Pros and Cons of Dark Versus Light Hardwood Floors

When it comes to hardwood floors, there is no one-size-fits-all. Some homeowners simply prefer light woods, and some prefer dark woods. No hardwood floor is perfect and there are trade-offs to each. Only you can decide which factors are most important to you and your family.

Flowers Flooring has identified key factors to consider when choosing the color of your hardwood floors:

 

• What are your preferences?
• What is the style of your home?
• What is the style of your décor?
• Do you have a lot of foot traffic in your home?
• Do you have pets?
• How often do you clean your floors?
• How particular are you when it comes to dirt showing on your floor?
• What are the sizes of the rooms?
• How much natural light do the rooms get?
• What colors are the walls?
• What goes best with your furniture?

 

While dark wood floors are modern and stylish, they show more dirt and are more ideal for neat freaks who don’t mind leaving their shoes at the door. Light hardwood floors show less dirt, so if you have pets or children you may want to consider light hardwood floors to hide dust and dirt better.

As your floor ages, it will likely pick up a scratch or two. Dark hardwood floors tend to expose scratches more than light colored floors. This is due to the fact that more of the wood’s contract will be revealed when scratched.

 

Size really does matter. If you are installing hardwood floors in a small room, you are most likely looking for tools to help the room appear bigger. A general rule of thumb is that light colored hardwood floors make rooms appear more open than dark colored floors.

 

If you have a room with large windows or skylights you may want to consider dark hardwood floors, as they absorb more sunlight rather than repel it and they are not as prone to fading as lighter hardwood floors. Flowers Flooring also recommends dark colored hardwood if you have light colored furniture and rugs.

At the end of the day the color of your hardwoods is your choice. The most important thing is that you are happy with your choice and satisfied with your purchase. Choose the style that you like most since you will be walking on and looking at the flooring for years to come.

 

If you live in the Charlotte, NC area and are interested in installing a new hardwood floor, or sanding and refinishing an existing hardwood floor, be sure to contact Flowers Flooring for a free estimate. We have years of experience helping people in our area get the floors of their dreams. Flowers Flooring is a flooring sales and installation provider located in Cornelius, NC. We service the entire Charlotte metro area and handle every flooring type.