Tips for Styling Dark Hardwood Floors

Considering dark hardwood floors for your next home project? We've got you covered. The natural beauty of dark hardwood flooring makes it a timeless addition to any home. However, you don't have to have a traditional décor style to choose this flooring. Whether you want to design a cozy, rustic family room or create an elegant foyer or dining room, this versatile flooring can help you achieve your desired aesthetic. With so many finishes available at LL Flooring, you're sure to find dark hardwood flooring you'll love. Ready to get started? Check out our tips on styling dark hardwood floors.

Dark Hardwood Floors: the Basics

Dark solid hardwood and engineered wood flooring includes a broad collection of finishes and textures—let's explore these before we dive into the styling specifics. Here are a few factors to consider when envisioning your updated space and selecting your flooring.

• Color variation: You can find dark hardwood floors with variations in color or style and others featuring less tonal variation throughout. All real wood flooring has some amount of tonal variation. Flooring with natural variations tends to feel more casual than consistently hued boards.
• Finish: Your dark hardwood flooring's sheen can impact its overall look. Matte boards hide scratches, scuffs, and dirt more easily as they have less shine, making them ideal for high-traffic spaces.
• Texture: Wire-brushed boards use a texturing technique that pulls the soft grain out of the wood. The result is a more forgiving texture that can mask dents and scratches, making this flooring ideal for busy spaces.
• Width: The wider the boards, the more current the look. If you want an updated take on hardwood floors, choose boards wider than 5 inches. Looking for more traditional flooring? Opt for a more narrow board.
• Pattern: While most dark hardwood flooring options can feel more traditional, you can also find patterned floors that create modern chevron or herringbone patterns on your floors.

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Finding Your Desired Aesthetic With Dark Hardwood Floors

Hardwood flooring can bring life, beauty, and warmth into any room. If you are wondering if dark hardwood floors are still in style, the answer is a resounding yes. These floors can help showcase a room's overall feel by selecting the appropriate variety of dark hardwood flooring.

Learning how to style dark hardwood floors just takes a little know-how. Medium-gloss, smooth boards can help to create an elegant living space. Add this flooring to a dramatic foyer, entryway, or dining room to design a formal space ready for entertaining. Or, bring added character to the floors with textured or distressed boards. These work well in casual or rustic spaces. You can craft a cozy and welcoming living space reminiscent of a charming farmhouse.

For a more casual vibe, opt for distressed or textured floors that showcase natural wood grain, lending a lived-in look to your room. Dark hardwood floors with a hint of sheen and minimal texture can add a clean, crisp look to modern spaces. Paired with simple décor and furniture featuring clean lines, this flooring can help you design the contemporary space of your dreams.

For those who appreciate traditional design, go with dark hardwood floors with a red undertone to add a timeless touch to your space. This style aligns well with traditional décor elements, such as richly hued, patterned fabrics and upholsteries. As you can see, your dark hardwood flooring can support your desired aesthetic, whether you're designing a space that's casual, formal, or somewhere in between. No matter your design preferences, this flooring can make your room feel warm and welcoming for family and friends.

Styling Dark Hardwood Floors: Rooms to Consider

Dark hardwood floors work well in many spaces. Your most formal areas, such as entryways and dining rooms, work well with this type of flooring. In fact, you can incorporate it into any main-level room, including the home office, living room, and kitchen. If you want to bring hardwood flooring into your kitchen, consider other wood elements, such as your cabinets, to choose a complementary flooring finish. Likewise, dark hardwood floors can add warmth to a bedroom, and you can add a plush rug to your floors for added comfort underfoot.

Dark Hardwood Flooring Tones

Different dark hardwood flooring colors are available, including:

• Brown: Dark brown hardwood floors might first come to mind when considering dark flooring. Espresso, walnut, and mocha finishes are included in this versatile category.
• Red: Some dark wood finishes have hints of red, which lends a traditional touch to your floors.

Shop for Dark Wood Flooring for Your Home

Now that you know how to style dark hardwood floors, you're ready to shop. Looking for acacia, oak, or hickory dark hardwood flooring? LL Flooring has just what you're looking for. To get started, check out our Picture It! Floor Visualizer to see how darker shades of hardwood would look in your space.