Which Hardwood Floor Is Best For Which Room?

Introduction

There are many popular hardwood floors available for you to get. However, choosing the right type of hardwood flooring for each room in your home can be a nightmare. Different rooms have varying requirements based on foot traffic, moisture levels, and the overall atmosphere you wish to create. Understanding which hardwood floor types are best suited for specific rooms can help you make informed decisions. Here is our hardwood floor matching guide for you.

Quick Table Guide Hardwood Floor for Every Room

Living Rooms and Family Rooms

Living rooms and family rooms are the heart of your home, where you relax, entertain guests, and spend quality time with family. These spaces see high foot traffic and frequent movement of furniture, so durability is key. Additionally, these rooms should have a warm and inviting atmosphere, which means the flooring should complement the décor and add charm. Comfortable underfoot is also important, as these are areas where people often spend long periods. Here Are The Best Hardwood Flooring Types for Living Rooms and Family Rooms:

Red Oak for Living Rooms and Family Rooms

Red Oak’s warm tones and distinct grain patterns create a cozy atmosphere. Functionally, its durability is essential for withstanding high traffic and frequent furniture rearrangement. For example, when your kids are running around and you need to arrange and re-arrange furniture to make space for your kids activities

Maple for Living Rooms and Family Rooms

Maple’s light, creamy color brightens up living spaces, making them feel larger and more open. Its hardness makes it resistant to scratches and dents. For instance, if you have a busy living room where children play with toys and your cats or dogs roam freely, Maple flooring can handle these activities without showing significant wear and tear.

Hickory for Living Rooms and Family Rooms

Hickory’s extreme durability and unique grain patterns add rustic charm to living rooms and family rooms. Its hardness makes it resistant to scratches and dents, making it ideal for homes with children and pets.

Dining Rooms

Dining rooms are spaces where families gather to share meals and entertain guests, so the flooring needs to withstand frequent movement of chairs and tables. Durability is essential to handle this constant activity without showing significant wear and tear. The aesthetic appeal of the flooring is also crucial, as it enhances the elegance of the dining room and complements the overall décor. Additionally, the flooring should be easy to clean, as spills and stains are common in dining areas. Here are The Best Hardwood Flooring Types for Dining Rooms:

Red Oak for Dining Rooms

Red Oak is a fantastic choice for your dining room! It’s durable, so it can handle all the hustle and bustle of family dinners and get-togethers without getting scratched up. The warm tones and unique grain patterns make the room feel cozy and inviting, perfect for creating a great atmosphere for meals and conversation.

Cherry for Dining Rooms

Cherry wood’s rich, warm hues add a luxurious touch. It’s smooth and easy to clean, making it suitable for formal dining settings such as an elegant dining room with a grand table and chandelier; Cherry flooring enhances the room’s sophisticated ambiance and is easy to maintain even after big family gatherings.

Walnut for Dining Rooms

Walnut’s luxurious appearance complements high-end furniture. It’s also easy to clean, which is essential for dining areas.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms are personal sanctuaries where comfort and relaxation are the top priority. Flooring in bedrooms should provide comfortable underfoot to walk on and contribute to a cozy, serene atmosphere. The aesthetic appeal is important to complement the bedroom décor and create a peaceful environment. While bedrooms are not as high-traffic as other areas, the flooring should still be durable enough to handle daily use without significant wear. Here are The Best Hardwood Flooring Types for Bedrooms:

Birch for Bedrooms

Picture a bedroom with wood flooring that enhances the room’s light and airy feel, it is no other than birch flooring. The gentle hues of the Birch floor will create a calm and serene atmosphere, making your bedroom a perfect retreat after a long day. Birch floor is typically easy to maintain. It means your bedroom remains clean with minimal upkeep.

Cherry for Bedrooms

Cherry’s warm tones create a cozy bedroom atmosphere. Over time, its color deepens, adding character. Cherry floor can make the space feel intimate and relaxing while the deepening color will add a touch of elegance year after year.

