Dark Hardwood Floors Decorating Ideas

A dark hardwood floor will always give an element of quality to your home.

It, therefore, no surprise that it is a very popular interior solution nowadays, or rather a timeless and ever-trendy one which conveys a bold message.

The most beautiful contrasts are easily achieved with dark wood flooring ideas, which are a smart option for every room, including your kitchen and hallway.

The ideal scenario is to design a dark wood floor living room, where both your friends and your family would enjoy a classy and welcoming setting. Living rooms with dark wood floors, however, are not just a decorative addition, but also a durable choice that can withstand high traffic and damage.

At the same time, a dark wood floor creates contrast with a variety of other colors and design elements and personalizes your living room.

Image source: Susan Manrao Design

Let's look into some interesting details about dark wood floors

Not everything about dark colors is so easy though, as you're risking making smaller spaces 'heavier' than necessary. A chic and sophisticated room will still be possible if you overcome this risk with the appropriate balancing of colors and light.

Wall colors for dark wood floors, therefore, need to create an airy feeling.  Paint colors for dark wood floors, therefore, should be light or neutral in order to add contrast.

We recommend you to be brave, and consider all those amazing dark hardwood floor decorating ideas. It may be an intimidating process at first, but it will eventually become the easiest décor solution and design concept for setting an inviting mood and tone in your living room.

The benefits of installing light or dark hardwood floors

You may be interested in installing a hardwood floor.  Further, you may be interested in choosing between dark wood floors and light-colored hardwood floors.  Let's begin by exploring the benefits of hardwood flooring in a home.  From here we can expand into exploring the benefits of installing a light or dark floor.  We can also look at how to maintain quality wooden floors and how to decorate with dark wood.

• Durability: hardwood floors are extremely long-lasting and require little maintenance. When you install a wooden floor, it will last a long time as long as you take care of it.  Unlike carpets, it won't need to be replaced when it starts to look worn.  Instead, you can have it sanded with a good floor sander like these.  If anything, a hardwood floor improves as it ages, gaining patina (and often value as well).
• Added value: a hardwood floor will add value to your home.  It adds a feeling of quality and is associated with wealth.  In times gone by, hardwood floors were only for the rich.  However, as production has become more cost-effective, hardwood flooring has become more accessible. It is now available to people with a range of different budgets.
• Space and style: One of the reasons why you should have wood floors is because it gives the room a classy look. You could make use of various accessories to create that look you want. Wooden floors are reflexive and offer elegant lines or patterns. This makes rooms with wooden floors appear bigger.  In addition to feeling spacious, a room with a hardwood floor will give a classic appearance.  Unlike carpet or tiling trends, hardwood is classic in appearance and will never go out of style.  Wood is warm and atmospheric and maintains a constant appeal.
• Realistic: When you have a room that looks like it is made of solid wood or dark oak timber floorboards, then you are in fact getting the look of real wood. This is the most important characteristic when choosing dark woods over bright ones. The darker the floor, the more realistic it will look, which is true for both indoor and outdoor flooring.
• Easy To Maintain: If you have kids and pets, having dark wood floors is definitely the way to go. Children and pets usually cause floors to become dirty when they play around. Thankfully, dark wood floors help cover up messy dark stains.
• Health benefits: Hardwood flooring does not attract dust mites, allergens, or contain toxic substances.  It doesn't need harsh chemicals for cleaning purposes.  As a result, it adds to air quality and helps to maintain a healthy home.  People who suffer from allergies or often benefit from living in homes with hardwood floors.

Choosing between dark hardwood and light hardwood floors

Once you've made the choice to install a hardwood floor into your home, it's time to select between dark wood flooring and a light-colored hardwood floor. What are the pros and cons of a dark floor?

