Should hardwood floors be upstairs and downstairs?

Author: Jaycee Kilback  |  Last update: Sunday, June 12, 2022

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. Some of the common scenarios for floors are: Both sets of flooring are hardwood (use wood stairs).

Can you have different wood 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.

Should hardwood floors same throughout house?

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 2 different hardwood floors?

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.

Is it weird to have different hardwood floors in house?

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.

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Can you mix and match hardwood floors?

Mixing different types of hardwood floors throughout your home can help you achieve a rather stunning effect. The key is to blend the hardwood floors the right way. On the other hand, many argue that using the same hardwood floor in every room in the house will ensure a better sense of uniformity and space.

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.

Do hardwood floors increase home value?

Hardwood floors are one of the best flooring options for homeowners looking to increase the resale value of their home, with hardwood typically yielding around a 75% return on investment.

Should kitchen and living room have same flooring?

The quick answer is YES! Using the same flooring throughout ties rooms together, improves flow, makes the home seem larger, simplifies cleaning and maintenance, and is often easier on the budget.

Which direction should wood floors run?

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 all my hardwood floors match?

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.

Do stairs and floor have to match?

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

Should each room have different flooring?

In short, it simply comes down to preference. For many, using the same flooring throughout different rooms creates a consistent, more harmonious appearance in your home. Some designers even insist on it, with the same floor offering a continuous look that actually makes homes feel more spacious.

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.

Should stairs be darker than floors?

Stairs can be darker than the floor, but they do not have to be. As long as your stairs complement your floors, you can make them any color you wish.

Do floors need to match?

Do floors need to exactly match your countertops or other fixtures? No. Instead, try to coordinate with them in the same way you would coordinate with the other floors. This goes a long way towards creating a well-balanced and well-designed space.

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.

What 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. ...

Should entire house have same flooring?

Using the same flooring in every room of the home creates a look with clean lines. However, there's no rule that says you can't use different flooring. The only real problem with two different floorings is if you use two that are almost, but not quite the same. It will have a jarring effect.

Is it better to have carpet or hardwood floors in bedrooms?

A bedroom is a space where people spend many hours each day, and for those who suffer from allergies, asthma, and other breathing disorders, hardwood flooring is a better option than carpet.

Do buyers prefer hardwood?

Dawn Wilson, Keller Williams: “Most buyers prefer hardwood. For selling purposes, it is better to have hardwood. If there is not hardwood in the home already, and it is cost prohibitive to put hardwood in, then in most cases, new carpet should be put in prior to resale. Buyers like tile flooring in the bathrooms.

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.

Should all flooring run the same direction?

In traditional design, flooring is usually installed following the direction of the main light source. If there are big windows or an entryway contributing streams of natural light, install floors in the same direction as their source.

Can I install hardwood floor parallel to joists?

Hardwood flooring must be installed perpendicular to the floor joists or on a diagonal for any single layer subfloor. To run parallel to the joists, you'll need to add a 1/2” plywood underlayment or brace every 16” between joists with a nominal 2”x 6” SPF nailed in place.

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