Hardwood Design, Color, Sheen, Finish, Species, Size, and Installation
Choosing new hardwood flooring is one of the most important decisions a homeowner can make. It influences the appearance, durability, maintenance, and long term value of your home. With so many options available, understanding the key factors will help you make a confident, informed decision. This guide walks through everything from species and color to finish, plank size, and installation, so you know exactly what to consider before you buy.
1. Choosing the Right Wood Species
Wood species determines both the durability and the appearance of your flooring.
Oak
is the most popular choice, prized for its balance of durability and gorgeous grain.
Maple
offers a smoother, more subtle grain pattern.
Hickory
provides a more rustic, varied appearance.
Exotic Wood Flooring
Exotic hardwood flooring such as Brazilian Cherry, Tigerwood, Sapele Mahogany, Kempas, Australian Cypress, and Ipe, bring unique, rich colors and grain patterns, but the prices are higher than domestic hardwood species since they are imported from overseas.
Domestic species like Oak, Maple, Beech, Cherry, Walnut, Hickory, and Pecan are grown in North America and are a more environmentally friendly, budget friendly choice. The hardness of your chosen species is crucial. Harder species resist dents and wear more effectively in high traffic areas, which matters most for homes with kids, pets, or heavy foot traffic.
2. Hardwood Flooring Color
Color sets the tone for your entire space, so it requires some thought to make sure that it complements the existing decor, paint, and furniture. If you have fallen in love with a color that clashes with your current interior, redecorating around it is always an option.
Light Stain
A natural, light stain is the classic choice and has been the most popular option for as long as hardwood flooring has existed. It is lower maintenance than dark stain, showcases the wood’s natural grain, and creates an open, airy feel. When choosing a light stain, pay attention to how much yellow or amber tint comes through; most homeowners today prefer a cooler tone with little to no amber. Light, natural stains pair especially well with flat, matte, or satin finishes.
Medium Stain
Medium tones are often the most practical choice because they hide dirt and minor scratches better than very light or very dark floors.
Dark Stain
Dark tones add depth and contrast to a space. Dark Walnut and Ebony are the most popular dark stains, and are often blended together for custom colors. Dark floors are gorgeous, but higher maintenance. Dust and debris are much more visible than on lighter finishes, so they require regular sweeps. Mixing in a bit of gray can cool the tone down and ease the maintenance burden.
Gray Stain
Gray has grown steadily in popularity because it is easy to coordinate with a wide range of paint and furniture colors. Many homeowners customize their gray by blending in a little brown for a greige stain. Or blend gray with a touch of ebony or dark walnut for a deeper, moodier gray.
Please note that gray stain is difficult to apply when refinishing existing hardwood, and that FM Pro Remodeling only installs and replaces hardwood floors. We do not provide refinishing services.
3. Wood Floor Finish and Sheen
Matte Sheen
Sheen affects the look of your floor and the amount of effort required to keep it looking clean. Matte, satin, and flat finishes are the most popular choices today. They keep the floor’s appearance closer to natural, unfinished wood. These flattened sheens reduce the visibility of wear, dirt, and scuffs, and are lower maintenance overall.
Gloss Sheen
High gloss finishes offer a polished, reflective look, but show dirt, scuffs, and scratches far more prominently and require much more maintenance.
Polyurethane Finish
Polyurethane is a durable, environmentally conscious option that protects the wood against water and stains.
Oil Finish
Once upon a time, all finishes were oil. Typically, tung oil, linseed oil, or a mix of the two are used to finish floors. However, sunflower, hemp, and safflower oils have grown more popular in recent years as homeowners return to traditional methods. Oil is free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oil penetrates into the wood rather than sitting on top of it, and produces a flatter sheen than polyurethane.
A big plus for oil is that homeowners can easily touch up scratches and scuffs themselves by applying a couple coats of oil to the affected area. However, the trade off is cost and maintenance. Oil finishes are more expensive up front, they need periodic reapplication, and can discolor in high traffic areas if they are not properly maintained. Lastly, oil does not protect against water and stains as well as polyurethane, so spills and pet accidents can soak into the wood, and the floor will need specific natural cleaning products.
On Site Finish
Wood that has been finished on site typically has a cleaner, more consistent, and smoother appearance, and it is easier to clean. Because the stain and finish are applied after installation, you can customize the exact look and color in the actual lighting of the room, mixing and matching stains and sheens to your preference. The trade off is cost; finishing on site is more labor intensive and expensive.
Please note that FM Pro Remodeling does not provide on site finishing services.
Prefinished
Prefinished hardwood is finished at the factory before installation, and is the most cost effective choice for solid hardwood. The tradeoff is that it has small bevels along the edges where dust and debris may collect.
4. Wood Plank Size and Layout
Plank dimensions affect the look and the function of your floor.
Wide Planks
Wide planks, typically from 3 to 8 inches wide, create a modern, spacious feel and work especially well in larger, open rooms.
