Hardwood has been a popular choice for flooring for centuries, and for a good reason. Hardwood floors are beautiful, bring timeless elegance to a home, and can last a lifetime if properly cared for. Dark hardwood floors, particularly, bring warmth and richness to your home. This guide covers whether dark hardwood floors are popular, what choices are available, and what species of wood you can choose from.
Dark Hardwood Floors Popularity
Hardwood trends come and go, and right now, dark hardwood is having a moment. Classic dark hardwood has become more popular in the last few years. Dark hardwood is a great way to bring some interesting contrast and opulence to your home.
Even when the dark hardwood trend ends, dark hardwood flooring never goes out of style and is considered a timeless classic. Dark hardwood floors also hardly show dirt or scratches. This is ideal for families with children who might track in dirt from time to time or pets that might scratch up the floors. Darker hardwood floors are also perfect for large rooms, as they can make them feel warmer and cozier.
Engineered vs. Solid Hardwood
One choice you will need to make when shopping for a hardwood floor is whether you want engineered or solid wood. Let’s dive into the difference between them and how to choose the right one.
Choosing solid hardwood gives you more options for your floors over time. With solid hardwood floors, you can sand and refinish them in different ways many times over. Solid hardwood flooring also has greater longevity than engineered hardwood. However, this wood can also be more difficult to maintain.
Engineered hardwood may be better for you if you live in a warm or humid climate since it handles humidity better than solid hardwood. Also, many engineered hardwood floors can be sanded these days. Engineered hardwood floors are usually more affordable than solid, although they are less long-lasting and durable. Ultimately, you must make the best choice for you and your lifestyle and budget.
Gloss vs. Matte Finish
Another choice you will need to make is whether you want a glossy or matte finish on your hardwood floors. Some people prefer a high sheen. However, super-glossy floors may be seen as outdated, and they also show dirt and scratches more easily. Consider opting for low or no-sheen hardwood flooring, as it keeps your home on-trend and shows less dirt. Whether you choose a glossy or matte finish comes down to preference, and you must choose what suits your personal style best.
Dark Hardwood Floor Options
There are many different species of hardwood that can be used for a dark hardwood floor. Ultimately, it is all a matter of preference, and there are different benefits to each species. You should choose the best hardwood floor to suit your personal style and fit your budget. We will describe some of the most popular hardwoods for dark hardwood floors.
Black Walnut
Black walnut is one popular choice for hardwood floors. This species is a beautiful dark chocolate brown color. Although it is softer than some hardwoods, it remains quite durable. This gorgeous hardwood is also resistant to insects and moisture, which is important for more humid climates.
Mahogany
Mahogany is known as a very luxurious choice in hardwood flooring. Mahogany has a deep, rich color and will bring a touch of elegance to any home it is installed in. Mahogany is also water and rot-resistant.
Teak
Teak has become a more popular choice for hardwood flooring lately. It isn’t hard to see why, considering this hardwood’s high oil content, tight grain, and long-lasting durability. Teak is also quite resistant to mold and mildew, which is a great quality to have on a wood floor. Dark teak has a beautiful variation in color, which gives it an interesting look.
Red Oak
Red Oak is lighter in color than the other choices listed here but can be stained darker. Red Oak has been a popular choice for hardwood flooring for centuries, and it’s no wonder why. This wood is very durable and strong and is widely available, which makes it more affordable. This wood was very trendy throughout the 1990s but remained a beautiful and classic style choice.
Bamboo
Bamboo has exploded in popularity for flooring in recent years. The gorgeous variation in bamboo and its eco-friendly reputation has made it a top choice for those installing hardwood floors. Bamboo floors are available in various finishes and can be stained to be quite dark. Bamboo is very durable, although it does scratch more easily than other species.
Black Maple
Black Maple is another beautiful, elegant choice for a dark hardwood floor. Maple is strong and durable and is perfect for use in a high-traffic area of the home. If you love a rich, dark floor, maple tends to darken more over time. Black maple floors are also rot-resistant.
Birch
Birch is another durable hardwood flooring option. Birch tends to have a pretty pattern with a straight grain with beautiful color variation. Birch floors are solo rot-resistant, making them very long-lasting.
Black Cherry
Black cherry is not quite as hard as other species but is also less likely than others to warp. Black cherry has a deep, dark due with gorgeous red undertones. The deep, rich color will give your home an elegant, luxurious feel.
Rosewood
Rosewood is a popular choice for hardwood floors, and one reason is how durable and versatile it is. It fits within almost any style of home and is great for high-traffic areas. Similar to Black Cherry, Rosewood has a deep rich color with red undertones and can have beautiful variation and striping, as well. Another good thing about rosewood is its resistance to damage from the sun, meaning its beautiful color will last a long time.
Next Day Floors
Dark hardwood floors have come back into fashion in recent years. There are many beautiful types and varieties of hardwood floors. If you are considering installing a hardwood floor, you’ll have to carefully weigh your options. Hopefully, you have found this guide helpful.
For more information on hardwood flooring, visit one of our flooring stores or schedule a free in-home estimate today!
