Need a new floor and are wondering how to match new wood flooring with your existing wall colors and decor? So many of us are confronted with this very same dilemma. There are so many options out there, so it may seem overwhelming to choose the right one. With that in mind, allow us to share an article that was originally posted here
Tips for Matching Wood Flooring with Wall Colors
When building or redecorating a space, you have the option of choosing the wood items in the space and the wall colors at the same time. If the flooring or wall color is already set, those become the starting parameters for the rest of your choices. Sometimes it can be easier to choose a favorite wood or wall color and then find a counterpart that brings out all the beauty of the item you initially fell in love with. But when you are faced with how to match wood flooring with the existing wall colors, let us share some pointers here.
Light and Dark Contrast
When you are looking to make a visual impact in a space, there’s no better way than to match the wood flooring with wall tones in a light and dark contrast. Dark floors stand out against a light wall while white light wood floors brighten up a room with a darker wall color. Walls and floors that are very different in tone have a tendency of highlighting both as separate features of the space. When walls are dark, it tends to make a room feel smaller and bring down the ceiling height for a cozy effect. When wall colors are light they seem more expansive and roomy. Keep in mind that very light and very dark flooring both tend to show dirt and dust easier than mid-tone wood floors.
Choosing Something Neutral
Neutral wall colors are not just a seamless backdrop for any type of decor, they are also a perfect pairing for virtually any flooring finish. Gray, taupe, cream, and white are just a few of the most popular neutral wall colors. Neutral colors with warm undertones look better with warm wood floors. Neutral colors with cool undertones look better with cool wood floors. Use natural walls as a backdrop to display artwork, home furnishings, and accessories with more flair.
Select Complementary Tones
The color wheel makes it easy to find a wall color and flooring color that will look fantastic with one another. When you look at the color wheel, colors arranged directly across from one another are considered complementary. Floors with an orange undertone look pleasing to the eye paired with wall colors in the blue family. Floors with a red undertone, such as cherry, look pleasing with green wall colors. Light floors with a yellow undertone are a great pairing for purples. This makes for a fun and modern way to match the wood flooring with wall coverings.
Display Analogous Shades
Just as colors opposite one another on the color wheel are pleasing to the eye, so are colors next to each other on the color wheel. These colors are referred to as analogous colors. Reds, yellows, and oranges are considered warm color tones. Greens, blues, and purples are considered cool color tones. Choose wood and wall colors next to each other or close to each other on the color wheel. Pair a golden floor with a red wall or a floor with red undertones with a yellow wall.
Consider Existing Furniture
The artwork and furniture that are already in the room can be a great inspiration for choosing the new floor. Look at the wood tones featured on the furniture. Choose similar wood tones for the floor. If you have a piece that combines wood tones with paint or upholstery you already know that they go together. Use the pieces you already love and pull colors out of those pieces to use as the foundation of the room design.
These are all very good pointers in matching wood flooring to the existing wall colors and hopefully helpful to you. In addition, we would like to suggest that you visit one of our 2 showrooms (Napa and Vallejo) and take some samples home. But be sure to call us first for an appointment. Don’t be afraid to try out a couple that may be outside your comfort zone. You might just surprise yourself. The samples can look quite different in natural light vs artificial light. Look at them over the course of 24 hours in many different lighting combinations to make sure they complement your space.
Make no mistake, the floor and walls surfaces are the biggest surface areas in the room. Make them an eye-catching addition to the space by choosing colors that look appealing against one another. Picking Analogous colors, complementary colors, and neutral colors are all reliable approaches to creating an inviting space. With the right floor and wall colors in place, any room is ready to receive layers of texture and style with furniture, accessories, and area rugs.
In the end, matching your walls and wood floors can be simple! Just remember to consider undertones while not adding colors that will either clash or dampen your space. You can start by letting West Coast Floor Company help assist you with this task.
This article was originally posted here