Which Flooring Is Right for You?
Hardwood and engineered wood are timeless classics that offer durability and style. But how do you choose the best flooring for your home? There are a few things to consider including where the flooring will be installed, your maintenance needs, your budget and the look and feel you’re going for.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood flooring is a great investment for any home. As the name implies, solid hardwood flooring is crafted of solid wood, which speaks to its durability and longevity.
Advantages of Solid Hardwood
- Solid hardwood is low maintenance and easy to clean.
- It adds to the value of your home and is available in a variety of wood types.
- This stylish addition works well with any décor.
- Solid hardwood flooring can be sanded and refinished multiple times.
Solid Hardwood Flooring Ideas
Solid hardwood flooring looks great in almost any room of your home. This gorgeous polar white solid oak hardwood flooring is the perfect complement to this trendy white kitchen. It's a mix of a versatile classic and modern flair. While trends come and go, solid hardwood flooring will stand the test of time.
In open floor plans, the continuous flow of hardwoods keeps the sense of cohesiveness, even as you break up the space with furniture to designate individual areas. If you want to keep the ambience smooth and easy-going, like in this open kitchen/dining space, opt for hardwood with medium brown hues.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood floors are made with veneers of real wood that can be more durable than traditional hardwood. Constructed from layers of wood, plywood and fiberboard, these can be installed over concrete as well as glued, stapled or free-floated.
Advantages of Engineered Hardwood
Beyond mimicking the look of real wood, engineered hardwood flooring has many advantages:
- Its durability makes engineered wood flooring a good choice for kids’ rooms and entries as well as living spaces.
- Engineered wood resists water damage and warping better than traditional hardwood.
- It comes in a variety of textures that aren’t always available in solid hardwood flooring.
- Colors and tones range from light to dark.
- Depending on the thickness of the veneer, engineered floors can be refinished.
- It can be more durable than traditional hardwood.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring Ideas
When choosing an engineered hardwood floor, think about where it'll be installed and how the room will function. Wood-look flooring is versatile and works in many spaces.
To add a cool, clean and on-trend look to a room, try something like an engineered gray-white oak flooring. Engineered walnut wood flooring of differing plank widths creates an unmistakable statement and makes the floor the focal point of any room. For an elegant entryway, chocolate-colored oak engineered plank flooring brings a warm and formal feel and makes a beautiful first impression.
The moisture resistance of engineered flooring makes it one of the best floors for kitchens, where meal-prep spills clean up easily. Mix grains and widths to help break up large, open spaces. The same moisture resistance that makes engineered flooring great for kitchens also makes it a top recommended bathroom flooring as well. However, for both the kitchen and bathroom, it’s important to ensure that it’s installed and cared for properly.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring gives a unique look with on-trend wood patterns and colors. Pick a palette to express your personality.
Advantages of Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring is versatile enough to be used almost anywhere you'd use wood flooring. Bamboo is an affordable alternative to hardwood and has other advantages.
- Bamboo flooring can be as hard or harder than hardwood.
- It resists dents and scratches, and holds up well to foot traffic.
- Bamboo is a sustainable, eco-friendly hardwood flooring option.
Bamboo flooring is available in a variety of color and texture choices that can reflect your personal style. It can last as long as a traditional hardwood floor and cleanup is simple; just sweep or vacuum it.
Bamboo Flooring Ideas
Bamboo flooring offers a clean, contemporary look and enhances any room in your home. If you want to give your kitchen a rich, fresh feel underfoot, try a mid-tone bamboo floor. Bamboo comes in deep tones that also feel just right in masculine spaces and rooms with modern architecture.
For a seamless flow between the downstairs and upstairs living spaces, install dark bamboo on the stairs to transition the mood and tone into another space.
Acacia Flooring
Acacia wood flooring is a naturally hard wood with a unique grain pattern and increased color variation that helps hide wear and tear. The pronounced knots and grain along with vibrant hues add drama to any room. Although acacia wood is resistant to water, it isn’t completely waterproof.
Advantages of Acacia Flooring
- Acacia flooring options include solid, engineered and laminate.
- It’s a very hard wood, harder than walnut or oak. It’s exceptionally durable, wears well and is less susceptible to scratches and dents like softer woods.
- Its appearance is unique, earthy and rustic.
- Acacia wood grows quickly, making it environmentally sustainable.
Acacia Flooring Ideas
In this living room, the warm mix of medium brown tones is the focal point of the room. It sets the stage for the beautifully contrasting sofa while complimenting the natural elements of the coffee table and other décor throughout the room.
Oak Flooring
Oak flooring is versatile and timeless. Part of its appeal is the warmth that it brings to spaces, and the grain and knot patterns in this flooring offer lots of character. Oak flooring is durable and available in two different species: red oak flooring and white oak flooring. There are a few differences between the two including the color and graining.
White Oak Flooring
White oak flooring has a smooth, uniform look. It’s naturally rot-resistant and can be used indoors or outdoors. White oak is slightly harder than red oak and stains more evenly. Its grain is smoother, giving it a more modern aesthetic.
Red Oak Flooring
Red oak flooring has a pinkish-red hue and is brighter than white oak. Red oak is a porous surface, so interior stain will adhere easily. It has a wide grain pattern with more variation, which helps to hide dents and scratches. Red oak has various natural shades ranging from light to dark, depending on the origin of the wood.
Oak Flooring Ideas
In this kitchen, the larger, wider planks of this beautiful oak hardwood flooring makes the linear layout of the room feel wider. The light tones keep the room from feeling too heavy and pairs beautifully with the brushed nickel accents and décor scattered throughout the room.
Oak floors and boho chic come together in this laid back and welcoming living room. The natural warmth and earthy vibe of the bohemian aesthetic are well-suited to oak's natural grain and texture throughout the space.
Walnut Wood Flooring
Walnut wood flooring is a classic choice for many homeowners. It’s a species that varies from soft to hard and comes in rich brown tones. If you’re going for a more natural look, walnut tends to show grains and knots more distinctly than other species of woods, adding to its rustic allure, making it the perfect flooring for a living room with a toned-down and relaxed aesthetic.
Advantages of Walnut Wood Flooring
- Walnut wood flooring is a sturdy, durable wood that's resistant to moisture, making it safe to mop.
- It’s versatile, has a strong grain pattern and stains well.
- The natural, rich color of walnut means it easily hides any scratches or dents.
- Walnut wood flooring complements both traditional and contemporary décor.
Walnut Flooring Ideas
Create a stunning first impression with warm autumn brown walnut hardwood flooring in your entryway. The rich, glossy tones add a feeling of warmth and balance the other dark hues in the space with ease.
Walnut flooring fits in with a modern monochromatic miniminalist look. Seamlessly transition walnut flooring from one room to the next to create a sense of cohesiveness that flows between the spaces.
Find more options for flooring that look like wood, and discover the best flooring for your needs.
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See More Flooring Ideas
Need more flooring ideas and inspiration? Lowe's Flooring Visualizer helps you see which floor will look best in your home.