Choosing the color of your hardwood floors will have a significant impact on the interior design of your home. To make sure your design elements complement each other, it’s crucial that you consider this impact carefully. Whether it’s a bright and warm atmosphere that you want, or the drama of contrast, the color of your hardwood floors can help you accomplish it.
But how exactly does your hardwood floor color influence your other interior design choices? And which options do you have at your disposal?
Light Colors
Light colors for hardwood floors are popular thanks to their ability to make spaces appear larger. Also, they’re easier to maintain because they don’t show dust and damage as much as darker floors do.
Designers tend to pair lighter floors with light or neutral-colored elements. For example, off-white, gray, warm gray, and tan tones are excellent wall color options to pair with light hardwood floors.
Dark Colors
Dark-colored hardwood floors are typically more dramatic, often with a high-end, formal look. If you have a big space and you’re looking to make a strong impression with your design, darker colors might be the right choice for you. Usually combined with lighter walls or at least light wainscoting with darker walls, dark hardwood floors provide dramatic contrast.
Options for Different Floor Plans
The color of the floors and walls, as well as the entire interior design color palette, will largely depend on your floor plan.
An open floor plan requires more cohesiveness when it comes to fundamental elements such as the floor color, which should provide a good color foundation to build on, instead of being the focus of the design.
A closed floor plan offers more space for experimentation, but it should still be cohesive color-wise.
Balancing Colors
Balancing colors is an important interior design skill. At a basic level, that means the balancing of light and dark elements. Neither one should be too overpowering unless that is the effect you’re trying to achieve.
Dark hardwood floors in combination with darker walls might be a bit too much, for example. In that case, a light-colored area rug or an accent wall might help break things up and keep the room from appearing too dark.
Likewise, if you want to prevent a space with light hardwood floors from looking too washed out, smaller but darker and more eye-catching interior design details can be your best friend.
Whichever color you choose for your hardwood floors, you need to make sure that it works for you. Achieving color balance and harmony is one of the best practices of interior design, but there are no rules when it comes to your vision.
We’re happy to advise you about color and other hardwood floor options. Our main goal is to ensure you’ll stay in love with your floors for many years to come. We invite you to visit our showroom to discuss your vision for your hardwood floors and interior design.
