However, if you just can't decide, you can't go wrong with the versatile look of a dark wood floor. “If you are going for a timeless look, a darker wood tone will always be applicable,” says designer Kia Weatherspoon, president of D.C.-based Determined by Design.
Hardwood floors
Real hardwood flooring has been around all throughout history and right the way up until the present day, making it the most obvious choice for a timeless style of flooring. Wood will never look outdated in your home, so you don't have to worry about its timelessness being restrictive in any way.
What are timeless hardwood floor colors? Timeless hardwood floor colors are typically the natural hues that are found in the hardwood species that are most often used for flooring. Walnut, for example, is renowned for its dark, chocolate hues while Cherry is prized for its deep red tones.
Domestic hardwoods like maple, oak, hickory, pecan, or even an actual American cherry in a not too wide plank, with close to the natural look type stain on them are the most style versatile, and "timeless" (which really doesn't exist as an absolute).
Although gray is extremely versatile and perfectly complements any neutral décor, it is not as timeless as traditional hardwood tones. However, it is now possible to blend gray with brown to achieve a more greige look which will likely stand the test of time.
Flooring That Never Goes Out of Style
Whether you choose red or white, a great advantage of oak flooring is that it's timeless. Because its look is subtle and understated yet so clearly beautiful, it stays in fashion. That means that if you buy oak flooring, you don't have to worry about it ever looking dated.
1. Hardwood Continues to Dominate. Hardwood has remained at the top of the podium for decades now and continues to dominate the home flooring industry.
12mm is much more impact resistant than 8mm. Sharp items that accidentally fall on a thicker base will have very little effect on it. That's the reason why people prefer 12mm laminate in high traffic areas.
How Long Will Grey Last? The Trend Is Ending. Prominent grey colored hardwood floors have been strong the last 6-7 years. With hardwood floors, strong trends usually last five years, then something else comes along or so it seems.
Hardwood Flooring
It's beautiful, it's durable, and it never goes out of style. Not to mention all of your friends, family, and neighbors aspire to have it, so you'll have your entire network envying your home's flooring design.
Consider the size of the room: If you're putting a new floor in a large or wide room, going with a darker color will make a sprawling space feel somewhat smaller and cozier. In contrast, a lighter color such as beige or cream can help “open up” cramped living areas and make them seem bigger.
Higher property value: While both light and dark hardwood flooring can give your home a higher market value, darker grain is known to lend itself to higher rewards. As the current most popular hardwood style, today's investment in dark flooring is likely to pay off if you decide to sell your house in the future.
The contrast of the simple, pale planks with darker furniture is a timeless way to not only make a room seem more spacious, but more welcoming as well. A light floor also counters any psychological effect of the dark furniture making the room seem small or crowded.
In general, hardwood flooring is the most expensive material when it comes to flooring installation cost per square foot. Many national providers' websites show price ranges from less than $1 per square foot for laminate flooring to more than $10 per square foot for premium, hand-scraped hardwood brands.
Laminate flooring should be between 6-12mm thick. If you find thicker than 12mm, it's an inaccurate measurement–possibly including attached padding. If you want the highest-quality, hardwood feel, you'll want 10 or 12mm. If cost is a concern and you have a smooth subfloor, you can get by with 7 or 8mm.
8mm laminate floor is one of the most popular flooring options. It seems to be the happy medium between thick and thin laminate flooring options and provides ideal stability and easy installation. The 8mm thickness is enough to overcome any subfloor imperfections and create a sleek flooring solution.
In a typical home, the entire structure between levels can be about 12 to 14 inches thick, depending on the type of joists used and the finish materials for the floor and ceiling.
Vinyl stands up the best against excess moisture and spills, and it can be less expensive than laminate. However, laminate gives a more realistic wood look to enhance the design aesthetic in your home.
Many home experts agree that the floor color should be darker than the walls. The rule generally applies because lighter walls and a dark floor make the room seem larger. Most homeowners prefer a spacious looking interior. However, the rule can change with low ceilings.
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.
Dark stained hardwood flooring is by far the best selection when it comes to overall popularity and resale value. Some of the best darks stains for wood are espresso, dark walnut, and antique brown. These darker colors often give way to more color combinations since they do not lean towards a yellow or orange tint.
Most Durable Hardwood Flooring
Ebony, cherry, live oak, or bamboo are the most durable choices. These extremely hard woods (and wood-like bamboo) wear well and are more resistant to minor damage than other options.
Red Oak has a Janka hardness rating of 1290, while White Oak's rating is 1360, making it slightly more impervious to dents and scratches. However, these numbers are so close that both hardwoods will tend to perform equally well once they've been installed, finished and sealed.
Dark brown hardwood floors in particular never seem to go out of fashion, they are always trendy and still in style. There's something about the contrast between dark wood floors and bright, light walls, white kitchen cabinets, furnishing etc. that epitomize a sophisticated and upmarket style.