Stains in natural colors that range from beige to dark brown are the best choice for homes with dogs and other large pets. During periods of shedding, fur will be barely noticeable on floor surface.
Now let's look at what finishes are best for pet owners. Key Takeaway: When selecting hardwood flooring for pets, hickory (1820 Janka rating), Red Oak (1290), and White Oak (1360) are all great options. They offer beautiful colors and excellent protection against wear and tear caused by claws or other sharp objects.
Affordable and animal-friendly, vinyl flooring often nabs the number one spot for pet-friendly flooring. Not only is it inexpensive and suitable for anywhere in your house, but vinyl flooring is also resistant to scratches and stains caused by mucky pups and playful felines.
Floors with a white finish go with almost everything. A light burlap-like color is a great choice because you still get a light floor, without installing a truly “white” floor. You can use a variety of wood species to create a light floor.
Neutral colors like beige, grey and greige are especially timeless and pair nicely with a variety of decor styles. For a classic look, opt for warm tones such as honey brown, deep cherry, or espresso. Cooler tones like ash grey, natural oak, and white can add a modern flair to any space.
Top 5 wood floor color categories:
Gray tones (light to dark) White-washes and tones. Honey & light brown tones. Walnut & dark brown tones.
So, what flooring looks cleanest? Typically, lighter color woods show less dirt and dust. Dark floors can easily show dust, while lighter floors mask it. Similarly, matte floors show less smudges, foot and paw prints than high gloss flooring.
Contrast Is Key
Darker wood floors can make lighter wood furniture pop and look extremely satisfying. Alternatively, lighter wood floors provide the perfect balance for darker furniture pieces. Without contrast, a room can appear monotonous, and smaller pieces easily become lost in the space.
If you're looking for cool shades for your hardwood floors in 2023, look no further! Light tans, and browns with hints of grey or white will be popular as well as whitewashed finishes. Meanwhile, yellow-toned shades are moving out of favor.
While gathering together your wood flooring ideas, bear in mind that it is wise to avoid light coloured wooden floors that may well show up dirt easily, and opt instead for a mid-tone shade that will not only add a lovely warmth to your home but should also be a little more forgiving in terms of paw prints.
Lighter floors are the best hardwood floors for dogs and cats as they hide pet hair better, while dark floors reveal scratches and hair from shedding pets far more obviously.
Vinyl is our top choice, but laminate is also an excellent option. If you have a bit more money to spend, you can consider tile, which is more expensive than vinyl or laminate flooring but offers similar dog-friendly characteristics like water and scratch resistance.
Place some mats or runners in hallways or in places where your pets stay the most. Putting rugs in front of entrance ways and dog doors also helps in minimizing scratches and dents on the hardwood floor. Placing a rug underneath your dog's water bowl helps keep spilled water from soaking your floor too.
Gray and medium-toned brown flooring can be a good option for hiding dog hair, as they can blend in with many different coat colors. Lighter shades of flooring, such as white or very light gray, can also help to hide dog hair, but may require more frequent cleaning to maintain their appearance.
If wooden flooring is what you want despite having a cat or dog, then engineered hardwood is the choice to make every single time. This is because the manufacturing process generally gives this sort of surface a veneer that is tougher and more able to resist damage from scratches and stains made by your furry friends.
Don't Fear Dark Wood Colors
It's a misconception that dark wood floors constrict our sense of space. Paired with the right combination of wall color, trim, and molding, darker species like walnut and exotic Brazilian cherry can, in fact, make a room look bigger.
If you'd like to feel less cramped in a smaller room, try breathable light colors to create openness. For a sunny, happy feel, try a floor color with shades of yellow. If you'd like a relaxing, peaceful environment, try light gray or light-toned wood. To emulate class and elegance, black or red are great options.
Whatever vibe you're going for, your wood color plays a huge role in getting you there. Generally speaking, lighter colors work best for modern designs while darker colors complement traditional and rustic atmospheres. However, you can always mix and match your wood color to achieve the perfect design.
#4: Light Neutral Colors
Another top flooring trend in 2023? Light and neutral flooring. Modern grey wood flooring continues to be popular, as are light floor colors like blonde and beige. A great way to add these lighter flooring shades to your home or business is to use bamboo flooring.
Since high gloss is not the best option for high traffic areas in your home, a low gloss finish might be a better choice for those areas. If you want a slighter appearance of high gloss though, and still want a hardwood finish that will last a long time, semi-gloss is your best option.
Typically, homeowners opt for the same flooring throughout their homes because it creates a cohesive, seamless look. However, some homeowners prefer to mix and match flooring to create a more unique and functional design for their space.
Finally, given the tone of light floors, they tend to appear cleaner longer. Light-colored flooring often shows less dust, debris than do dark floors and pesky, inevitable scratches and damage will be less obvious.
Broxson says, “Flooring color trends that are going out or have been out of style for awhile are orange and honey tones and gray.” They're pretty important. You might not want to achieve this milestone virtually.
The gray hardwood flooring trend has been popular for a few years now. When it first started catching on, many homeowners and interior design professionals were quick to dismiss it as a passing fad. But it looks like gray is here to stay—at least for the foreseeable future.