Revive dull hardwood floors without the mess of sanding by deep cleaning with a pH-neutral hardwood cleaner, filling minor scratches with a matching wax stick or stain pen, and applying an acrylic or polyurethane-based floor restorer like Bona Hardwood Floor Polish or Rejuvenate Wood Restorer.
In 2026, flooring trends revolve around warmth and natural textures, with cool, flat grays officially on their way out. The most popular colors include:
Joanna Gaines is known for her signature "modern farmhouse" aesthetic, relying on light wide-plank wood, vintage checkerboard tile, patterned cement, and earthy volcanic ash. She frequently uses durable, high-quality flooring materials that blend old-world character with family-friendly functionality.
For modern, polyurethane-sealed hardwood floors, you should generally avoid using Murphy’s Oil Soap. While the manufacturer states it can be used on sealed wood, many hardwood flooring professionals and manufacturers advise against it.
Rejuvenate dull hardwood floors without sanding by cleaning thoroughly and applying a restorative polish or a new coat of polyurethane. Best methods include using products like Rejuvenate Professional Wood Floor Restorer to fill scratches, a "buff and coat" (screening) for better durability, or applying hardwood floor wax.
To restore the shine to your hardwood floors, deep clean them to remove surface grime, then apply a specialized water-based hardwood polish to fill in microscopic scratches. For a completely restored finish without sanding, you may need to scuff and apply a new coat of polyurethane.
Revive dull hardwood floors without the mess of sanding by deep cleaning with a pH-neutral hardwood cleaner, filling minor scratches with a matching wax stick or stain pen, and applying an acrylic or polyurethane-based floor restorer like Bona Hardwood Floor Polish or Rejuvenate Wood Restorer.
For the vast majority of polyurethane-sealed hardwood floors, Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner is the industry standard and best overall choice. This ready-to-use, pH-balanced formula removes dirt without leaving a dulling residue and dries rapidly.
Timeless wood colors are natural, organic hues that bridge the gap between warm and cool without relying on passing fads. The most classic choices are pale, natural wood and mid-tone browns. These choices highlight natural grain patterns and adapt easily to changing furniture and decor styles.
Bona and Murphy Oil Soap serve different needs. Bona is a pH-neutral, water-based cleaner intended for routine maintenance on polyurethane-finished floors. Murphy Oil Soap is a plant-based oil soap designed for deep-cleaning unsealed, oiled, or older traditional wood floors, but it requires rinsing to prevent residue.
The main challenge is choosing the best combination of materials for your purposes that suit your personal taste.
Joanna Gaines has not been diagnosed with a life-threatening or terminal illness; her primary health struggles involve a chronic back injury from high school that required two major microdiscectomy surgeries, most recently in December 2022 to treat herniated discs.
Joanna and Chip Gaines' eldest son, Drake, is now a college junior, balancing life as a baseball player at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Drake has developed a passion for cooking protein-packed meals with his girlfriend.
Gray-toned hardwood and laminate. Wide plank farmhouse-style wood. Painted floorboards. Artificial or fake-looking wood.
Dark Flooring
Dark-stained floors create a dramatic backdrop that allows furniture to stand out against the rich, velvety darkness. Additionally, the dark color absorbs and reflects light, adding depth and visual interest to the space throughout the home.
In the end, the best choice depends on the unique proportions of your home, the amount of natural light, and the atmosphere you want to create. Whether you choose dark floors to ground your space or lighter floors to lift it, color balance between walls and floors can completely transform how your home feels.
The most popular hardwood floor colors emphasize warmth, natural aesthetics, and versatility. The overarching trend leans away from cool, sterile grays and toward earthy, natural tones. Top trending and timeless choices include:
Kitchen cabinet colors that feel dated include stark, clinical all-white, cool minimalist grays, and red-toned woods like cherry or honey-oak. Flat, one-dimensional brown-on-brown color schemes and overly bright primary colors have also fallen out of style.
Beige, taupe, and "mushroom" neutrals are officially replacing the cool, sterile grays of the last decade. Designers are leaning into warm khakis, sandy beiges, creamy whites, and earthy tones that add a cozy, comforting energy to spaces.
Yes, you can use Dawn dish soap on hardwood floors, but only in extreme moderation. Dawn is highly concentrated, so using too much can strip the protective finish or leave a dull, slippery residue.
The best mop for hardwood floors is a microfiber flat mop (like the Bona Hardwood Floor Premium Spray Mop) or a microfiber spin mop (like the O-Cedar EasyWring Spin Mop). They are highly effective at trapping dirt while preventing excess moisture from warping and damaging the wood.
Avoid using excess water, harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia, acidic cleaners like vinegar, wax-based polishes, and oil-based soaps. These can strip your floor's protective finish, cause the wood to warp, or leave behind a sticky residue that attracts dirt.
Step 1: Pick Your Cleaning Solution
Just mix a solution of white vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:1 in a bucket or spray bottle. This solution is an effective and safe way to clean wood floors, as it will not cause any damage to the surface.
Murphy’s Oil Soap cleans dirt and grime well, but it does not leave a long-lasting shine. Instead of a polished luster, it can leave a dull, hazy residue. To add a protective shine, professionals recommend applying a designated wood floor polish after cleaning.
To make old wood floors look new again, choose the best method based on their condition. For dull surfaces, deep clean and apply a hardwood floor restorer; for scratched floors, lightly buff and recoat them; or for severely damaged, warped, and deeply stained boards, sand and refinish the wood completely.