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The Allure of Dark Hardwood Floors


Make a dramatic interior statement with a dark hardwood floor.

Dark wood flooring is a bold and elegant choice that can be left bare or softened with a rug.






DARK HARDWOOD FLOORING OPTIONS

Dark wood flooring is available in a variety of widths, styles, and wood types.

Dark hardwood floors are usually considered to be walnuts, thermo treated oak, fumed oak, dark stained oak in tones of deep blues, chocolate browns and shades of black.




LOW SHEEN FINISHES FOR DARK HARDWOOD FLOORS

A shiny finish on a dark hardwood floor, just doesn't look good.

In the correct setting (maybe on a super-yacht!) it can work, but for the average family household, the finish just looks cheap against other items of furniture.

Instead opt for mid to low sheen and a slightly brushed surface, this will add texture and stop the finish on the floor from looking too 'flat'.



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HOW DARK IS TOO DARK?

Designers will often will pair a dark hardwood floor with a light moulding and wall colour to create a beautiful contrast.

The ceiling, walls, and furniture should remain lighter, so that the dark wood floor complements the space and creates a feature.

Consider shades of neutral tones, including beige, white, oatmeal and grey.

If however, you want to carry the dark tone up the walls, it will create a cocoon effect, which if done correctly can look very chic!

Reference images further down in the article as examples of this.





DARK HARDWOOD FLOORING PARQUET DESIGNS

To create a feature out of your dark hardwood floor, why not opt for a parquet in a contemporary pattern. There are loads of patterns to choose from!

Shown above in the image is a mansion weave design, you could also consider chevron, herringbone or parquet inlay designs as shown below.




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DARK HARDWOOD PARQUET: FINISHING TOUCHES

Introducing a metal trim detail to a floor, works especially well with dark hardwood floors.

There are some beautiful designs available, turning your floor into a piece of art.

You could also consider having an inlaid border installed to create a sense of grandeur to your space.




THERMO-TREATING HARDWOOD FLOORS

In order to get a deep rich colour naturally, hardwood floors can be thermo treated.

This is a process where the wood is core fumed, creating a smokey, carbonised look to the floor.

Depending on the level of treatment used, the more intense the colour. When red oak is used in this process, the result is a dark, dark brown colour with a hint of red in it.

White oak results in a more of a natural mix of browns and blonde tones.

You will find in time, regardless of the type of finish, dark hardwood flooring results in less sun damage, retaining its colour for longer.







DARK HARDWOOD FLOORS WILL NEED REGULAR MAINTENANCE

The drawback with dark hardwood floors is that they do tend to show more dust, dirt, and grime than their lighter counterparts.

For this reason, they need to be cleaned regularly to look their best and aren’t always the most ideal option for high traffic areas.

Dark hardwood floors, however, are easily cleaned so don’t let that deter you.