If you’re thinking of sprucing up your floor and have opted for the classic wood look you may be wondering which shade to go with. Many people think that once you’ve chosen the material for your floor itself that the war is won, but there’s more to a floor than what you may think! The battle between light and dark variations can help to create completely different looks within room, so which ever one you opt with you need to be sure that it sets the tone you want.

At the moment in the interior world there doesn't seem to be any middle-man, people are either going really dark or really light, it’s all about making a statement. Lets explore further..

Dark Floors

When it comes to being bold and making a statement, dark floors are the way to go about it. It’s well known that they add a huge sense of sophistication and richness to a room, but they can also help to create an element of fun too. Dark wood flooring pairs surprisingly well with brash colours and makes the floor appear to ‘pop’, however that being said, darker floors can also bring your home in touch with nature and emulate earthy undertones that balance well alongside neutral colours too. If you are someone who loves to contrast features in a room then dark flooring could definitely work in your favour.

There are a couple of finishes available, the most common one at the moment being Matte. Aside from being an incredibly popular trend Matte finished floors are also more practical than most, they hide scratches and other imperfections much better than glossy floors and would be better suited to a home with children and pets Glossy finishes, although great to look at are probably the most inconvenient as they require a lot more cleaning than matte and show scratches easier too, although they do offer a certain “je-ne-sais-quoi”.

Light Floors

'Light wood’ may make you think that the floor is just a lighter tone than normal but what it actually means is things like pale blonde, white and grey floorboards… more of the Scandinavian and industrial look! Light floors are great for acting as a subtle back drop to accent your furnishings and interiors as well as offering a fresh and crisp feel to the room that allows it to open up and appear brighter and much more spacious. When pairing light flooring with furnishings it’s really easy to create a modern and contemporary look, especially if grey is involved.

On the practical side of things light wood floors have a bit of an advantage over their darker counterparts, they show less dirt and dust and are generally a bit easier to clean and maintain on a whole. If your floor does get scratched the good thing is that the scratch itself won't show up as much on light floors as it would on a dark one. Technically there isn't a rule on how light you should go when it comes to light flooring, whites are very much ‘in’ at the moment so don’t be scared to go as light as you see fit!

Comparing The Floors

When it comes to the price difference between the two it all really depends on the type of wood that the flooring is actually made for. The finish of the wood also has an effect on the price too; if you opt for an unfinished floor (i.e one that you will be finishing and staining yourself). These will generally be cheaper than a floor that has already been finished by the manufacturer themselves. Of course it’s completely up to you which finish you go for but many people opt for unfinished purely because they have the freedom to do with the floor as they wish. In conclusion, both light and dark floors are an absolute must have at the moment and both work in completely different settings so it’s entirely down to you and your personal style as to which one you pick!

Have Your Say

Do you prefer light or dark wood? Share your experience with us down below!

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