5 Tips For Decorating With Dark Floors
What will your dark floors say about your home? They can add elegance, mood, and a sense of cleanliness that lighter floors often cannot. Not to mention, dark floors come in a variety of styles and materials. Solid versus engineered hardwood, herringbone, porcelain tile, luxury vinyl, terracotta tile — the possibilities are endless with what kind of dark floors are best suited for you.
Regardless of your personal preferences, research suggests that homes with darker floors have a higher resale value than homes with lighter floors (according to The Brain And The Brawn). Dark floors also require less maintenance and do a better job of hiding dust better than light floors. And lastly, they accommodate a variety of styles. Mid-century modern, modern farmhouse, Mediterranean, and contemporary are just some of the many aesthetics that work wonderfully with dark flooring. Keep reading for five decorating tips for leveling up your dark floor spaces.
Work the white walls
A fresh coat of white paint goes a long way. If you are working with dark floors but feel the room needs a bit of a lift, white paint is your best friend. First and foremost, white paint is an optimal kind of contrast for your dark floors. This creates dimension and separation within the space. Secondly, white always brightens and opens up a space. When working with dark floors but still seeking a light and simple design, white walls work the best (as noted by Dea Vita).
It is also worth noting that there are different shades of "white" that will better complement, depending on the type of dark flooring. Typically, these two categories can be best described as warm versus cool tones. For example, a warm, dark flooring such as a mahogany hardwood would pair well with a warm white paint color. Contrarily, a cool, dark option such as a matte porcelain flooring would pair better with a cool white paint, almost a gray-white. Making sure that the tones match is critical to creating the right kind of contrast.
Stick with statement greenery
With dark flooring, especially cooler tones or materials not derived from nature, it can be easy for a home to feel a bit sterile and lifeless. And that is why it is always a good idea to bring dramatic plants inside these spaces. Doing so will create a sense of combining the indoor and outdoor and bring a rejuvenating and lively quality to your home, with lots of health benefits, according to Piedmont. Plants also go well with white walls if you integrate varying warm or cool textured pots that complement the flooring.
In terms of ideas for statement plants, there are so many to choose from. The monstera is a great starting point. They don't require super intense light and, therefore, can be placed in a number of different rooms. The watering regiment is standard. However, they are toxic to pets, so be sure to be careful in that regard. Another idea is the Areca Palm, which would work particularly well in a Mediterranean or contemporary aesthetic. This is another fun and dynamic plant that works great in a main living room or sunroom, as it has a super high light tolerance and moderate water needs (as noted by TreeHugger).
Bring the bright and geometric
This tip works particularly well if you are looking to bring a fun, mid-century sensibility to your home. By combining bright pops of color with mid-century shapes, this stark contrast can work wonders for a room. Neutral, gray, and white furniture are safe and reliable choices, but bringing bright colors such as mustard, cerulean, olive, and marigold can work wonders on a space (as noted by Home Decor Bliss).
Geometry brings order and personality to a room. Combining these bright colors with strong, hard lines, angular legs, and rounded backs, among other details, will really make a room pop. Don't be afraid to experiment outside of your traditional palette for something a bit more daring and fun. Dark floors bring sophistication. But these details balance that with a touch of funk and attitude. And beyond the furniture, mid-century artwork can do a lot for a room with darker floors, as well.
Consider the kitchen
In general, the kitchen is one of the critical spaces in a home to offer contrast, design, and ambiance. When thinking about the cabinet, island, and countertop finishes, be aware of the effects that these selections can have on the mood of the room. When it comes to dark floors, it is better to have a light island material or pop of color to strongly contrast the floors. Ideally, the color of the island should also be different from the cabinets around the rest of the kitchen (as noted by HomeAwakening).
When the island and floor are too similar in color, the kitchen can often lack a focal point and feel a bit monotonous. Given today's design trends, dark floors are pairing particularly well with the white and bright look so many homeowners desire today. While dark cabinets can bring something contemporary and moody, the contrast of white cabinets, lighter countertop materials, and dark floors are a striking and inviting look that offers tremendous resale value.
Beam it up
Rustic beams wonderfully center a home with dark flooring. When dealing with an expansive space, perhaps one within a mountain home or rustic appeal, this recreates a sense of coziness. They also offer the opportunity for a homeowner or designer to tie a color palette together even more nicely. A dark warm floor and sunny white walls might pair wonderfully with black ceiling beams. Cooler, charcoal flooring and cool white walls can compliment light oak beams super well (as noted by Soul and Lane).
Rustic beams work with ultra-large spaces and can show exceptionally well with vaulted or traditional ceilings. In particular, they can be a perfect design finish for a homeowner or designer who prefers brighter furniture and finish choices. Offering that balance between the floors and the ceiling with brighter features is incredibly pleasing to the eye and can really create a sense of unity within a room.