Flooring is one of the most important design elements of a home’s interior, and hardwood can elevate the style of any room. If you’re thinking about updating your floors with hardwood, you’ll have to consider which species will bring the right color and warmth into your home. These are some of the most popular types of hardwood flooring.
Oak
Two common types of oak hardwood are red oak and white oak. Red oak is the most commonly used domestic species for flooring, and it’s characterized by shades of pink, red and brown in its coloring and fairly heavy grain. White oak is less pink and has more gray, brown and gold tones, and its grain is more linear than red oak. You may also want to consider a European oak, such as the Monarch Plank European oak, which usually has a softer grain and is more durable than the American species.
Maple
Maple hardwood is known for its light coloring and grain. The basic shade is a pale cream color that only slightly varies between boards. Depending on the grade of maple you choose, it may have many dark brown mineral streaks throughout or barely any streaks at all. The grain is typically faint with mostly linear lines and a few patterns; some cuts will have birds eye patterns that consist of many small knots. Maple grows in northern North America and is known for being a very hard species.
Walnut
American Walnut, or Black Walnut, is very recognizable because of its rich, chocolate brown coloring and soft, straight grain. This species shows some color and grain variation between boards, but it retains a cohesive warmth throughout. If you’re looking for a floor that will withstand all wear and tear, another species of walnut you may want to consider is Brazilian Walnut, which is one of the hardest woods in the world. It has a similar appearance to American Walnut but will be pricier.
Hardwood flooring is a worthwhile investment because of its timelessness. Be sure to check out these beautiful species the next time you go flooring shopping.
