Choosing Hardwood Floor Color for the Kitchen

Hardwood is slowly but surely making its way into the kitchen. Before, people would use tile or stone for their kitchens, but today’s technology led to the creation of quality waterproof wood. No more worrying that the floors will get damaged if you splash color on them.

Choosing Hardwood Floor Color for the Kitchen
[image: pexels by max vakhtbovych]

However, now that this problem is solved, you have yet another question to deal with: how to choose your hardwood floor, what color should you go for? Considering this is the kitchen we are talking about, can you pick just any color, or are some colors more recommended than others? Well, we are about to find out. 

• Matte Finishes

Nowadays, natural colors are the most popular thing. In the past, people would go for steely colors, but over time, the shades got much lighter. Also, matte finishes are the most popular choice – because the more shine it has, the more it will show wear as time passes. With matte finishes, this is not an issue.

This can be a very important matter for your kitchen. Over time, you are bound to drop a few pots, spoons, or some sharp things on the floor. Plus, the glossier the surface, the higher the chances of you slipping will be. For both safety and aesthetics, you might want to consider matte finishes as well. 

• Butterscotch and Honey

In time, hardwood colors change depending on the trends. There were times when colorfully painted hardwood floors were the best things you could have in your kitchen. Nowadays, however, people toned down the color into something more muted – something that is soothing to the eye.

Among timeless color profiles, we have butterscotch and honey. These two colors are the it-thing in stores, mainly because you can do whatever you want with them. “It's a tone that allows you to redesign around it — not too dark, not too light. You can accessorize it well,” says design specialist Laura.

• Dark vs. Light

The size of your kitchen will determine which color you should pick. For instance, a lighter color might work better in a smaller kitchen, as it will open up the space. It will reflect the light, and it will make the whole space feel airier.

On the other hand, if you have a large kitchen, dark hardwood might be the best choice. It will add a sense of elegance to your kitchen, making it cozier and more welcoming for anyone stepping inside this room.

• Complimenting Cabinets

Many homeowners believe that their floors should match the cabinets, but that is not exactly true. Indeed, this should be an individual choice, but at the same time, you should do some mixing. Rather than matching the cabinets, the floors should complement the cabinets.

For example, if your cabinets are painted white or some off-white shade, then you might want to go for a medium to dark hardwood floor color. On the other hand, if you have dark kitchen cabinets, you might want to go for light hardwood floors as they will open up the room.

• Consider White-Washing

If you really want to light things up, you might want to consider adding white-washed floors in your kitchen. This style comes and goes continuously, but if there is something that we learned, it’s that it always bounces back.

“The color that everybody wants when they walk into our showroom is unfinished oak. They want that pale, white-washed look. They don't want to see color in there, they want it to feel supernatural — but of course, you need to do a finish, because otherwise, your floor will stain,” says designer of RTA Cabinet Supply.

“It creates a nice, still natural, not a lot of caked-on-color look, which is something that's a little bit of the past,” Daniel also adds. Bear in mind that wood flooring is very often a permanent decision, so you have to pick the finish right. “Design to the style of your home, your taste, and what you're going to like living with. Just be careful not to go too extreme,” Laura Firszt adds to that.

In the end, the color that you choose for your hardwood floors should be based on your personal preferences, as well as your kitchen and home design. You should always keep the bigger picture in mind when choosing the colors.