Light Walls Or Dark Walls With Hardwood Floors That Is The Question
I love contrast. Dark hardwood floors and lighter walls offer a beautiful contrast. I’m not saying your walls need to be white, but you don’t want them to be as dark as your floors .
If you prefer darker colors, I highly suggest using a crisp white trim color to add contrast and a differentiating color between the walls and wood floors.
Textured Features In A Welcoming Atmosphere
This kitchen features a long black bench and table for dining purposes. The different shades created between the deep natural hardwood and the wall and cabinets give a subtle hint of elegance. The dark floor works in harmony with the dark brown bench and table. The choice of deep brown color for the floor is probably to maintain the warm and airy atmosphere of this kitchen
Types Of Hardwood Flooring
Solid Wood Flooring
As its name implies, solid wood flooring is made from solid wood from top to bottom. However, there are various degrees of thickness available, which typically range from 3/4 of an inch to 5/16 of an inch.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring is also made from genuine wood, but is manufactured with wood composite or multiple wood veneers. The veneers may be the same type of wood as the floor or may be made from another kind of wood. The primary feature of engineered wood is its grain, which runs in various directions. This adds to the floors stability, as the various grain directions help the floor resist the expansion and contraction that occurs when temperatures change.
Unfinished Wood Flooring
All wood floors must be properly finished to ensure longevity. If you choose an unfinished wood floor, the contractor typically stains the wood and then applies the finish. Many finish options are available, making it easy to find the perfect shade.
Factory Finished
Factory finished wood floors are different from those mentioned above, as the manufacturer applies the finish, rather than the on-site contractor. Obviously, such floors require less installation time, as they have already been sanded and finished.
If you prefer a dark hardwood, the following are the best selections:
- Walnut
- Mahogany
- Wenge
However, keep in mind that you can use stain to change the color of any wood following the floors installation.
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Moroccan Rugs In Greige
Image source: Tom Stringer Design Partners
Moroccan rugs are so popular in interior design because they fit any concept or idea, but in the case of dark flooring, they were just cut for the purpose. To make them stand out more, paint walls with warm greige, and buy neutral furniture pieces. Decorating with dark floors has never been easier than when you use rugs for dark floors.
What Color Rug Should I Use For Dark Wood Floors
Dark wooden floors can give a space a modern look with its eye-catching color. However, the darkness can sometimes swallow up a room if the color is very dark. The darkness can make or break a room design and make it appear too dull or small. This coloring is an issue that many homeowners face when choosing a dark wood color. However, there are things you can do to combat it, such as placing an area rug to define an area.
So, what color rugs can go atop dark wooden floors? There are many color options when picking out a rug to go on top of dark wood. A light color rug is the best option with a dark wood floor when you want a modern look. Bright color rugs that match the walls or accessories in the room also look good on dark wood. If you want to use a dark-colored rug, then offset them with lightly colored walls for contrast.
The type of rug can also dictate the color that you choose. An area rug with light, muddled colors would be a great complement to the dark wood. Whereas, a small rug with bright colors that matches the colorful bookcase in the room would also work well. You could also choose any of these options for rugs:
- Moroccan rug
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Add Lights To Dark Corners And Shadows
The soft lighting of a lamp in the corner of a room can do wonders for the aesthetic appeal of an area, especially a wood floor! It does not need to be a massive spotlight as even a small table lamp can do the trick, however, do make sure that it is placed somewhere prominent enough to still create the right effect. Light will make any room look bigger than it is and being able to shine a light on your floor is a perfect way to uplift the design of your home.
What About Gray Flooring
Wait a minute! Is gray flooring dark or light? And what about the mix of beige and gray called greige?
Gray flooring is now available in a stunning array of shades. These range from the lightest gray of Whitman Oak to the dark gray shades of Katella Ash. Gray floors literally strike a happy medium between light floors and dark floors. They hide dust as well as minimizing the appearance of scuffs and scratches. If you select a very light gray, it will have the properties of light-colored flooring. Go with a really dark gray, and it has the properties of dark flooring. Use a medium, neutral gray and get the best of both worlds!
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Final Thoughts On Dark Hardwood Floors
Dark hardwood floors are beautiful and they really give an upscale look to your home. Theres a reason they are the most popular these days. They are stunning and easy to decorate with. Choose the one you love best.
What are your thoughts on dark hardwoods? Leave me your thoughts and questions below in the comments.
