You want hardwood floors, but when you look at all the options, you may find yourself more confused than when you walked throughout the door.
Which hardwood is best for your needs? It can be difficult for a homeowner to know exactly which floor will best suit their needs, but it's much easier if you keep a few key traits in mind as you're trying to pick your hardwood flooring.
Color When considering flooring, color is important.
You want a color that compliments the other colors in the room, as well as supports the style you have chosen.
If your room is more traditional and formal, dark wood colors, like cherry or walnut, would be ideal.
Darker shades give a deeper, richer feel to the room.
If you are going for a more casual, comfortable look, lighter colors, such as oak or hickory, can offer a range of light to medium colors to give your room a lighter feel.
Grain Another essential element to consider when choosing hardwood flooring is grain.
Grain describes the formation of the natural fibers in the wood.
Grains can be straight, wavy, spiral or curly, depending on the wood.
If you want a tighter grain pattern, walnut, cherry and red birch are excellent choices.
Oak and ash offer a grain pattern that is more casual, while hickory's grain pattern is more dramatic with its knotty, tight grain.
Plank Width Most flooring comes in planks that range in size, and the overall style of the room will dictate the width of the plank.
Most planks range from two inches to seven inches in size.
But if you are like most homeowners, you are unsure of what size will look best in your house.
How do you choose? Traditionally, most hardwood flooring installed is about two to three inches in width.
For more dramatic or rustic looks, wider planks can be used to expand the look of the room and achieve the overall look.
Eco-Friendly Flooring For those homeowners who are an environmentally conscious, there are plenty of eco-friendly options to choose from.
Reclaimed wood can be repurposed for flooring to offer a recycled, eco-friendly alternative.
Reclaimed wood also provides a more rustic, comfortable look to a room, adding to and complementing the overall design.
Homeowners can also purchase organically grown, pesticide free hardwoods that are harvested as needed, instead of through clear-cutting as most tree farms are.
This allows for a more environmentally responsible alternative for those who believe in protecting the environment.
No matter your style, there is a hardwood option for you.
Before committing to a particular style or width, consider what look you want to achieve in the room.
However, you are not limited by anything other than your own creative style.