Do upstairs and downstairs flooring have to match?

Author: Prof. Joshua Greenholt Jr.  |  Last update: Thursday, June 9, 2022

Are the stairs supposed to match the floor upstairs or downstairs? Interior designers and flooring experts universally agree on the answer. Stairs act as a transition between both floors, and therefore, should coordinate with both the upstairs and downstairs flooring.

Should all the flooring in your house be the same?

There is absolutely no need to change flooring from room to room. We often work with homeowners who feel the urge to pick a different flooring for every room of their home, but there is absolutely no need to do this. Your home will look best if you create one consistent look that travels from room to room.

Can you have different color hardwood floors upstairs and downstairs?

Hardwood staircases

Match the hardwood floors of your upstairs and downstairs. If one floor is a different color and species than the other floor, you can do a few things to pull them together. You can mix up the wood species so that you create a mosaic look that matches both the upstairs and the downstairs.

Is it OK to have different flooring on different levels?

In most cases, when you're adding new flooring to a level of your home, you don't consider other levels. If you've recently renovated the basement, for example, you probably selected flooring based on what's the best choice for your basement.

Does stairs have to match floor?

Stairs do not need to match flooring. It all boils down to what the homeowner wants.

How to transition two types of flooring

How do you transition between two wooden floors?

How to Transition Between Two Different Wood Floors
  1. Do All the Wood Floors in a House Need to Match? ...
  2. Use T-Molding. ...
  3. Use a Seam Binder or Transition Strip. ...
  4. Use a Thin Metal Transition. ...
  5. Install a Threshold Piece. ...
  6. Transition Between Floors of Different Heights. ...
  7. Lay One Floor With a Border.

Do wood floors have to match room to room?

Put simply, the answer to the question do wood floors have to match room to room, is entirely one of personal choice. You can choose to have different flooring in each room if that works for you, but synergy and flow from selecting one central flooring material can look wonderful too.

Can you have two different wood floors next to each other?

Can you mix two different hardwood floors side by side? Yes, you can mix two different wood floors side by side. However, whenever homeowners have two different hardwood floors adjoining each other, they often try to match the colors for continuity in visual aesthetics.

Do wood floors need to match throughout the house?

While some people think that they should match the floors throughout their homes for a sense of uniformity and space, it is unnecessary to do this. At Classic Floor Designs, we recommend that you consider mixing different types of wood on the floors throughout your house for a stunning result.

Can bedrooms have different flooring?

It is perfectly acceptable to use multiple styles of flooring throughout your home from room to room. Typically, living rooms and bedrooms are carpeted from wall to wall. But, you can successfully enjoy bedrooms with floors that are different from common areas and other rooms.

What flooring adds the most value to a home?

When it comes down to finding the best flooring to increase home value, it all boils down to your market. Hardwood will likely give you the highest return, but laminate and luxury vinyl plank flooring also offer plenty of perks to buyers.

How do you transition flooring between rooms?

Transitioning to a Different Laminate Floor

You simply change the boards in the middle of the doorway and continue the installation in the other room with the new flooring. The transition line looks best when it's under the closed door or lined up with the front edge.

Is it OK to change direction of wood flooring between rooms?

You should not change the direction of hardwood flooring between rooms—the reason why is that it causes visual disharmony. Placing hardwood flooring in the same direction that follows your space is best.

What kind of flooring looks good next to hardwood?

Hardwood is a classic and high-end option for flooring, but ceramic tile offers durability and affordability. Combining the two materials in a single room creates a customized look that attracts buyers and impresses your friends with your design skills. ...

Can you mix and match wood flooring?

Not only can you combine different woods for the flooring in your home, but you can also mix and match woods elsewhere, such as the furniture and cabinets.

How many different floors should be in a house?

The Rule of Three

The flooring “Rule of Three” states that from any point in the home, you should see three different types of flooring, or less.

What direction should you lay flooring?

The most common way to lay hardwood flooring is by aligning the planks parallel to the longest wall. Apart from a few exceptions like sagging joists, this is the preferred direction to lay wood floors because it aesthetically provides the best result.

Should my wood floor match my cabinets?

When it comes to floors and cabinetry in a kitchen, you might think you have to find materials that are an exact match. However, as interior design experts recommend, the idea is to mix complementing materials, not match them.

How do you match floors?

4 Tips for Matching Flooring Throughout Your House
  1. Make Sure It's an Exact Match.
  2. Take Pictures or a Sample.
  3. Start From Scratch.
  4. Fit the Room Itself.
  5. Be Careful Where You Switch Flooring.
  6. Pay Attention to Color.
  7. Stick With Less Than Three Different Types of Flooring.
  8. Think About More Than Floors.

Which direction should hardwood floors be laid in a hallway?

Whenever you are placing wood flooring in a hallway or any long and narrow area, it should run in the direction away from the doorway.

Should you lay flooring horizontal or vertical?

Wood floors should always be laid perpendicular to floor joists—across rather that in between them. This will make the floors structurally sound and will help prevent the planks from separating, sagging or buckling. So, there is no right or wrong way to lay your wood flooring.

What direction do you lay laminate flooring in a hallway?

Hallway Plank Direction

As a rule, laminate flooring looks best when it runs in the same direction as the long walls in a hallway. The sight lines of the floor and walls match, making the hallway appear longer and more spacious.

Do you need Transitions with vinyl plank flooring?

If you are only installing vinyl planks in a single room, you will want to install transitions at the doorways. Transition pieces give a clean appearance where one kind of flooring meets with another.

How do you transition floors in an open floor plan?

Use the patterning or shape of your tiles or the planks of your floorboards to create a transition that meets at a geometric or diagonal line instead of a straight one. Covering the seam between two flooring types can tie the room together and help define the space, particularly in a room with an open floor plan.

Can you install wood flooring one room at a time?

You could install a thin threshold between each room. That would cover the overlap in finish between the rooms. If the planks run parallel to the doors, you could cut out one board between the two rooms. That would give a clean line between finishes (and place the one board back at the end.

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