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.
A wall color will only look good in your home if it relates well to the floor color. So hold paint samples right next to the floor, not just in the middle of the wall. Red walls will look totally different next to cherry stained floors than they will next to limed oak ones.
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.
With that being said, you really don't need to overthink wall colors this as long as your floors are not glaringly orange or red toned. Most dark hardwoods are quite neutral and will work with a variety of paint colors, particularly when there's white trim to bridge the gap between floors and walls.
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.
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.
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.
Light Walls
The best way to compliment your dark floors is with light colored walls. The color contrast will offset your flooring and give you a nice balance of light and dark. Not only that, but the lighter color will cause more light to bounce around your room making it naturally brighter, and feel larger.
Pairing a dark floor with a light wall creates a distinctive and attractive contrast. Consider this ultra-modern kitchen above that showcases a dark gray and brown floor with a complementary kitchen backsplash and white wall.
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.
Wall paint is usually designed and mixed to be applied exclusively to plasterwork. While special varieties of wall paint for metal and wood can be purchased, floor paint is typically more flexible as a 'sticky' paint. It can usually be applied in one go to any kind of flooring save concrete.
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.
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.
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.
Choose Dark Flooring
Unless the room is also small, going with dark flooring can actually draw the eye away from the low ceiling. Why not go with an espresso stained hardwood or a Brazilian Walnut? Add a fun area rug to draw even more visual interest to the floor.
When it comes to small-space decorating, the common advice is to go all-white on the walls to reflect the most light and make the space feel bigger.