• Modern elegance: Although all wooden flooring gives a timeless appearance, dark flooring is the more modern choice.  In decades gone by, people would more frequently choose light color hardwood floors for their homes. Now, however, dark hardwoods are the first option.
• No fading: Dark hardwood flooring is light absorbent.  Wood can be photosensitive, which can lead to color changes.  With light hardwood floors, this change can be noticeable and any darkening or lightening may be very visible.  However, dark hardwoods absorb light and are less prone to color changes.  This makes them a great choice as you'll need to retouch your floors less often.
• Visible wood grain: A dark floor stain will reveal the grain of your wood more readily than a light wooden floor.  This makes an attractive feature as the striking wood pattern stands out.  Dark wood floors such as ebony wood floors or dark mahogany floors create a dramatic (and very attractive) impact in any home.
• Attractive Backdrop: A dark wood color makes an attractive backdrop for decorating. Bold colors will stand out against a dark wood floor, while bright or light colors will give an attractive contrast.  When it comes to decorating, you can't beat the impact of a dark hardwood floor.
• Visible scratches: Dark hardwood and black hardwood flooring often show scratches more easily.  This is particularly true when scratches are deep.  Many hardwood floors use a wood stain, and a deep scratch may reveal the light wood underneath.  Looking after your floor well will reduce the likelihood of deep scratches.  This Old English scratch cover will help you to repair any scratches you do have.
• Marks and spots: dark hardwood floors often show dust or spots.  This is important to remember if you have pets.  Your floor may need to be frequently swept or mopped down in order to remain pristine.  I recommend the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Spray. It does wonders.

Some people say that dark wood floors make your room look smaller.  However, this is only true if you use dark furnishings or wall colors in combination with your dark wood flooring.  If you use light furnishings or wall colors, your room will look larger and the colors will contrast to give a sense of space.

Dark or Too dark wood floors decorating ideas?

Image source: Chalet

Dark brown hardwood floors can often appear intense at first. The trick is to balance them out by combining them with light wall colors.  Soft blues combined with a white trim provide a great solution.  You could also use warm bamboo walls or soft-colored area rugs in different zones of the room.  Grey walls with dark wood floors also make an excellent combination.

If you have tried the dark floors, light walls combination and still believe the floor is too dark for your taste, try to cover as much of it as you possibly can. This shouldn't be a challenge with a carpet or a couple of super-size rugs. In  bedrooms and similar low-traffic areas you don't need to rely that much on the floor's durability, you'll find a wide range of choices

The benefit of using dark (or even black) floors is that they suit every home/office style solution, and will allow you to refresh your interiors with minimal investment. Still, remember that with dark wooden floors, you need lighter walls and furniture pieces, so that they will blend with the floor and highlight its effect.

Get your free ebook!

Subscribe to receive an awesome ebook filled with interior design inspiration that you can use for your home.

Thank you!

One more step is needed. Please check your inbox for the newsletter confirmation email.

How to decorate with dark wooden floors

You've just installed new ebony or dark brown hardwood floors.  They look great.  Now you're wondering how to decorate or furnish your home to create the maximum impact.  You may be asking what to do with your wooden trims or moldings, which wall colors would be best, or how to furnish your home.  Here are some tips to guide you on decor to use with dark wooden floors.

• Use lighter furniture: if your floors are stained dark wood color, use furniture which is lighter than your floors.  This will help to create a harmonious feel to your room.  Your room will feel light and fresh this way.  Some people may match an aspect of their furniture (such as a chocolate swirled pattern or a wooden chair leg) to their dark wood flooring.  However, keeping it light is the very best trick.  If you already have furniture you don't want to replace, paint your walls a light color to add a fresh feel to your room.
• Focus on your wall color: the most suitable wall color will depend on your room size, and the atmosphere you would like to create.  If you have a large room, and you would like to create a cozy atmosphere, paint your walls in darker colors.  This will create a deep, warm atmosphere for your room.  However, if your room is small, and you would like to make it look bigger, light, fresh wall paint will be best to combine with your black or dark brown hardwood floors.
• Choose the right curtains: the correct curtains will make a big impact on your room.  If you have attractive windows and you would like to draw attention to them, use light-colored curtains like these.  However, if you have a very bright room and would like to block out some of the light, dark curtains may be most suitable.  They will give your room a touch of drama. Just remember to add lamps to make up for the lack of light.
• Select light cabinets or cupboards: light cabinets like these or wooden furniture juxtaposed against a dark wood floor create a dramatic effect.  If you have dark hardwood floors, kitchen cabinets should be white.  This will offset your floors, creating a striking appearance.  Many homeowners state that white cabinets bring out the best in a hardwood floor.  Although you can use creams or other light colors, white will give you the highest contrast, creating the greatest visual impact.
• Choose The Right Carpet: Dark wood floors are the since some are denser than others. Some have natural dents in them that give your room an old-world look. Also, others are very smooth and have a nice shine to them.
• When you are trying to find out how to choose carpets for dark wood flooring, remember that there are different styles of these floors. The basic types of styles are contemporary, antique, and country. All have their own unique features and qualities. Also, consider the material from which carpets are made. If you have a lot of light coming through the windows and doors in your home, it may not be a good idea to use real hardwood because they absorb a lot light that comes through.

