Classic hardwood floors are floors made with traditional woods like Oak, Walnut, Hickory, Maple, Ash, Cherry and Birch. Most classic hardwood floors have a clear finish that lets the original beauty remain visible.
Known as either select or classic grade, typically this will have a mix of cleaner boards with other planks which have more knots. Larger knots are allowed in this grade. Heartwood and colour variation in the timber should be expected and there will be some checks (cracks across the growth ring), sapwood and filler.
Oak is by far the most common type of wood used for wood floors in the US, especially Red Oak. It grows abundantly in the US. Thus Oak is an affordable hardwood. There are several reasons why Oak flooring is ideal.
Neutral colors like beige, grey and greige are especially timeless and pair nicely with a variety of decor styles. For a classic look, opt for warm tones such as honey brown, deep cherry, or espresso. Cooler tones like ash grey, natural oak, and white can add a modern flair to any space.
Wood flooring grades can be a confusing matter; after all, there are lumber grades and then there are flooring grades. We already know the three most common types of oak hardwood flooring: Select, #1 Common and #2 Common (a.k.a., rustic grade).
Grades are based on the amount of usable clear material in a board. The highest grade boards are FAS and Select, followed by #1 Common and #2 Common. What grade you choose depends on your project. Some projects, such as tabletops and high quality furniture, may dictate the highest grade available.
Prime grade or AB-grade wood flooring is the highest quality of hardwood flooring that you can find. The wood in this grade has been carefully selected, and it features a minimal amount of natural defects like knots, sapwood, and grain irregularities.
Brown Hardwood Flooring
Best known as the traditional color of hardwood flooring, shades of brown are still as popular as ever. Much like tan-toned hardwood, brown flooring is suited for any aesthetic. Lighter tones can set the basis of a neutral design, while deeper tones have the power to convey depth and luxury.
Hardwood Flooring
It's beautiful, it's durable, and it never goes out of style. Not to mention all of your friends, family, and neighbors aspire to have it, so you'll have your entire network envying your home's flooring design.
Greige and white oak are two of the most popular choices for hardwood flooring when it comes to house resale. They provide timeless elegance and neutrality, making them ideal for any home.
Throughout the Magnolia Homes new build, the rustic, natural qualities of Adela Rich Request pair perfectly with more contemporary design elements. Deceptively engineered, this LIFECORE hardwood floor makes it a perfect option throughout the home —from the kitchen and dining rooms to the bedroom and living rooms.
Wide Plank Floors
One floor that's had an enduring popularity and a recent resurgence is the wide plank floor. Wider planks are less busy than other wood floors, with fewer pieces going into the construction. This lets you see more of the grain and variation across each individual piece of wood.
The Best Timeless Flooring Options
For a classic look, choose mid-range tones that are not too light or dark. Opt for timeless wood colors such as oak, maple, mahogany, pine or ash.
Dark hardwood floors are a classic and timeless flooring option and are a great choice for those who want something that won't become outdated. They are known for their beautiful and rich hue, which adds warmth and character to any space.
Good choices are linoleum, ceramic tile–both very common–and wood. Linoleum is inexpensive and provides an easy-to-clean surface and comes in countless designs. Ceramic tiles are even better. Also easy to maintain and available in a huge range, they offer superior durability, resisting most dents, dings and scratches.
#4: Light Neutral Colors
Another top flooring trend in 2023? Light and neutral flooring. Modern grey wood flooring continues to be popular, as are light floor colors like blonde and beige. A great way to add these lighter flooring shades to your home or business is to use bamboo flooring.
If you're looking for cool shades for your hardwood floors in 2023, look no further! Light tans, and browns with hints of grey or white will be popular as well as whitewashed finishes. Meanwhile, yellow-toned shades are moving out of favor.
As we mentioned above, hardwood is one of the most timeless materials available, which is why wood-look tile is a top choice for our timeless flooring list. Mimicking the look of natural wood, the graining on our wood-look tile floors will have you questioning whether this is natural wood or tile.
Don't Fear Dark Wood Colors
It's a misconception that dark wood floors constrict our sense of space. Paired with the right combination of wall color, trim, and molding, darker species like walnut and exotic Brazilian cherry can, in fact, make a room look bigger.
You might think “gym floor” or the strip oak floors that graced so many homes over the last 30 years. 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.
Lighter colors help brighten up a room, making it feel bigger. The amount of natural light in the room: If you love natural light, and your home gets plenty of it, you may want to opt for a darker wood floor as it tends to fade less quickly than lighter flooring options.
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1 Common White Oak. Character comes from knots, open checks, wormholes, along with machining and drying variations. These are limited in frequency but less so than Select grade boards. Board length varies, too.
Look for a High-Quality Core
In fact, the plywood core is one of the key factors in determining the quality of wood flooring. The highest quality hardwood flooring uses a multi-layer hardwood ply. Lower quality flooring uses block board, which tends to be less stable and less reliable.
If you're shopping for solid hardwood floors, you'll find three thicknesses of boards. The best and most common thickness of solid hardwood is 3/4 inch (19 mm).