Few things add charm and timeless style to your home like beautiful hardwood floors. Hardwood has been used as flooring for years, and though trends come and go, it has never gone out of style. Hardwoods stand the test of time and are versatile with any theme or decor.
It’s clear that your hardwood floors have a significant impact on the feeling in your home. If you’re considering refinishing your hardwood floors, the toughest part of the process will likely be selecting your stain color.
That’s where we come in! There are so many stain options that it can feel difficult to choose. But the choice really isn’t so hard if you ask yourself a few basic questions first.
First, Determine If You Even Should Stain Your Floors
So, should you stain your hardwood floors or keep them natural? This question is an important one because you’ll be living with it for a long time once the job is done. It’s expensive and time-consuming to redo your floors, so you should make a choice that you’ll be happy with for the long haul.
Start by determining what type of wood floors you have. If your floors are mahogany, cherry, walnut, or maple, you should consider not staining them, but maintain their natural beauty instead. Many stains out there trying to imitate these types of wood, so if you have a rare gem, consider keeping it polished and natural.
If your floors are made of a common material like red or white oak, you may notice that over time, they turn a yellow-orange color. This is especially true if the floors have an oil-based stain. Staining is a great option if you don’t like these warm tones or if you want to transform the color of your hardwoods altogether.
If your oak floors have a water-based stain, they can begin to look washed out over time. If this is the case for you, staining can make your floors vibrant again.
You’ll also want to determine if there’s water or pet damage on your hardwood floors. If it’s only surface damage, you should be able to sand them down, restore your hardwood floors, and stain them a color darker than the damage so it’s not as noticeable. If the damage is too excessive, your floors may need to be replaced.
Selecting The Perfect Stain Color
Now for the fun part: choosing your color! You’ll want to start by pinpointing your style and what kind of statement you want to make. What furniture will go in the room? How do you want that furniture to match your floors?
Are you going for a traditional look or a rustic farmhouse interior? Medium toned brown shades may be the best choice for you. If you’re into contemporary style, dark, ebony shades, or a neutral white or grey wash may be best for your space.
Do you want to create a light and airy feeling? Or deep and rich? Maybe something in between? Determine if contrast or brightness is more important for your room. Dark floors add contrast against light walls and are typically more modern. They also make light rugs pop. Light floors can open up space and better hide pet hair, dust, and crumbs.
Keep in mind that weathered stains will look more neutral and cool, while rich shades will like warmer and fuller.
Once you’ve determined if you want a dark or light stain and warm or cool tones, gather inspiration from magazines and Pinterest boards. Keep in mind that the same stain can look different on different types of wood.
Professional hardwood floor refinishing companies will help you know which stain will give you the right color and can replicate what you’ve found in photos.
Test Your Favorite Stain Colors
We recommend narrowing your options down to two or three stains you like in the same color and tone family, then testing a sample area.
You can either test the stain on your bare hardwood floors or buy a small board of the same material as your floors and apply the stains. Test your stain options side by side. You’ll also want to see what the stains look like in different rooms, lighting, and at various times of the day.
Make Your Hardwood Flooring Dream A Reality
Hardwood floor restoration and refinishing specialists can help you throughout the entire process. They can not only help you pick the right stain for your hardwoods, but make your dream a reality by doing the hard work for you.
Ready to bring your hardwood flooring vision to life in the Jacksonville, Florida area? Schedule a free, in-home estimate with N-Hance of Jacksonville!
Learn more about the unique N-Hance hardwood floor refinishing process to see the difference we can make in your home.