If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the vast amount of stain options for your hardwood floors, we’ve got you covered.
The hardwood floor refinishing process can be simple if you know which color to choose with these 4 simple tips.
#1 – Determine the type of wood floors you have.
Different stains will look better on certain wood types, so knowing the specific material of your wood floors is key.
Exotic wood floors like walnut, maple, or cherry are naturally beautiful but don’t absorb pigment as well. For these, it may be best to maintain the integrity of the wood tone and do more natural finish.
Oak floors are more common and show wood stains well. You can really go any route you’d like to with oak floors—whether natural, warm or cool, light or dark—but it’s important to know that the tone of oak floors can turn warm over time. You may want to select a cooler, water-based finish if this isn’t the look you’re going for.
#2 – Get creative with a design board.
It’s important to have a solid vision for what you want your floors to look like. This will be helpful to show to your hardwood floor refinisher since they can recommend which stains will give you the color you’re looking for.
Gather photos of floors you love from blogs, Pinterest, or design magazines. Because the same stain can appear different depending on the wood material of a wood floor, your local hardwood refinishing professionals can recommend which stain you should choose to replicate what you see in the photos.
#3 – Pinpoint the specific style you’re going for.
This vision board can help you see patterns to determine which style you’re drawn to. Knowing your style and sticking to it—for example, if you’re going for more traditional vs. modern look—will help guide your decision making throughout the hardwood refinishing process.
Light stains make smaller rooms feel larger and show more of the natural character of your wood floors. They’re also better at hiding pet hair and crumbs. They’re fairly versatile and are often seen with a variety of different styles. So the space of your room and functionality for your family may be deciding factors for light floor stains.
Medium stains add more depth to floors and pair well with many other types of wood furnishings. Warm tones are used more in traditional design while cooler tones tend to be more modern.
Dark wood stains are ideal for larger spaces and add contrast to light walls that is typically seen in more modern styles. However, warm dark tones also pair well with traditional designs. The main factor to consider with dark stains is the size of your room and if it would bother you to see hair or crumbs more easily.
#4 – Always sample your favorite stain colors first.
Before applying a hardwood stain to your entire floor, sample your favorites on scraps of wood that match your flooring. Then carry the samples from room to room to see how the stain looks in different lighting.
Hardwood Floor Refinishing In Virginia Beach
N-Hance of Hampton Roads can provide the hardwood floors you’ve always dreamed of in your Virginia Beach home. We’d love to take a look at your design board and help you choose the stain that will bring your vision to life.
Schedule your free estimate with N-Hance of Hampton Roads today!