How to Choose the Right Hardwood for Your Home
The beauty of hardwood flooring is unparalleled. Hardwood enhances the overall look and feel of your home, adding character, texture, and warmth.
Hardwood is incredibly versatile, available in a large selection of styles ranging from contemporary to traditional, rustic to elegant, and many more.
Because hardwood flooring is an investment that can last a lifetime with the right care, it’s important to choose the right product for you and your home. But how do you know where to start?
Your options for hardwood flooring are limitless. From different colors, hues, tones, to different finishes and textures, plank sizes, species, and more, there is a hardwood option that is perfect for your home. The one you choose will be a balance of your personal style, your lifestyle, and your budget. We, at Classic Flooring Center, can help you find the right hardwood for you.
Cropped photo of a child’s legs in pyjamas standing barefoot on the wooden herringbone flooring.
Solid Hardwood vs Engineered Hardwood
One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether you need solid hardwood or engineered hardwood. Both have their own advantages.
Solid hardwood is a continuous piece of wood, creating a warm, inviting feel in your home. Solid hardwood can be refinished many times for a long-lasting option. It is sensitive to moisture, which should be considered when deciding where to install it.
Engineered hardwood is made up of multiple thin sheets of wood that are put together to form a single plank. This makes the planks incredibly durable and less sensitive to moisture. Engineered hardwood can also be installed in a variety of methods.
Hardwood Species
Choosing the species of wood is not just about the look you want to create, but also your lifestyle. Different species have different hardness levels and are therefore more durable. The harder the wood, the more it can withstand high-traffic areas of your home. Oak is one of the most popular species of hardwood. It provides durability and looks great with different colored stains. It also has beautiful, natural grains and textures. Walnut, which provides you a warm, rich tone, is softer than oak, so it is more susceptible to dents and dings. Maple and hickory, which are also commonly chosen for homes, are harder than oak making them great choices for busy households with a lot of traffic.
Textures
Hardwood is available in a variety of textures so you can find the perfect look. Hardwood is available in smooth, scraped, wire-brushed, and distressed. Smooth hardwood floors will give you a shinier, new appearance. Scraped floors will give an aged look, which will also hide wear and tear more easily. Wire-brushed hardwood highlights the soft grain and natural textures in your hardwood. Distressed floors give a very rustic feel. The one you choose will depend on the style you want to create in your home.
Colors
Hardwood is available in a variety of colors, from light to dark hues. Whether you want warm neutrals, reddish tones, a light cool hue, or something else, there is a hardwood to match your style and the vision you have for your home.
Hardwood is a beautiful flooring option for any home. With a little care, your hardwood will last a lifetime. With so many options, from type to species to textures and colors, you are sure to find the perfect product to match your style, lifestyle, and budget. We, at Classic Flooring Center, can help you find the one that’s right for you. Contact us or visit our showroom in Rockledge, Florida, to begin your next flooring project!
