Joanna Gaines Shows Us A Genius Way To Make Basic Hardwood Floors Look More Unique

We sometimes focus on everything that goes on and around our floors instead of placing our attention on the flooring itself, but they're often the most crucial piece of your home design. It's the little, often overlooked details that can make all the difference, turning a room from ordinary into completely show-stopping. We've seen plenty of stunning floor design choices on "Fixer Upper," so it's no surprise that Joanna Gaines has an eye for those small but mighty details. You might feel like you've exhausted your options when it comes to hardwood flooring, considering every stain and style without finding something that really catches your eye, but Gaines has a genius idea that you wouldn't find in your mountain of wooden swatches. In Season 5, Episode 11 of "Fixer Upper," she shared her unique approach for elevating hardwood floors for a stylish look — creating a statement strip of tile inlay within the floor.

Both rugs and patterned tiles are great ways to spice up a boring floor, and Gaines takes it a step further by combining the two to create a chic and functional "tile rug" of her own. That said, it's more involved than just laying down some cozy carpeting, so it's important to be thoughtful about your choices. To achieve a stunning look like Gaines, there are many factors to consider when choosing your tiles that will work effectively to breathe new life into plain hardwood floors.

When Gaines revealed the clever tile inlay she used for the entryway of a family home makeover, she expressed that (via HGTV on Hulu) "we like the idea of, when people walk in, they feel really welcome and inspired." It shows what makes this approach perfect for entryways — providing a bold statement that sets the tone of the home. However, choosing the wrong tiles could also lead your space to leave a bad first impression. To get it right, the key is choosing colors that work with the wood's natural undertones. In Gaines' design, she paired a mix of dark gray and cream encaustic cement tiles with white oak hardwood floors. The natural oak has a cozy appeal that may have felt overwhelmingly monotone without the contrast from the tiles, while their neutral cool and warm tones provided the perfect balance.

Similar to the best rug colors for dark floors, deep hardwood floors will benefit from tile inlay that uses light, earthy tones, or some daring pops of color. Light woods tend to make rooms appear more bare, so tiling with rich tones like royal blue or burgundy and deeper neutrals will add more depth to flooring. When paired correctly, a tile rug inlay creates a stylish focal point and adds visual interest to hardwood floors. While color is a key factor, the placement of your inlay also carries impact, so aim for areas where you want to emphasize your design aesthetic.