How to Choose Wood Flooring: Types, Styles, and Finishes

Hardwood flooring is a beautiful, durable option that matches any style décor. Whether you’re into modern and minimal or classic and traditional – or anything in-between – a wood floor will complement it.

If you’re thinking about going with wood flooring, you have some decisions to make. Follow this guide and choose the best kind for your needs.

Your Wood Flooring Guide: What Are Your Options?

If you’re wondering how to choose wood flooring, look no further. Here are the most basic options:

Solid vs. Engineered

You have a choice when it comes to the construction of your floors. Do you want solid hardwood or engineered hardwood?

Solid hardwood floors are, quite simply, made of solid wood. Because of this, they can be sanded and refinished many times. This type of flooring is incredibly long-lasting with the right care – think of old Victorian homes and their original hardwood floors. Those babies have been around for over 100 years.

Engineered flooring is not solid hardwood. Instead, a thin veneer of hardwood is glued on top of a few layers of plywood. This makes it more stable than solid hardwood and better able to stand up to humidity. However, because of the thin wood veneer, engineered floors can only be refinished once or twice.

Pre-Finished vs. Unfinished

When purchasing wood flooring, you can get it pre-finished or unfinished. Unfinished wood is the best option if you want to apply a custom stain. It’s also the right choice if you need to color-match flooring that’s already in your home.

If you don’t have a lot of time, pre-finished flooring can make installation a lot faster. The wood comes already sanded, stained, and sealed, so all you have to do is lay it down. Best of all, you can walk on it right away.

Types of Hardwood

There are lots of different woods out there, but not every species makes good floor material. Hardwoods like maple, oak, and cherry are common because they are incredibly durable. These are the hardest woods. However, other good options include walnut, bamboo, mahogany, ash, and exotic woods like teak or mesquite.

The hardest woods, like oak, are best for high-traffic areas, like kitchens and hallways. Slightly softer wood is fine for bedrooms. Never install solid hardwood flooring in basements – there’s too much humidity, which can warp wood.

Learn How to Choose Wood Flooring and Make the Right Decision

When choosing wood flooring, take your time. Every home is different and has unique considerations. Your choice will depend on a multitude of factors, including the type of existing floors in your home, where you want to install the hardwood, and the amount of traffic you get in the room.

Hardwood flooring is a sound decision in terms of home design and practicality. It is a highly durable material that can last for decades and looks beautiful to boot.