How do you match two different wood floors?

Author: Prof. Caroline McClure DDS  |  Last update: Sunday, May 31, 2026

Woods that are similar but not the same don't typically look good together. To install two different shades of hardwood, a good rule of thumb is to go dark with one and light on the other. You can also get by with medium-dark and medium-light. An example is mahogany next to maple or white oak.

Is it possible to match hardwood flooring?

Can you match existing hardwood floors? Yes. By paying close attention to the species of hardwood, the thickness of the planks, the width of the floorboards and the color of the finish, it's possible to achieve matching hardwood floors.

What to do if you can't match wood floors?

Your best bet to match well (esp if you have site finished wood already) is to add new unfinished wood and refinish to match (you can refinish both areas).

How do you coordinate different wood floors?

Match Undertones.

If you've chosen a lighter hardwood route, make sure to stay consistent with it. Mixing a lighter tone flooring with a darker tone in the next room can disrupt the harmony of your space. Your contrasting hardwood floors should transition smoothly from room to room.

Is there an app to match wood floors?

With Shaw's Floorvana color matching app, you can now capture and connect your inspiration with the perfect flooring for all of your rooms through patent-pending color matching technology. Get our free color matching app to use wherever inspiration strikes.

How to Combine Flooring Types

How do you match two wood floors?

Woods that are similar but not the same don't typically look good together. To install two different shades of hardwood, a good rule of thumb is to go dark with one and light on the other. You can also get by with medium-dark and medium-light. An example is mahogany next to maple or white oak.

Is there an app to identify flooring?

TilesView brings a whole basket of benefits when it comes to floor tile identification. This is a powerful app capable of revolutionizing the way consumers, contractors, and designers explore and select their tiles. So, your whole tile selection process proves to be more efficient, enjoyable, and rewarding.

How to find matching flooring?

Here are some of our best tips for matching your flooring from one room to the next.
  1. Make Sure It's an Exact Match. ...
  2. Take Pictures or a Sample. ...
  3. Write Down a Few Notes. ...
  4. Start From Scratch. ...
  5. Fit the Room Itself. ...
  6. Be Careful Where You Switch Flooring. ...
  7. Pay Attention to Color. ...
  8. Stick With Less Than Three Different Types of Flooring.

Do oak and walnut go together?

As already mentioned, yes, you absolutely can mix oak and walnut. In fact, I encourage it.

What flooring looks best next to hardwood?

Striking Contrasts: The Beauty of Natural Stone

Natural stone stands tall as an outstanding choice when looking for a flooring option that exudes sophistication and provides a stunning contrast to your hardwood floors. Materials like marble, granite, or slate create a sense of luxury and unparalleled visual impact.

How to connect two different floorings?

End cap or end bar transitions may work best for a hardwood or laminate transition. You could also use a T-shaped aluminum transition strip if the two different flooring materials are the same height. You'll have to find one that matches the color or finish of both flooring types.

How do you blend old and new wood floors?

Solution For Blending OLD Wood To NEW Wood

The secret, water popping. Water popping is when you wet down your wood floors. By doing this you open the grains which then allows the stain to really absorb. The challenge was that we had to water pop the NEW wood only and not the old wood.

Can you redo hardwood floors without sanding?

One of the most common methods of refinishing hardwood floors without sanding is through a process called screening. This involves lightly abrading the existing finish using a floor buffer with a screen disc or a sanding screen.

How do you match two types of flooring?

Here are some tips on how to mix and match different types of flooring to create a beautiful and unique home.
  1. Choose A Consistent Theme. ...
  2. Limit The Number Of Different Types Of Flooring. ...
  3. Use A Transition Piece. ...
  4. Create Zones With Different Flooring. ...
  5. Be Mindful Of Light And Colour.

How to match new floor boards to old?

If you are looking for a match, measure the width of your floorboards and ensure your new planks are the same width. If it is an older floor, measure a few planks to get the average, as the planks may have warped and expanded over time.

What is the best flooring to put over old hardwood floors?

Laminate flooring is one of the easiest types to install over hardwood. There is virtually no preparation that is required. If, however, the hardwood flooring underneath is wavy, you will want to level it before placing laminate over it.

What wood looks best with oak?

Good pairings

white oak and walnut. cherry and maple. red oak and white ash. mahogony and cherry.

What woods compliment each other?

Woods with warm undertones will look yellow or red — think Cherry, Mahogany, and Hickory. These work well together, even if they vary in tone and grain. Cool-toned woods like Ash, Maple, Poplar, and Pine will look a little bit gray. Neutrally toned woods like Walnut are the most versatile.

Can you mix different woods in a room?

A rule of thumb when working with undertones is to stay within the warm tones OR stay within the cool tones when mixing different woods. It's best not to mix and match. Therefore, if your dominant wood tone is warm, use woods and stains that have yellow, orange or reddish undertones.

Is it possible to match existing hardwood floors?

From bullnose trim to stain pens to T-molding, there are many ways to blend new wood floors with preexisting floors to ensure a seamless transition and a polished, designer look.

How to match discontinued flooring?

Color: find a floor with a similar tone to your pre-existing floors for a cohesive design. Thickness: a smooth transition is key, so look for a floor that is the same or very similar thickness as your current flooring. Plank style: matching the same plank style is important for a consistent appearance.

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

So, can you mix and match hardwood floors? The short answer is yes, you can definitely mix and match hardwoods throughout a home. With the right approach, you can even place two different woods next to each other.

How do I identify my wood floors?

Is Your Floor Real Wood? 7 Simple Ways to Find Out
  1. #1 Inspect the grain pattern. ...
  2. #2 Check the edges and seams. ...
  3. #3 Feel the surface. ...
  4. #4 Look for nail holes or staples. ...
  5. #5 Test the sound. ...
  6. #6 Examine the underside. ...
  7. #7 Ask a flooring professional.

How do I find out what flooring I have?

To distinguish between natural wood, laminate, and vinyl flooring, observe the pattern repetition on the boards. Natural wood will have unique variations like knots and grain patterns, while laminate and vinyl will show repeated, uniform patterns due to their mass-produced printed layers.

Is there an app to identify hardwood?

Xylorix PocketWood is a free-to-use app where users can access information and macroscopic images of over hundreds of wood species from around the world.

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