Tricks and best practices

Image source: Steele Consulting Group

Living rooms with dark wood floors need lighter walls.

If you desire a light and inviting living room with a stylish dark floor, you must consider contrasting the bottom with each and every element in that room.

The ceiling, walls, and furniture must remain lighter so that the dark areas will only complement the atmosphere rather than take over. We recommend a series of neutral tones, including beige, white, and gray, and add a bright flare.  Inhabitants, therefore, feel at ease.

A 'must remember' tip for darker and black floors is to keep them in perfect condition, which requires regular maintenance and frequent polishing. If you want to keep their state impeccable, try placing few rugs over them, so that you can prevent filth and dust from damaging them permanently.

Light furniture and white walls

Image source: Flüff Designs & Decor

The most harmonious setting is to combine the warmth of dark floors with much lighter walls and furniture. Dark floors, white walls make a great combination.

For example, you can consider weathered white walls for every black or grayish floor, or beige furniture for warmer floor nuances, such as maple and cherry.  Dark hardwood floors also benefit from soft and fluffy rugs in light colors as this prevents the floors from looking too heavy and stark.

The right way to balance between dark and light

Image source: Capital Building

Decorating with dark wood floors requires constant repetition of color.  The lighter your furniture and your walls are, the more they'll be overpowered by your dark flooring, so think of a harmonious setting where dark shades will repeat themselves on a variety of objects, and thereof look more natural.

For instance, you can boost the warming effect of your cherry-chocolate or mocha laminate with lamps, picture frames, throws and pillows in a similar shade.  In rooms with hardwood floors, this enables you to create a sense of balance between dark and light.

White combined with more than one wood type

When different types of wood are combined, designers like to call this 'the organic setting', because it replicates nature as it really is – in a forest, different trees look good together, and the same effect can be obtained by applying different woods in your living room while using white to contrast them.

In the best possible case, the walls will be crispy white, and there will be a lot of greenery to refresh the place.  Remember to focus not only on your wall color but also on your cornices and window frames.  Dark wood floors with white trim give a clean and fresh appearance.

Working with several styles

Image source: Jordan Iverson Signature Homes

The reason why dark floors are so popular is that they match literally every setting, and suit well modern and traditional interiors. Expect them to look equally good in a sleek-line industrial setting as they do in French country houses – rooms with dark wood floors are incredibly versatile.

Wooden floors with white, bronze, and marble

Image source: Art of Kitchens Pty Ltd

A kitchen with dark wood floors is also a chic idea, as long as you mix the above mentioned stylish materials to make it more elegant. The most important thing here is to pay attention to lighting and pick white cabinetry with bronze accents to make the floor stand out.

Bringing nature inside

Image source: Clive Daniel Home

If you have dark brown floors, use a couple of leafy plants as a complement to the dark wood base, and this will make even the smallest room feel airy, fresh, and lovely. Plants will look the best surrounded by light wooden furniture and completely white walls, as in the organic setting discussed before.

Lively color pops

Image source: Gacek Design Group, Inc.

When it comes to color pops and details in a dark-and-white setting, you might be wondering what colors go well will dark wood?   You could choose literally every color you liked. These could be calming pale accents, such as mint and lavender, or lively statement colors which extend the effect of your dark floor.

Choose colors that help you personalize your space. Living room ideas with dark hardwood floors are worth exploring and you could create a Pinterest board to assist you in narrowing down your choices.

Textures

Image source: Terracotta Design Build

Most of the time, textures will simply impose themselves through the rustic and earthy shades you designed to use, in which case you will be supposed to extend the trend with industrial features and plush fabrics, such as suede, velvet, and leather. While doing it, remember to keep walls crispy white, or paint them with a modest taupe shade to make the place feel comfortable and warm. Gray walls and dark floors also make a great combination.

