Marina from Switzerland wrote in to ask about all wood floors: “We’re building a new house and need some advice on flooring. We’re going for a wooden floor look – it’s called Vinylan and looks just like real wooden floors. We would like to carry this look throughout the house (except bathrooms) – upstairs and downstairs. Should we be including this flooring on the staircase as well? I am not sure if it will be overkill. We are going for a medium – light colour or something which suits most of the furniture we have.”
Marina: Congratulations on building a home and getting to pre-select every finish yourself. That must be a treat. Wood or well engineered wood floors are my first pick because they are easy to maintain and provide a uniform and fairly neutral canvas. Carpet and tile styles come and go, but who ever ripped out a wood floor? Your wall colors, rugs, and furniture can change but you won’t need to change the wood floor along with it to maintain a contemporary look.
To answer your questions:
- yes, continuity is very important so please do install the wood in every room except the bathrooms. The stairs too. Nothing bugs me more than a patchwork of different flooring materials in every room.
- Stay in the medium range to be sure your floor won’t look outdated in 5 years. Dark espresso woods, Cherry reds, and light blonde woods are “out”. Medium woods like Oak or Walnut are good because they will go with light or dark wood furniture. Don’t be afraid to mix woods types/colors in one room.
- If you can, go for wider planks for a richer look and so that the wood grain can be appreciated. Pair it with a thicker floor base at least 6″ tall (15 cm)
- Think about the distressed look. It adds character to an otherwise uniform floor and I know some engineered wood floors are able to replicate the look pretty well.
And here are some beautiful wood floors that match my criteria above in different type rooms to drool over. Thanks for your question.
Bedroom: freundevonfreunden
Design Sponge
When We Have A House
Nursery: Wee Decor – this looks like engineered wood to me
Kitchen: Pretty Introspection
Dining Room: Remodelista
Continuity: Emma’s Design Blog
Reading corner: Alvhem
Entry: House Beautiful
