How To Choose Stain For Your Hardwood Floors
Picking The Perfect Stain For Your Hardwood Floors
When my husband and I were planning our new home, we decided that hardwood floors would be the way to go. We both agreed that a light colored stain would be the best choice, especially since we have a dog who sheds a lot. I've never had any experience with dark stain, but I've heard that it can make dust, hair, and crumbs stand out like crazy!
When it finally came time to choose a stain color, I was feeling really anxious. We had the floor team lay down three different colors on the raw wood so we could make a decision. Despite my concerns about dust and debris, we both fell in love with the look of Jacobean for our stairs, which is a dark stain.
Hardwood floors are a beautiful addition to any home, and they can last for decades with proper care. One of the most important decisions you'll make when installing hardwood floors is choosing the right stain color. The stain color will not only affect the overall appearance of your floors but also the ambiance of your home. Here are some tips on how to choose a stain color for your hardwood floors.
1) Consider your home's decor
The first thing you should consider when choosing a stain color is your home's overall decor. If you have a modern or contemporary style, you may want to consider a darker stain color that complements your furniture and accessories. If your home has a more traditional or classic style, a lighter stain color may be a better choice.
2) Look at samples in natural light
When choosing a stain color, it's essential to look at samples in natural light. Natural light can bring out different undertones in the wood, making the color appear different than it does in artificial light. Take the samples home and place them in different areas of your home to see how they look in different lighting conditions.
3) Consider the wood species
Different wood species have different natural tones that can affect how the stain color looks on the wood. For example, cherry and mahogany have warm, reddish undertones, while maple and oak have cooler, yellow undertones. Consider the natural tone of your wood species when choosing a stain color to ensure the final result is what you envisioned.
4) Decide on the level of sheen
The level of sheen you choose can also affect how the stain color appears. A high-gloss finish will reflect more light and make the color look brighter, while a matte finish will absorb more light and make the color look darker. Decide on the level of sheen you prefer before choosing a stain color.
5) Test the stain color on a small area
Before staining your entire floor, it's a good idea to test the color on a small area first. This will allow you to see how the color looks on your specific wood species and ensure it's the right choice for your home.
Choosing a stain color for your hardwood floors is an important decision that requires careful consideration. By considering your home's decor, looking at samples in natural light, considering the wood species, deciding on the level of sheen, and testing the color on a small area, you can choose a stain color that will enhance the beauty of your home for years to come.
Our floors are made of solid red oak strip flooring, in 4 inch wide planks. Hardwood floors can be made from walnut, hickory, bamboo, white oak, pine, Brazilian cherry, to name a few. Each type of wood will take a stain differently. When choosing a stain, you will want the colors that you are thinking of put directly on the wood before you make your decision.
In all honesty, I love them all! I loved the gray. It was modern and fresh. The jacobean was fabulous. It was rich and bold looking. We had stained our stairs and doors with jacobean. Everyone, and I mean everyone, told us not to do jacobean on our floors because they said it would show all our family debris 10 fold. I definitely can agree with this - our stairs show every single hair!
The simply white barely showed up - you cannot see it in the photo because it is so white.
The light brown colored stain is called weathered oak. This is ultimately the color that we chose. We loved this color, and we knew it would be best for our family.
Months later, I love our hardwood floors. Especially in natural light. I will always think that darker floors look the best, but they are not practical for families like ours. We custom designed our home for us, and our floors were not any exception.