Light vs Dark Colours As a general rule, lighter colours tend to make a space look larger, while darker colours can make a room feel smaller and more intimate. Here's a breakdown of how different shades affect the perception of space: Lighter Shades: Enhance natural light and give an open, airy feeling.
Light floors can hide small flaws, dirt, and debris, but anything larger will be very noticeable. Dark floors, on the other hand, can require less maintenance since dirt tends to blend in more, but keep in mind they will still need to be swept often as dust and pet hair shows up easily on dark floors.
Choose light colors
Making the exterior of your home a light color is the best way to make your home look larger, brighter, and more inviting. Light colors such as white, ivory, pale gray, and sage green reflect higher amounts of light than dark colors, tricking the eye into perceiving the home as larger than it is.
Lighter flooring colors, such as creams, light browns, and beige, can create the illusion of space in small rooms by reflecting more natural light and adding a sense of airiness.
Light Wood Floors: The Versatile Option
There's something inherently timeless about light wood floors. They bring a sense of freshness, openness, and brightness to any room. Light hardwood floor colors like Maple, Birchwood, and Hickory have a classic appeal that never fades.
Floors with a white finish go with almost everything. A light burlap-like color is a great choice because you still get a light floor, without installing a truly “white” floor. You can use a variety of wood species to create a light floor.
Deep charcoals, midnight blues, and forest greens are making a splash in 2024. These daring stains create a sense of drama and sophistication, transforming your wooden furniture into statement pieces that capture attention and spark conversation.
Here are some guidelines to use when installing a new floor. 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.
If you're looking for a natural and elegant look for your home, beige vinyl flooring is the way to go. This flooring option is perfect for any room in your house, from the living room to the bedroom. Plus, beige vinyl flooring is easy to clean and maintain, and it will give your home a timeless look.
From oxblood to navy to warm white, these colors create a luxurious look, and there are plenty of ways to infuse your home with them. You could add a large piece of furniture, like a statement couch.
Choosing lighter coloured flooring to compliment your furniture can expand the perceived size of any room and can open the space right up. Think cream carpets, natural and neutral toned tiles and whitewashed wood flooring.
Rugged and rustic dark hardwood is a 2024 flooring trend that can make a bold statement in your home. The rich tones of dark wood species like cherry, hickory and mahogany invite sophistication and warmth to dining areas, bedrooms and living rooms.
Medium-toned tiles, such as beige, tan, gray, or brown, are a safe bet for easy cleaning. They're not too light to show every speck of dust, nor too dark to show every water spot.
Darker flooring will give your kitchen a dramatic and moody flair, especially when paired with lighter cabinets. Meanwhile, lighter flooring paired with darker cabinets will also add contrast, but the space will feel much brighter and open.
Put a mark on the board at the 3 feet point. Now, measure the adjacent board from the same corner to 4 feet and put a mark there. Then, measure the distance between the two marks. If it is 5 feet, then you have a perfectly square corner.
White Oak. White Oak is a white hot trend now but it has always been an ageless beauty. It's such a quiet elegant wood. Due to no glaring undertones the true color boasts the richness of the wood to give you soft beautiful neutrals for decades.
Color schemes are the most prominent component of home decor. Ranging from bold to bright, to subtle and neutral, you have an entire rainbow of colors to experiment with. This decorating rule suggests that you should cover your room with 60% of a dominant color, 30% of a secondary color, and 10% of an accent shade.
Neutral tones, such as classic shades of beige, taupe, and light gray, stand out as timeless choices that effortlessly complement various design styles. These muted hues not only create a sense of openness and tranquility but also serve as an adaptable backdrop for evolving decor preferences.
Warm Oak Tones Replace Grey Floors
The preference for grey, with its understated and neutral character, has gradually waned with time, making way for the resurgence of warm oak tones. This shift reflects a broader desire for a cozier and more inviting atmosphere within living spaces.
Grey. Grey vinyl plank flooring are a popular and neutral luxury vinyl choice that works well with many types of interiors and design schemes. It's available in different luxury vinyl styles, including wood, tile, and stone looks.
Dark Wood Flooring
Dark wood flooring is making a bold and luxurious statement in 2025. The rich, deep tones of dark wood species, such as walnut, mahogany, or dark-stained oak, add sophistication and warmth to living rooms, dining areas, and bedrooms.
The most popular wood stain color tends to be Dark Walnut by Minwax. This rich, dark brown shade adds warmth and depth to various types of wood, making it a versatile choice for many projects. However, personal preferences and design styles may influence your choice of stain color.
The most timeless stains for hardwood floors are those that enhance the natural beauty of the wood, such as natural, honey, or golden oak stains. These colors are versatile and work well with various decorating styles, making them a safe and enduring choice.