How To Choose The Perfect Hardwood Floor Colour For Your Home
Are you installing hardwood flooring in your home? If so, choosing hardwood is only the first step. The next step is selecting the right colour. Colour is everything. If you pick the wrong flooring colour, then you’ll have to hire a flooring contractor to re-stain it or, worse, remove it. This means you must select the best hardwood floor colour for your space so it’s a source of calm rather than frustration.
Which begs the question, how do you pick the right colour? Read on to find out the best way to pick the best hardwood colour for your space.
Picking The Right Colour Hardwood
To discover the right hardwood colour for your space, you’ll need to consider a few things first.
Aesthetics
Firstly, what is your room’s design style? What colour are you painting the walls? What colour are your furnishings? Are you leaning into modern or Scandinavian stylings? Once you get a sense for the room’s overall design, you can start to narrow down the right colour for your floors.
Lighting
How much natural lighting does the space receive? If the space is dark or relies on artificial lighting, then it will require a different flooring colour than a room with a lot of natural light. So get a sense for how bright the space is before deciding on a floor colour. Next, the exposure of your room will also dictate the colour of flooring you choose. Here is an experienced flooring contractor’s quick guide to sun exposure.
| Sun Exposure | Light | Temperature | Best Uses |
| North | Indirect, cool, soft, and consistent | Cool | Using cool tones will make the space cold, so warm hues are preferred |
| South | Direct, warm, full-day “yellow-toned” light | Warm | Use cooler colours with yellow undertones to balance the warmth |
| East | Direct until noon, then indirect for bright and soft | Warm-Cool | Ideally, choose a warm colour to balance the cool afternoon sun |
| West | Indirect until noon, then direct afternoon for a warm, “orangy” light | Cool-Warm | Either a super cool colour scheme or a lightly warm one |
Room Size
How big is your room? Smaller spaces will require a different floor colour than a larger one. For instance, small spaces benefit from lighter flooring, as it makes the space feel larger, while larger rooms do well with darker colours, as they make the space feel smaller. Now, each of the three considerations interacts with the others, as a small, naturally lit room has different needs from a large, artificially lit one. Once you have taken inventory, you’re ready to consider colour.
Colour
When it comes to hardwood floor colour, the main categories are grey, light, mid, and dark. Each colour pairs well with certain room characteristics. Let’s explore the profile of each colour and when to use it.
| Colour | Undertone | Design Scheme | Room Size | Best Sun Exposure | Ambiance |
| Grey | Cool | Modern | Mid-Large | South, West | Sophisticated, Sleek |
| Light | Warm, Neutral | Modern, Scandinavian | Any | Any | Airy, Bright, Tidy |
| Mid | Warm | Farmhouse, Rustic | Any | North, East, West | Inviting, Comfortable, Timeless |
| Dark | Cool | Traditional, Modern | Large | South, West | Intimate, Elegant, Luxurious, Formal |
Grey
Grey continues to be a popular choice with homeowners, especially those who like modern designs. As the chart suggests, cool undertones give a sleek appearance, making it well-suited for mid-to-large rooms with warmer exposures that balance it. Thus, you wouldn’t use grey in a north-facing room as it will make the space feel cold.
Light
Light hardwood is perhaps the most universal of all the colours, as it pairs well with any lighting or room size, by giving the illusion of more space. Although it tends to be popular with Scandinavian design, it is so flexible that it can suit any style! Just remember that a light floor can either blend in with neutral accents or balance bold accents.
Mid
Like light floor, mid-hued hardwood is relatively neutral and pairs well with most room sizes and exposures. This colour is more traditional, so it appeals to homeowners who want a timeless finish. However, be mindful that what makes mid-coloured floors so warm is their yellow, orange, or red undertones. So, when picking a mid-tone colour, consider the room’s sun exposure and your design scheme. For instance, if your room is south-facing, you’ll get a lot of yellow light, so the undertone and your room’s accents need to complement yellow.
Dark
If you’re drawn to the elegance of dark flooring, use this colour in a larger room, as it can make smaller rooms feel even smaller. With their cooler undertones of greys or blues, they are not ideal for northern exposures and do better in brighter spaces. So the best use for dark floors is in large, bright spaces, with a design that complements their air of sophistication. Conversely, dark flooring is a popular choice for home studies, regardless of size or exposure.
Final Thoughts On Picking The Right Hardwood Colour
As you can see, it isn’t just about picking hardwood floors; it’s about narrowing down which hardwood floor colour will complement your room and design! The most universal colour is light because it pairs with just about anything. Yet the other colours are equally attractive when used correctly. For instance, a south-facing warm room needs to be anchored by cooler floors, making it perfect for grey or dark flooring.
If this is groundbreaking information, or you have questions about how best to determine your room’s colour needs, then give us the Brothers Flooring a call today for a free consultation! We’d be happy to offer suggestions on how to colour-match to your room’s specifications!
