Grey is in, and not just on your bookshelf. These days, grey wood floors are more popular than ever. Plus, there’s a shade of grey to match almost any color scheme, decor, or personal preference: One example is teak flooring. Teak wood is naturally gorgeous and doesn’t require any staining—which lends itself to a trendier, more modern look. At the same time, teak wood offers warm, honey-like hues, giving these floors a timeless feel. The Most Popular Wood Floor Colors of 2022 Choosing an earthier color will look great in a home that already has a warmer color scheme. These colors also look fantastic when paired with stark white walls or when installed using intricate wood floor designs. Wood varnish helps to seal and protect a range of wooden surfaces, and you can buy it in a choice of colours. You can use interior varnish to coat and seal internal doors, as well as wooden furniture such as dining tables, wardrobes, and bedside tables. You may also wish to apply it to your skirting boards to give them improved protection and an attractive shine. There are clear versions, as well as products that come in natural wood shades like oak and pine. Additionally, choosing to stain your wood floors allows you some flexibility when it comes to the overall aesthetic of your home. These days, many wood floors come pre-stained.

The most durable wood flooring options don’t scratch or dent as easily as, say, pine does (if you’ve looked into the pros and cons of pine flooring, you’ll know it’s quite soft). That means you won’t need a light finish to hide damage; you can go dark with comfort! The same is true for most types of scratch-resistant flooring. In essence, varnish is basically a paint without the pigment applied to it. The majority of these are polyurethane based resins and are solvent based (similar to oil paints). Acrylic varnishes, although water based, are becoming more popular for their environmental and health benefits. After all, the cost to replace carpet with hardwood—or simply put in a different wood floor—can be relatively high. Even the cost to install engineered hardwood floors is nothing to sneer at. The last thing you want to do is make an investment that doesn’t pay off when you put your house on the market. It goes without saying that the color of your wood floors should match your home’s existing aesthetics and color palette. That includes your wall and trim colors, cabinet colors, appliance colors, etc.—plus any furniture, rugs, or other types of flooring that you plan to keep.Mixed beige and grey tones. These colors, when paired with white/off-white cabinets and trim can help your home feel rustic while still remaining on-trend. Keep in mind that choosing to paint your wood floor can help hide any imperfections but it will also hide most of the grain that gives it character. And of course, if worst comes to worst, you can always bleach wood floors to get out any particularly tough stains. Make sure that the stain is thoroughly mixed before you start to apply it so that you get an even colour throughout. Applying a Stain A (wood) stain is very similar to a paint; it is designed to colour the substrate, although it does not leave a protective film as it is designed to be absorbed. Because it is absorbed, it means that the grain will be seen through the colour and the extent of this is largely dependent on how opaque the pigment in the stain is.

You can choose to add a bit of brown stain to any grey stain to warm it up if that’s your preference. The biggest thing to remember about wood floor colors is that your choice should ultimately make you happy! Yes, you can choose something that is on-trend, popular, or will retain your resale value, but if you hate the overall look, why bother? Smoke grey, carbon grey, or a mixture of ebony and walnut stains are all excellent choices for dark grey wood floors with (mostly) cool undertones.Sand down lightly after the first application and if necessary apply another coat. This will make the colour bolder and darker. We would strongly recommend practicing on an off cut to get the measure of the stain before you start on the real thing, especially if you’re not familiar with using stains. Even if you are, it is important to see how the stain will work with your particular wood you are using. You’ll find that finished wood floors are far more resistant to water damage—making them better-suited for mudroom flooring, sunroom flooring, or other high-traffic areas. The goal is to give your home a cohesive look—not a random selection of floor choices, colors, and styles that change from room to room. Here’s what you need to consider: Remember any product designed to permanently stain wood will have no trouble doing the same to your skin and fingers. The solvent will not be pleasant on your skin either so we recommend that you take care using stains, and definitely use rubber gloves and overalls. But on the other hand, pets and kids can drag in a lot of dirt and debris from outside. After all, the best wood flooring for dogs isn‘t just durable—it’s also able to hide imperfections and damage. And for that, lighter colors are ideal.

You will always apply the stain before applying the varnish, unless the varnish already has the stain mixed into it. Allow sufficient time for the solvent to fully evaporate before applying the finishing coat of say, varnish. If it is wet or cold we suggest that you leave another 24 hours over the manufacturers’ recommended drying time to be 100% safe. Varnish can be applied with a brush, which is more typical, or a roller. If you are planning to use a roller use one with a short pile. See here for help on choosing a roller. Apply with the grain to get a smooth and even finish.Warm, earthy colors are a go-to for many people when it comes to their wood floors because they offer a classic look that won’t go out of style. And these days, the earthier, the better when it comes to popularity.