How to Choose the Right Stains for Hardwood Floors
It’s the prime time for home improvement projects. We can finally open up the windows without freezing instantly, which means that it’s time for sanding, staining, and painting. If one of your upcoming home projects is to hit the floor and figure out your hardwood, then we’ve got what you need.
One of the main questions people have when it comes to restoring hardwood floors is whether or not to stain. Then they have to find the right color stain—this is a big decision. It stays for a long time and makes quite an impact on the feel of a room and the home. If you need some help deciding, take a look at our guide on how to choose the right stains for hardwood floors.
Figure Out What Type of Wood Floor You Have
Before you even delve into looking at stain colors, you need to understand the traits of the wood floor you have. There are some wood floors that often don't need to be stained—mahogany, cherry, walnut, or maple are unique woods with characteristics that could be compromised upon staining. Most often, when people stain their floors, they’re trying to imitate these types of floors.
Other common hardwood floor types like red or white oak are the perfect candidates for staining. Do research before staining your floor to ensure that the wood will take the staining well.
Think About House Guests
Before you fully decide, think about who is living in your house with you. If you have pets, and they’re light-haired friends, then you’ll want to go for a lighter stain so you’re not constantly sweeping. Darker stains work well with darker-haired pets. Think about kids, too—crumbs don’t show as well on lighter stains!
Decide on a Design Style
When it comes to choosing the right stain for your floor, you need to think about the overall design style you want for the space. If you have a specific interior design style in mind, that will make choosing a stain color a lot easier. If you’re staining a floor and keeping the furniture you already have, then you need to take those pieces into consideration before staining. Looking at a color chart will help!
Check Out a Color Chart
Color charts should be at your beck and call throughout the staining process. At ECOS Paints, we have a stain color chart that will help you further understand the underlying hues you’ll find in our stains. Looking at the mix of colors within the stain will help you better match a stain to the furniture you already have. For example, if you’re going for a modern look in the home, and you have quite a bit of black furniture and clean lines, then you’d want to go with a stain that has more black within it, such as Black Onyx or Deep Smoke.
Narrow Down to Two or Three Colors
Once you’ve thought about your design style and figured out a range of colors that would work best for your home, then you need to narrow it down to two or three colors. This process can be quite difficult, but even narrowing to three or four options will get you closer to choosing the perfect stain for the floor. To do so, you’re going to want to have a floor professional provide you with some larger samples. These samples can either be applied directly to a section on the floor or be large portable sample panels. Give yourself time to sit with these options before deciding.
For all of your wood staining needs, turn to ECOS Paints. Just as our paints are health-focused, so are our eco-friendly wood stains. Our shades range from Pickling White to Black Onyx—regardless of the color you choose, staining your hardwood floors will make them look brand-new again. Breathe new life into your home with ECOS!