Dark floors vs light – Your flooring guide

Jump on Pinterest or flick through some interior design magazines. Think back to spaces that have really inspired you- perhaps a friend’s home, a hotel, a shop or café. Don’t think solely about the flooring. How do you want the entire space/ home to look and feel? Pin pictures or create tear sheets of what you’re drawn to. Once you have a few, evaluate what you have collected. Is there a common flooring (and general) thread throughout? Perhaps everything you have selected is contemporary, full of texture and modern furniture or maybe it’s layered, classic and featuring antiques. You will also see common flooring styles too, whether that be a design or colour. Choose a few images that really “speak” to you as inspiration for all of your selections. Having some reference when you shop or choose materials will be really helpful.

It’s time to get a little bit realistic. Compare your inspiration images to the actual space you’re working with. You might be drawn to dark flooring but in reality, the space is small, and dark and you want to open it up. That means a lighter flooring might work but you can pull the darker flooring reference into the space with smaller highlights, like a side table, artwork frames or a contrasting rug. You could also consider dark flooring but maybe something in the mid-range palette. You also need to think about how the space will be used and who will be using it. Darker hard floors can show up marks more clearly than their lighter counterparts but in turn, very light carpet can have the same effect. Consider pet hair too, with light hairs showing up on dark flooring and vice versa. Think about the level of care and cleaning you will be maintaining (darker hard flooring might need a bit more cleaning) versus how much you want a particular style or colour of flooring- at the end of the day, it will be you that has to care for it! For carpet care tips click here and for timber care tips click here. Vinyl care can be found here and hybrid here. There’s also a good guide for carpets here.

It can be helpful to view an actual sample in the space where it is intended. Leave it on the floor over the period of a day to see how it looks in different levels of light. Consider if different seasons allow differing levels of light through that might impact the flooring. How a sample seems on the screen or in the showroom will be different in your own home. It might absorb the light differently at home. Does is seem more reflective? Darker or lighter than you thought?

Hold other samples (such as tiles or stone) next to the flooring if you’re doing a bigger renovation to see how they feel together. If it’s the only thing changing in the space consider how it will work with your furniture, rugs or other items in the room. You may only be replacing one area of flooring so also place the sample next to what will remain (new carpet next to the timber floor boards you’re keeping, for example). It should feel cohesive and refer back to your inspiration images for guidance if you need.

If you’re still uncertain, head into a showroom where the experts are ready to help! Bring your inspiration images and ideas as well as pictures of your room or spaces you’re planning on replacing the flooring in so they can guide you in the right direction.

What flooring is best in a bedroom?

Carpet vs hard flooring in bedrooms is a common design dilemma, so much so there’s a whole blog post dedicated to it! Carpet is soft underfoot and adds to a relaxing and calming environment. It also has benefits from an acoustic and thermal perspective. On the other hand, hard flooring is easy to maintain and can flow from other rooms for a modern feel. A rug can also play a part here when you want to add texture and warmth but maintain hard flooring.

How do I keep dark floors clean?

To keep your flooring looking like new for longer, regular cleaning and maintenance is key. Vacuum or sweep to remove dirt and grit often. This means there’s less potential for the particles to scratch the surface or ingrain themselves into carpet. Some flooring is lower maintenance than others, although all flooring, regardless of style requires continued care.

What flooring is best with pets?

All pets are different and the impact they will have on the flooring will vary too. Some materials, colours and products will withstand the extra wear and tear pets add to everyday traffic more than others. Always keep your pet’s paws in check and make sure their nails are not scratching hard flooring or pulling at carpet. Speaking of nails, loop pile carpets are not always best with pets as their claws can pull at individual loops to stick to twist or cut piles. Materials like laminate, hybrid and vinyl are good for scratch resistance too! In terms of colour, as mentioned in the blog, if your pet has dark hair, this might show up on light flooring more clearly, and vice versa light pet hair.

Disclaimer: In some states of Australia, the building regulations for Vinyl Planks, Vinyl Tiles and Hybrid flooring varies. Meaning they may not be suitable for areas requiring water resistance, such as bathrooms and toilets. We advise to always ask your local Flooring Xtra store for the correct advice regarding the local regulations. We also advise to follow the manufacturer’s recommended installation instructions and guidelines, not following the instructions could make the product not fit for purpose, for the area it’s being installed into and void your product warranty. To ensure you get the appropriate product for those areas, please contact your local Flooring Xtra store.