Stains and tones

Lighter tones on a hardwood floor were the standard when they 1st started mass-producing prefinished hardwood floors. Being that Oak is the more prevalent species here in the U.S., a natural red or white oak hardwood floor is pretty much what you’d see in the majority of homes. Therefore, when looking to go with a lighter tone on the hardwood floor, Oak flooring can convey that look as well as add a sense of warmth and character. Oak flooring has plenty variations which is a plus as the different tones can help compliment furniture and other woodwork. For this reason Oak is a versatile choice when looking at the lighter toned wood species. Maple is another species of wood with a very light and bright natural tone but is very uniform. The main Maple tone, which can be described as a light tan, has the tendency to yellow over the years. Something to keep in mind when considering Maple for a big project. Oak will also go through a mellowing process but instead of much yellowing the Oak will begin to show a slightly darker tone. For anyone who likes a light toned hardwood floor but wants a ton a variation and a very rustic feel, Hickory would definitely be the way to go. With this wood you will get light colored boards along side medium brown colored boards which all makes for a very exciting and inviting feel. It’s also a very hard and dense wood that is plenty durable. Another species that is rarely discussed and offers a naturally lighter tone is Birch. I think the reason it’s not as well known is because of the fact that it is slightly softer than Red Oak. This means it might not be the best choice if you’re putting the hardwood floor in a high-traffic area. But, for any other project, Birch has a beautiful light tone that can brighten up any room. It also has a lot of variation which gives it a lot of character.

Earth tones are always a popular choice for home-owners when they are shopping for a hardwood floor. Gray has had a pretty good run and is still sought after but earth tones are a timeless choice. Earth tones bring warmth and transmit a sense of comfort to the home. They also work well with most furniture. Here are some examples of earth tones available on prefinished hardwood floors. These stains can also be duplicated to be used on existing hardwood floors for refinishing projects. The above pic is of a beautiful hardwood floor made from European Oak. The stain itself is conveniently named “Earth” and this particular floor comes in an engineered construction with a 7″ width. As you can see the tone is very rich and warm with almost a chocolaty appearance. Since it’s on the darker side, a stain like this would work well in homes with sizable rooms and plenty of natural light. I really love hardwood floors that have rich earth tones with just a touch of grey in them. I think it’s the perfect mix of traditional and contemporary. The above floor is named “Ash” and comes in both solid and engineered. Imagine how well this particular stain would work in the more modern designs/decors of today. This floor would also look great in a kitchen with white cabinets and trim and medium dark countertops. Real nice. For a rich and earthy brown tone with just a touch of red, check out this Hickory floor available in both solid and engineered. Hickory always provides for a lot of variation so this floor can throw a lot of different tones around the room. Plus, Hickory is a very hard and durable wood so there is another plus. Now, if this particular stain were produced to be applied on an Oak hardwood floor, you might get more red than brown so keep that in mind. In fact, always keep in mind the fact that the species of wood a stain is being applied on has everything to do with how the tone will come out.