Your Guide To Light Vs Dark Hardwood Flooring
Trying to pick the perfect hardwood flooring? Even if youve decided on the easy-care, long-lasting life, and eco-friendliness of bamboo hardwood flooring, you still need to pick a color and surface style. When bamboo flooring first arrived on the scene in the US in the 1990s, the only color the flooring was being sold in was its natural hue a blonde wood color.
Bamboo flooring today offers as many colors and surface styles as any other form of hardwood flooring. With so many options, it can be hard to choose. Use this guide to understand the different effects of light versus dark hardwood flooring to help you through the decision-making process.
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Dark Brown And White For A Luxurious Statement
This is a kitchen in a luxury home with a white granite island and a pure white wooden base. The two chairs at the base of the island create a soft accent that gives the kitchen a solid expression. The color of the chair matches that of the dark kitchen floor backsplash to complete the luxurious statement of the kitchen. There are other items like the hanger above the island and the colorful free form plate hanger that matches the shade of the floor for a nice impression.
Other Colors Like Blues And Greens
While gray and greige paint colors continue to be the most popular, blue is a close second, especially in bedrooms and bathrooms. I love blue-gray paint colors, because they are fresh and modern, without being “childish” or “babyish”.
Similarly, green-gray paint colors are really fresh and can add a wonderful sense of warmth to your room. Darker, more dramatic green paint colors have been growing in popularity recently and can really look quite stunning with paired with medium to dark toned wood floors.
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Dark Brown And White As A Contrast
The deep wooden brown floor, cabinets and table creates dynamic contrast with the kitchen island. A good shade keeps the kitchen lively, and the sharp appearance promotes a nice ambiance. The wood used on the door and table and chair match the dark floor and are carefully selected and made to share only a section of the kitchen except for the floor that extends to all the edges of the kitchen.
Choosing Between Dark Hardwood And Light Hardwood Floors
Once youve made the choice to install a hardwood floor into your home, its time to select between dark wood flooring and a light-colored hardwood floor. What are the pros and cons of a dark floor?
Some people say that dark wood floors make your room look smaller. However, this is only true if you use dark furnishings or wall colors in combination with your dark wood flooring. If you use light furnishings or wall colors, your room will look larger and the colors will contrast to give a sense of space.
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A Perfect Blend Of Dark Wood
This is a modern, bright, clean kitchen interior with stainless steel appliances in a luxury home. Its hard to split the color sharing between the chairs and the dark wood floor here. They blend perfectly. Create an elegant kitchen with this color scheme and add a few bright drop lights to magnify the hue of the atmosphere.
Dark Wood With Lighter Finishes
There are two choices you should make when applying a dark wood floor, complement it or contrast it. In this living room design, the designer chooses to contrast it. Contrasting will be the theme all over the room.
Take a look at the basic combination of dark and bright. All of the floors are in dark shades. Actually, the flooring is the only dark shade in this living room. This living room proves that a room with dark wood floor can be bright too.
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Contrast With Pale And Interesting
If you are afraid your dark flooring is too heavy and crave a light, bright space, consider combining furniture in medium wood stain like our Original Rustic range above with pale colours and soft pastel accents. Choose a light coloured rug and paint in a soft greige and contrast with soft textural accents in your cushions and accessories.
Invest In A Good Quality Hardwood Vacuum
Most people dont realize that you need a DIFFERENT vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors than for carpets. They are designed differently and many vacuums for carpet can actually scratch hardwoods. This is the one I recommend to my customers. Check out this article for more info on vacuums for hardwood floors.
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What Furniture Goes With Dark Wood Floors
See what furniture goes with dark wood floors including the best color ideas and comparison tips when choosing between lighter or darker furniture for your floor.In terms of selecting furniture for your house, there are several factors to take into account. One of the most crucial considerations is color, as well as how it will work with your floors. If you have dark wood flooring or are thinking about getting them installed, youll want to know what colors of furniture go ideally with them.
Dark wood flooring can add richness and polish to a room while still being quite elegant and classy. When such flooring is combined with the incorrect types of furniture and accents, though, the area may feel gloomy and oppressive.
Continue reading this post if youve been pondering what to do with your dark floors to bring out their greatest qualities.
Should Furniture Be Darker Or Lighter Than Floor
It will mostly depend on the color of your floor. For instance, if you have dark wood floors, it is much better to pick furniture with a lighter color to provide much better contrast.
