ᐅ How did you choose the color of your flooring?

Hello everyone,

I am curious about the criteria you used to choose your floor color. Generally, lighter colors tend to feel cooler, while darker colors, such as brown, feel warmer. On the other hand, a floor that is too dark can also feel oppressive. We realized that looking at small samples isn’t very helpful. A dark color might look great on a 30x30 cm (12x12 inch) sample, but when it’s installed over an area of 40 m² (430 sq ft) or more, the floor can end up feeling much too dark.

Right now, I’m leaning toward ordering several square meters of flooring online to use as larger samples and possibly return the ones I don’t want. It’s not the most ideal approach and not really my style, but I can’t think of a better way at the moment. How did you handle this?

Visit a proper showroom.

We currently have a very dark solid wood parquet floor. A very dark brushed brown. It looks very stylish paired with white walls, but every little thing is visible.

For the new house, we switched to a much lighter planed parquet. It is a mix of light brown and gray.

We visited a really good showroom in the Cologne area that also includes furnished displays (meaning complete rooms with furniture) and we fell in love right away.

As it often goes, we didn’t like anything else afterwards.

Conclusion: Find a good showroom, go there, and take a look.

There are stores that even sell flooring. It’s worth visiting and taking a look (often, these come in larger panels with the corresponding coverings).

Criteria? Personal taste. For example, I only use hardwood flooring, except in the hallway and bathroom. I even have hardwood in the kitchen. I simply find it beautiful. Color? Mmm, six years ago, dark brown in the living area (barrique oak) and cream-colored tiles in the hallway, kitchen, and bathrooms. Three years ago, white-oiled oak planks (except for the bathroom, where large-format anthracite tiles matched well). By the end of this year, it will be oak planks again (amber oak). I’m still undecided about the tiles for the hallway.

Taste changes over time. There are so many beautiful options. The rest of the apartment or house also has to match.

nordanney schrieb:

There are stores that even sell flooring. You could go and take a look (often these are larger panels with the corresponding finishes).
Criteria? Personal taste. For example, I only use hardwood flooring, except in the hallway and bathroom. Even in the kitchen, there is hardwood. I just find it beautiful. Color? Mmm, six years ago dark brown in the living area (barrique oak) and cream-colored tiles in the hallway/kitchen/bathrooms. Three years ago, white-oiled oak planks (except in the bathroom, where large format anthracite-colored tiles were used). At the end of the year, oak planks again (amber oak). I’m not sure yet about the tiles for the hallway.
Tastes change. There are so many beautiful options. The rest of the apartment/house also needs to match.

Although I actually tend to choose the flooring independently of the furniture. In my experience, furniture is usually more short-lived than flooring.

We had a similar experience during our search. I visited several specialty stores and DIY centers to collect samples (either as a deposit or borrowed for free), and then I examined the samples at home under various lighting conditions, since the color can often be misleading in the store. When I found a sample I liked, I searched online for videos or at least pictures, so I could see how it looks in an entire room. The pattern is the main focus here, as I can evaluate the color well at home.

Tarnari schrieb:

Although I tend to avoid choosing the flooring based on the furniture.

I actually think the other way around. Choose furniture to match the flooring.