Walnut for Bedrooms

Walnut’s dark, elegant appearance adds sophistication. Its softer nature provides comfort underfoot. It’s an excellent choice for a master bedroom as the Walnut floor will further enhance the luxurious feeling of your master bedroom.

Kitchens

Kitchens are busy, high-traffic areas prone to spills and humidity, so the flooring should be resistant to moisture and stains. Durability is crucial to withstand heavy use, movement of appliances, and frequent spills. Additionally, the flooring should be easy to clean and maintain, ensuring a hygienic and practical kitchen environment. Here are The Best Hardwood Flooring Types for Kitchens:

White Oak for Kitchens

White Oak’s hardness and resistance to moisture make it ideal for kitchens. It handles spills and heavy use fairly easily. For example if you frequently cook and occasionally spill liquids, its water resistance properties will ensure your kitchen flooring remains undamaged, maintaining its integrity even in a busy kitchen environment.

Teak for Kitchens

Teak’s natural oils provide exceptional moisture resistance, making it perfect for kitchens prone to spills. Its rich color and sheen add a gentle touch. In a kitchen where spills happen regularly, Teak’s excellent water resistance and exotic appearance provide your kitchen with durable and stylish flooring.

Maple for Kitchens

Maple’s hardness and resistance to wear make it suitable for kitchens. Its light color brightens the space. Think of a busy kitchen where constant activity and spills occur like in a house with a big family; Maple’s smooth surface will it easy to clean and maintain, making your kitchen floor always in its top shape.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are exposed to high levels of moisture, so the flooring must be highly resistant to water and humidity. The flooring should also be durable enough to handle the frequent changes in temperature and humidity typical in bathrooms. Additionally, the aesthetic appeal of the flooring is important to enhance the bathroom’s spa-like atmosphere and create a relaxing environment. Here Are The Best Hardwood Flooring Types for Bathrooms:

Teak for Bathrooms

Teak’s natural oils make it highly resistant to moisture, perfect for bathrooms where water exposure is frequent. Its rich color adds a sophisticated look to your bathroom. In a bathroom where frequent steam and water splashes occur, Teak floor will remain unaffected, maintaining its beauty and integrity. Appearance wise, it is capable on transforming your bathroom into a luxurious spa-like retreat.

White Oak for Bathrooms

With proper finishing, White Oak can resist moisture and provide a stylish look in bathrooms. Its durability ensures it can handle the high humidity and temperature changes typical in a bathroom.

Entryways and Hallways

Entryways and hallways see high foot traffic and need durable flooring that can withstand wear and tear. The flooring should be easy to clean and maintain, as these areas often accumulate dirt and debris. Additionally, the flooring should make a good first impression and complement the overall home décor, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of these transitional spaces. Here are The Best Hardwood Flooring Types for Entryways and Hallways:

White Oak for Entryways and Hallways

White Oak’s hardness and durability make it suitable for high-traffic areas. It can handle heavy foot traffic. It adds an elegant look to the entryways while remaining brand-new despite the constant in-and-out activity, creating a great first impression for your guests when they enter your home.

Hickory for Entryways and Hallways

Hickory’s extreme durability and resistance to scratches make it perfect for entryways and hallways. Its unique grain patterns add character. It is capable of withstanding heavy foot traffic. In addition, it does not need frequent cleaning, maintaining its beautiful and distinctive look.

Ash for Entryways and Hallways

Ash hardwood flooring is perfect for hallways and entryways because it’s tough and can handle heavy foot traffic, keeping its look intact. Its light, bright appearance brightens up spaces and fits with any décor style. Plus, Ash is easy to maintain, staying clean and polished with minimal effort.

Conclusion

Choosing the right hardwood flooring can transform each room in your home. Hickory and Maple are perfect for living and family rooms due to their durability, while White Oak offers elegance. Walnut and Cherry add luxury to dining rooms, with White Oak providing durability. For kitchens, White Oak’s moisture resistance, Maple’s brightness, and Teak’s durability stand out. Hallways and entryways benefit from the resilience of Hickory, White Oak, and Ash. Bedrooms are cozy with Cherry, Walnut, and Birch, and Teak excels in moisture-prone areas like bathrooms and patios.