Favorite Mood
Another consideration when choosing hardwood flooring for your home is finishing style. By choosing a specific finishing style, you can create the mood you want inside your home.
Are you looking for more of a rustic vibe, or are you interested in a beachy look? Do you prefer traditional or slightly more modern?
Some different styles to choose from include distressed, hand-scraped, rustic, wire-brushed, reclaimed, white washed, smoked, stained, and sawn-mark. Do your research to find out which style you like best.
Just like color, style can drastically change the look and feel of your home. Choose a style that not only fits your personality but also provides you with the best long-term value. You can, for example, choose a flooring style that you think will stand the test of time to give you the best opportunity to resell your home later.
Take a look at various photos of different hardwood finishes and imagine them inside your home. Which finish speaks to you? Which finish seems to fit your personality? Using your imagination will help you choose the right look for you.
You’d be surprised how different a room can look based on the hardwood flooring style. Take a look at one kitchen with six different hardwood floors for an example!
One way to find out which style suits you best is to take inventory of your clothing style and choice of decor. If you are more artsy, a rustic or reclaimed wood finish might be best for you. If you like more traditional looks, you might enjoy a stained or wire-brushed style best.
Have Fun!
Most importantly, make sure you take time to enjoy choosing a hardwood floor for your home. This is an opportunity for you to express your unique style and create a look that you love seeing every day.
Research different styles on Pinterest, take note of your friends’ hardwood flooring, and create dream looks in your mind or in a journal. When it comes to choosing hardwood flooring, you have the chance to create a feel in your home that you absolutely adore.
Dream away, and then select a solid or engineered hardwood flooring that you feel suits you and your family best. You will love the look of hardwood flooring in your home, not to mention increase air quality and likely increase the value of your home all at the same time.
