Light or Dark Hardwood Flooring: Which Is Better for You?

Light or Dark Hardwood Flooring: Which Is Better for You?

Hardwood floors are known for their durability, convenience, elegance, and polished look. Once you’ve settled on this flooring for your Toronto home, you face another decision — whether to stick with classic dark hardwood or opt for a lighter finish? There are several advantages to both these styles, leaving you to decide which will look best in your home.

Here, we examine the pluses and minuses of dark and light hardwood flooring.

Pros & Cons of Light and Dark Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors are doubtless one of the most popular flooring options, with a variety of hardwood flooring trends popular at any given time.

As far as types are concerned, both light and dark hardwoods are widely popular. Let’s examine their pros and cons to understand which is the best option for your home.

Pros of Light Hardwood Flooring 

Light hardwood flooring is popular for its natural, bright, and modern look. When done well, a light hardwood floor can open up a room and create a more spacious feeling, thus enhancing natural light inside the room. The benefits of light hardwood flooring include:

1. It Offers a Natural Look

Depending on the type of wood, lighter hardwood flooring gives a more natural and organic look to your living space.

2. It Hides Wear & Tear Done by Kids or Pets 

Consider this hardwood flooring if you have kids or pets because wear and tear will be much less visible than dark colours. With less visible damage, you need to clean the floors less.

3. It Can Make a Space Feel Larger 

Light hardwood floors bounce more light around the room than darker floors so make it feel bigger.

4. It Matches Well With Different Styles 

Whether you want a traditional, modern, or custom look, light hardwood flooring goes with a number of different design styles.

5. It Goes Well With Dark Furniture 

If you have dark-coloured furniture, lighter hardwood flooring helps you achieve a good balance visually.

Cons of Light Hardwood Flooring

1. It Fades Faster   

Light hardwood can fade when exposed to sunlight for extended periods.

2. It Reflects a Washed-Out Look  

In a large room with lots of natural light, light hardwood floors can almost create a washed-out look or glaring effect because of the light that bounces off them.

3. It Doesn’t Always Look Good with Light-Coloured Cabinets 

If you have light wood cabinets instead of white cabinets then light hardwood floors are not the right option.

Pros of Dark Hardwood Floors

Dark hardwood is mostly found in formal spaces, but in recent years increasingly more casual and rustic-themed places are adopting this style. A big benefit of dark hardwood flooring is its ability to be created easily, regardless of what design style you want. Other advantages include:

1. It Gives Depth and Contrast to a Room 

Dark hardwood floors offer richness and contrast to a room that lighter-coloured hardwood floor cannot. For example, if you’ve chosen light colours for your cabinetry or furnishings, dark hardwood floors will give you perfect contrast in your Toronto home.

2. It Hides Dark-Coloured Debris Better  

If you have dark-haired pets or tend to have more dark-coloured debris on the floors, dark hardwood floors will hide it better.

3. It Doesn’t Fade Easily 

Dark hardwood floors are less prone to fading. This makes them suitable for rooms that receive a lot of sunlight.

4. It Is Versatile 

Its versatile appearance makes it ideal for any kind of property, whether it is a classic design such as those found in plantation-style homes, or something more contemporary.

5. It Boosts Your Home’s Property Value 

Both light and dark hardwood flooring can raise your home’s market value, but darker wood more so.

6. It Offers Flexibility 

Darker stains complement diverse colours and fabrics, giving you the flexibility to choose from a wider range of furniture styles and accessories.

 

Cons of Dark Hardwood Flooring 

1. It Makes A Room Appear Smaller 

Darker hardwood can make your home appear smaller than it is. That is why you may need to paint your walls a lighter colour.

2. Dust And Dirt Are More Visible on Dark Hardwoods 

Dust and dirt are more visible on dark flooring, meaning you’ll have to use suitable cleaners. To reduce the amount of dust and dirt that accumulates, don’t wear shoes. Moreover, maintain a cleaning schedule to ensure your flooring remains in great condition.

Your selection of dark or light hardwood flooring depends on your style preference as well as your living situation. One style is not better than the other; they’re just different. Choose the flooring that best matches your furniture and décor. Another major consideration is the amount of traffic in your home, or if you have children and/or pets. Finally, the size of your rooms and your home’s floor plan makes choosing the style easier since they are appropriate for opposite layouts. Because there are pros and cons of both types of flooring in Toronto, make certain you choose the style that suits you best.