Moroccan rugs in Greige-wall settings

Image source: Tom Stringer Design Partners

Moroccan rugs are so popular in interior design because they fit any concept or idea, but in the case of dark flooring, they were just cut for the purpose. To make them stand out more, paint walls with warm greige, and buy neutral furniture pieces.  Decorating with dark floors has never been easier than when you use rugs for dark floors.

Skipping dark flooring

There are only two cases in which we recommend you to skip dark flooring. The first one is considerably small rooms which nevertheless have a function (dark flooring will make them look busy and narrower than they already are).

In case you're absolutely decided you want a brown floor in there, don't accept anything else than an 8 inches wide board which will balance the dark shade out.  You could also search 'light wood floor decorating ideas' to see if a pale shade would work for you.

The second case is rooms where you've already solved the furniture question with darker materials, because even if it feels as if your Walnut cabinet is matching your floor, the final result will be overwhelming. Overall, the dark floors, light furniture rule works best. Stubborn homeowners should work really hard to ensure colors are absolutely identical or consider lighter shade which would create a contrast between their flooring and furniture.

Ending thoughts on having a dark wood floor

Image source: Masterplan Residential Drafting and Design info@masterplandesign.net

If you want to add an elegant flair to your home, dark floors are an ideal solution. You can choose wood, carpets, or tiles for the purpose, and complement the setting easily with any type of lighter furniture or wall paint.

Before you make a decision, compare shades carefully, and think of the colors that are most suitable for your home's overall theme. Remember to use your gorgeous flooring to enhance the homey atmosphere so that your family and visitors feel as comfortable as possible.

Tips for cleaning dark wood floors and keeping their shine

If you are not used to hardwood floors, the thought of cleaning and maintaining them might feel intimidating.  However, dark hardwood flooring is easy to maintain.  They are easier to clean than carpets and don't need harsh chemicals to treat spills.

• Keep your shoes or socks inside the house. When you have dark-colored wood, bare footprints on the flooring can be frustrating for homeowners.  Instead of walking around with bare feet, ask people to wear shoes or socks inside the house.  This will keep your dark wood floor footprint-free.
• Buy a good quality vacuum cleaner. Dust won't stick to dark-colored wood in the same way it will stick to a carpet.  As a result, your pet hair or other dusty items may gather together in the corners, making your home appear untidy.  Invest in a good quality vacuum cleaner.  This will protect your floor from scratches.  Add a suitable attachment and you'll be able to vacuum up your dust piles in no time at all.
• Invest in a good quality dry mop. If you see patches of dust but are not ready to do a deep clean, a dry mop will take care of small areas.
• Invest in a good quality hardwood floor cleaner. Dark or even black hardwood floors show dirt easily.  By investing in a good quality hardwood cleaner you will be able to protect your floors, cleaning up spots or stains with no trouble at all.
• Stick to your cleaning schedule. You'll be able to take good care of your hardwood floors if you vacuum when needed, and use your dry mop when you see dust patches.  Mopping once a week should be enough, so set a cleaning schedule and stick to it.  One thing to remember about hardwood floors – they don't need to be spotless all of the time.
• Use stain guards. If you are not sure about the cleaning options that are available and how to keep your floor looking new, you may want to consider a stain guard to prevent stains from staining your wood floors. Some stain guards are made of fabric that is removable so that you can easily clean them if they get stained.
• Stain guards do more than just prevent staining your floors. They will also help protect them from scratches. Wood flooring can become damaged by anything–from heavy objects to liquids. So, using stain guards can help avoid floor damage caused by these elements.

Tip:  when purchasing a mop, search out one which has been made with microfibers.  Microfibers won't shed onto your clean floor.  After mopping your floor, the last thing you need is to try to clean up mop hairs too.

Ending thoughts on using dark hardwood floors

If you are redoing your home, dark wood floors make a durable, healthy and low maintenance option.  Dark wood floors look striking, increase the value of your home and give the impression of quality.  When adding dark wooden floors to your home, you'll create a modern and atmospheric interior that family and friends will love.  Use the tips in this article to guide you as you select and care for your hardwood flooring and finish off your home interiors.

Dark Hardwood Floors Decorating Ideas

Source: https://www.impressiveinteriordesign.com/dark-wood-floors-tips-and-ideas/

Posted by: riveracrourt.blogspot.com

Share this post