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.
Which do you prefer – light or dark hardwood? Both dark and light floors work very well, and only you can choose which is best for you and your home. Dark floors tend to be more stylish and hide imperfections while light floors tend to show dirt less and last longer.
The perfect way to make sure that your wood floor tones, furniture, molding, and home accessories match with your walls is to opt for a neutral shade of paint. Irrespective of whether the wood floor has orange, gray, or yellow undertone, they will coordinate well with neutral walls.
Decorating Tips for Color
Light and bright colored walls are more reflective making a room feel open and airy, and maximizing the effect of natural light. Dark colors, on the other hand, absorb light, making a room look smaller. Soft/bright color tones tend to make a room not only look bigger, but also more inviting.
Lighter floors inherently make a room feel larger. If you're hoping to carry that feeling through the space, choose wall colors that are bright, neutral and light in color. If pure white is too harsh, go with gray or white paint with an undertone of a different shade.
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.
Neutral wall colors allow for a subtle backdrop for bold furniture and wall décor and, depending on the undertone, match well with wood floors. Modern décor considers gray walls with wood floors a long-standing staple in interior design.
Dark-colored floors can make rooms seem darker and smaller. If a room doesn't receive a lot of natural light, a dark floor can make it appear gloomy and uninviting. When space is limited, as it often is in condos and apartments, dark floors can give the illusion of even less space.
Dark floors will not automatically make your room look smaller. While overloading a small space with dark colors will absorb light and make the space feel even smaller, dark floors can actually help to open a space up, if done correctly.
You may be surprised to learn that dark wood flooring can help to make your room look bigger too. Darker flooring offers an inviting feel and opens up a space. Whether you choose rich colours or softer dark colours, they both have their advantages when it comes to expanding the appearance of a room.
To match your gray flooring to your walls select a flat gray paint that is the same shade or lighter in color for best results. This will help avoid the space from appearing too dark. Other wall colors that work well with gray flooring are sand, honey, light green and pale yellow.
Colors like white, beige, taupe, shades of brown and gray all go well with wood floors in general because they create a perfectly balanced look.
A light-colored flooring such as light oak or a light-colored carpet will make the room appear brighter and more open. The same applies to the ceiling—use a light color or white to "open up" the space above. Increase the appearance of the size of the room by adding wall mirrors.
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.
Light color flooring tends to brighten up a space and make it feel larger.
Big floral patterns make a room appear larger. Install wallpaper with horizontal stripes to make a room seem wider, or commit to vertical stripes to stretch the room visually and raise the ceiling. A busy pattern featuring chevrons, simple geometric designs, or a texture that mimics marble can make a room seem bigger.
Laying your floors diagonally is one of the most effective ways to create a larger space. Diagonally laying floors tricks the eye into seeing the pattern in a different perspective, which also creates more visual interest.
And should the wood floors be lighter or darker than the cabinets? Decorators all agree on the answer. Wood floors can be lighter or darker than the cabinets, as long as the colors complement each other. The best way to do this is to start your project by picking 2 complementary colors and an accent color.
#5: Ground big spaces: In an especially large or expansive room, dark floors can help ground it and make it feel less cavernous. #6: Flexible style: Dark hardwood floors can be used in a variety of design styles.
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.
If you want to make your living room look bigger, stick to lighter colors that reflect more light and make the space feel more open. Neutrals, like off-white, beige, or light grays, are a great way to add a level of sophistication and calm.
Gray walls always work best with the light brown wood flooring. Choosing this combination is very neutral and natural and gives a flawless view of the room. It can also look beautifully when this room is designed with woody, rustic materials that will give it a more refreshing and natural feeling.
If your room has oak floors, use a color that isn't as deep as navy — an amber medium blue instead. Gray is a fine addition to oak interiors, as it goes well with red and white styles, while more vibrant shades are an assertive choice for rooms in families.