If you have light-colored floors, it would be wiser to pick dark-colored furniture. However, this is not always the case as it will also depend on the overall decor of your interior space.
Contrasting is one of the most significant ideas for coordinating wood floors with furniture since it is one of the main rules of any design or color scheme. Darker wood floors can truly help lighter wood furniture stand out and look fantastic.
Light wood flooring, on the other hand, is the ideal complement to darker furniture. Interior spaces may become boring without contrast, and smaller objects can quickly become lost in the area.
Darker flooring can absorb the color and appearance of smaller decorations and furniture. A general rule of thumb is that lighter floors work well with more subtle pieces of furniture, while darker floors go well with heavier objects. This will help you maintain consistency in the space so that everything has a chance to flourish.
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Tricks And Best Practices
Image source: Steele Consulting Group
Living rooms with dark wood floors need lighter walls.
If you desire a light and inviting living room with a stylish dark floor, you must consider contrasting the bottom with each and every element in that room.
The ceiling, walls, and furniture must remain lighter so that the dark areas will only complement the atmosphere rather than take over. We recommend a series of neutral tones, including beige, white, and gray, and add a bright flare. Inhabitants, therefore, feel at ease.
A must remember tip for darker and black floors is to keep them in perfect condition, which requires regular maintenance and frequent polishing. If you want to keep their state impeccable, try placing few rugs over them, so that you can prevent filth and dust from damaging them permanently.
+ Decorating With Dark Wood Floors
The contrast will always provide a good amount of depth and interest. This widely varying dark wood floor is laid in a herringbone pattern which adds a bit of contemporary flair to this simply decorated living room.
White And Grey With The Dark Wood Floor Oooo Mansion Master Bedroom Bing Images Again I Would Do White Walls Instea Gray Master Bedroom Home Bedroom Home
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Combine Dark With Light
Many rugs have multiple colors mixed into the design. Often, light can be combined with dark and provide a modern looking rug. You can use this to your advantage and place the mixed color rug atop your dark wood. It will tie in the light colors of the walls or furniture, and the dark will match the floors. It will combine the different areas of the room to bring it all together.
Combine White With Bright Colors
Dont feel like you have only to use white rugs to contrast against your dark floors. Many rugs can have white mixed in with bright colors like green or yellow. Cater your furniture or decor with the rug to bring cohesion into the spaces. This opportunity will open you up to get creative in choosing your rug color while decorating your room.
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Cool Whites For Dark Hardwood Floors
Whites can also work well with dark floors, especially very dark floors. They can give a room a modern look, when they are done right. But, its critical that you get the right whiteyou want as white as possible. I know that sounds obvious, but if you look at the white paints, youll see there are 80 bazillion shades of white.
Avoid whites with yellow or pink undertones as they are dated. And, they are more challenging to decorate with. White white is much betteror if you need a light undertone, go for gray.
My suggestions for true neutral whites would be:
- Benjamin Moore: White Dove or Simply White
- Sherwin Williams: Alabaster or Pure White .
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Popular Gray And Greige Paint Colors For Dark Wood Floors
Taking floors out of the equation, choosing a gray paint color can be tricky because of the myriad of possible undertones. For this reason, I almost always suggest a greige paint color.
These colors are grays mixed with beige, but they mostly err on the gray side with just enough warmth that they will work almost anywhere. My two personal favorites are Sherwin Williams Repose Gray and Sherwin William Agreeable Gray, but Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter has been a popular choice in the past, too.
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Darker Grays Blues And Navy For Accent Walls
I caution customers about going too dark on their walls if they have dark floors, but sometimes, darker colors can create drama when they are selectively used, especially for an accent wall. These colors can be striking if they are used on one wall in a living room or a Master Bedroom. Sometimes, they can look great in a dining room, especially if you have white wainscoting or a chair rail where white paint would go on the bottom and then the dramatic pop color on the upper two thirds of the room.
And, sometimes it really works if you choose a darker color or darker accent wall in the bedroom as these colors tend to help people relax and fall asleep better (and yes, there have been some studies that show that people who have blues, grays and darker walls in their bedroom get more sleep. In general, be sure to choose a color for your bedroom that you loveand that makes your bedroom feel like a sanctuarysomewhere you love coming home to after a hard day at workand that you want to retire into at the end of the day.
Here are some great darker accent colors.