Narrow Slats
Narrow slats or fingers of wood, from 1.5 to 2.5 inches, give a more traditional, classic look. Longer boards reduce the amount of seams, which creates a cleaner overall appearance. Consider your room size when choosing dimensions; larger planks tend to look best in open, larger spaces.
Parquet Floor
If you are looking to install a parquet floor, shorter fingers will be necessary.
Surface Texture
Beyond size, consider surface texture. Hand scraped floors have a distressed, salvaged look that fits rustic designs. Wire brushed floors achieve a similar “lived in” texture, but in a more subtle way.
5. Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Wood
This is one of the most important decisions you will make, and it comes down to durability, moisture resistance, and long term goals.
Solid Hardwood Pros
- Milled from a single piece of wood.
- Offers the most value and durability
- Can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its life
- Provides the best value and longest lifespan
Cons
Solid wood is sensitive to moisture; it can swell and warp in humid or wet conditions, so it is not recommended for bathrooms, basements, or any other space prone to moisture.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered hardwood, not to be confused with laminate, features a real hardwood veneer layer over a stable core. This construction makes it more resistant to moisture and temperature swings than solid hardwood, which makes it a good fit for basements or other areas with fluctuating humidity. Engineered hardwood can still be refinished, typically one to three times, but this depends on the thickness of the veneer layer.
Solid hardwood offers the most refinishing flexibility over its lifetime, while engineered hardwood’s refinishing potential is limited by how thick its top veneer layer is.
Please note that FM Pro Remodeling does not provide hardwood refinishing services, but we are happy to help with installation and replacement.
6. How Moisture and Humidity Affects Wood Floors
Wood naturally expands and contracts with changes in humidity, and in regions with seasonal shifts, this expansion and contractions affects the flooring over time. In order to prevent issues after installation, the wood must acclimate to the home’s temperature and humidity level for 3-7 days before installation. This is essential to prevent gaps and buckles. Underlayment between the subfloor and the flooring helps to control moisture and prevent squeaks.
In addition, maintaining stable indoor humidity helps to prevent gaps, warps, and buckles in the future. Homeowners manage indoor humidity with humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and HVAC.
Solid hardwood should never be installed in moist areas like bathrooms or basements. Many homeowners choose moisture resistant wood look tile planks for these spaces instead, or choose engineered hardwood if they absolutely must have real wood underfoot.
9. Wood Floor Maintenance and Care
Routine maintenance preserves the appearance and the lifespan of your wood floor.
- Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove dirt and debris to prevent scratches and scuffs.
- Use a damp mop or cloth for additional cleaning. Mild detergents that are designed for hardwood may be used, but a damp mop works just as well, and is safer.
- Avoid excess moisture at all times.
- Clean up spills immediately. If they are allowed to soak into the wood, it will need to be replaced.
Consistent maintenance, and protecting your hardwood from moisture, greatly extends the life of your floor.
10. Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Hardwood is one of the most sustainable flooring materials available. Oak, maple, and hickory are all sourced right here in the United States. This prevents the carbon emissions of shipping materials across the world. US Grown hardwood is sustainable because it requires minimal emissions from shipping and manufacturing, and it lasts a lifetime as long as it is properly cared for and maintained. The less frequently you replace your flooring, the smaller its environmental impact.
Some are concerned that hardwood trees take decades to grow. Totally understandable. If you like the look of hardwood but want a faster growing, more sustainable material, cork and bamboo flooring are worth considering. Keep in mind these options are not as durable as solid hardwood and need to be replaced sooner, which can offset their sustainability over time.
Engineered wood flooring also provides sustainability by maximizing the use of slow growing hardwoods as thin veneers instead of solid planks. Homeowners get the look and feel of real hardwood, they can still refinish the flooring, it’s more sustainable, and comes with a lower price tag.
11. Design Integration
Hardwood flooring must complement the rest of the home. Think about how the floor transitions between rooms and interacts with existing materials such as cabinetry, furniture, trim, and staircases. Keep the color and style consistent through the home to create a cohesive look. Planning these details ahead of time is what separates a good result from a truly polished, professional one. This is why we work closely with each customer to help them make the best decisions on their hardwood flooring design.
12. Budget, ROI, and Long Term Value
Cost depends on wood species, finish, and installation complexity. It is tempting to focus purely on upfront price, but wood floors provide massive long term value. Higher quality materials paired with professional installation translates to a longer lifespan and fewer future repairs. High quality wood floors are a much better investment over time, and provide a better ROI when it’s time to sell. The value more than justifies the cost.
The Takeaway
Selecting the right hardwood flooring involves far more than picking a color you like. It requires careful consideration of species, color, finish, plank size, durability, moisture exposure, maintenance, and how it all fits into your home’s design. By working through each of these factors, you can choose flooring that fits your lifestyle and adds durable, long lasting value to your home.
Call us at (812) 944-6383 with any questions, or to schedule a free estimate.
