5 Hardwood Flooring Considerations For Small Rooms
Hardwood flooring is a beautiful and durable choice for nearly any room in the home. There are a few techniques to keep in mind if you are putting hardwood into a smaller room, though.
1. Color
It's not a secret that lighter colors open up spaces, while dark colors can make them seem smaller and more crowded. Further, blending the floors into the walls and ceiling will further make the rooms seem larger. Light white or cream walls, combined with creamy natural-finished hardwood, brings a lot of light into the space and makes the walls and floor fade into the background so that the room feels bigger.
2. Finish
The final finish refers to the clear final coat. You have the option of matte, satin, semi-gloss, or a glossy finish. Light reflection is another key for a larger feeling room, so generally, a semi-gloss or glossy finish is ideal in a small space. The one exception is if the room receives a lot of direct natural sunlight, as this can lead to uncomfortable glares off the floor. In this case, a matte or satin finish may be better.
3. Size
Size matters. Narrow hardwood planks are fairly common. Parquet flooring uses even narrower and shorter pieces to create hardwood designs, such as chevron or herringbone patterns, on the floor. Although both of these options are beautiful, the busy patterns created by narrow planks and parquet can break up the space and make a room feel smaller. Instead, opt for wide or extra wide planks. Not only are fewer planks necessary to finish the floors, but the large planks also create the illusion of a larger space.
4. Baseboards
Baseboards are simply a continuation of the floor, providing a seamless segue into the walls. Wood baseboards almost always look best with hardwood floors. Choose a finish for the baseboards designed to match the color and gloss of the hardwood flooring. Doing so tricks the eye into thinking the floors extend further since there is not a clear line dividing walls from the floor.
5. Continuation
In more open rooms, such as a living room, hallway, or dining room, consider extending the hardwood flooring into any neighboring rooms that are connected via an open doorway. The continuity of the flooring beyond the room but still within visual distance makes the room seem like it continues further than it actually does.
Contact a hardwood flooring installation service, such as Sandmasters Hardwood Floors Inc., for more information.