Lighting to make dark wood floor appear lighter

Chanel de Jager

3 years ago

What type of lighting can be used to make a dark colour floor look lighter

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Comments (5)

SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
Natural light! As in windows, windows, windows and more windows. After that you can add windows and then some windows.

Once you have 3 out of 4 walls made of windows, you can use HUGE amounts of lights to allow the rooms to stay 'light'. If you think you need 6 pot lights in the living area (I'm guessing so I'm using a number to make a point) then you will need 10 - 12. If you think you can get away with 2-3 lamps in a room, then you will need 4-6.

That's what lighting does. Who is your designer for this project?
Chanel de Jager
Original Author
3 years ago
thanks for your message, I dont have a designer, we have built a house and are designing ourselves
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@Beth Sorry, you did say you haven't used it. I read the blog but will definitely read reviews as well. We do need the engineered wood to be on site for a while especially since as we live in a very humid climate. I believe the island wood is maple with a pecan stain. It's just a very neutral mid tone brown stain. I know it's not cherry or oak. Unfortunately the bedroom floor must be ordered asap due to flooding/mold issue. I was hoping to choose something that I could also use in the kitchen when budget permits, as I understand floors should be the same throughout the house. At this point I'm unable to visit stone yards yet. When I do, I will definitely bring the front face of both cabinet drawer finishes with me. So that's why I was putting the cart before the horse, thinking about countertops. The reason I'm getting ahead of myself is because I am trying to create a general direction in my mind. Maybe I should just choose a bedroom floor based on what I would use in my kitchen, since bedrooms and bathrooms finishes aren't as important. Or I shouldn't worry so much about using the exact same wood. I don't know but I appreciate every response you have given me.
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SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
Ok...now here's a lesson in 'light'. A dark floor SOAKS UP light (black holes are black because they suck the LIGHT out of the Universe...see where I'm going with this). You will need to involve someone with CAD who can do a design mock-up of your space. They can add in the windows and angle of the sun. Then they can add in the dark colour of the floor. The program should be able to 'soak up' the light to show how dim the space will appear. Then they can add in spot lights in the ceiling. Each spot light will have a ring of light which it sheds. The ideal amount would be to have every pot light 'ring' intersect with the NEXT ring. You will do this for every square foot of your main living space. Which means you will need your electrician to update your panel. You will need 'almost double' the lighting budget and add in a snick more for electrical work.

OR...

You can go with a MID-TONE floor (same colour range) and leave everything as it is. A mid-tone floor DARKENS in a space. It will offer all the drama of the dark floor (even the appearance of being dark) without ALL the down falls.

Find a colour that is right (that works for you) that is also 3 STEPS lighter than your current choice. It will get DARKER once installed. I promise.
Chanel de Jager
Original Author
3 years ago
thanks for your advice.. problem is the house is already built and they already started laying the tiles 😒 so I'm quite stuck at the moment. didn't think the tiles would look so much darker once layer. still have to paint so I maybe that choice could brighten it
Chanel de Jager
Original Author
3 years ago
and then the lighting

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Lighting to make dark wood floor appear lighter

Comments (5)

SJ McCarthy

Chanel de Jager
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SJ McCarthy

Chanel de Jager
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Lighting to make dark wood floor appear lighter

Comments (5)

SJ McCarthy

Chanel de JagerOriginal Author

Related Discussions

SJ McCarthy

Chanel de JagerOriginal Author

Chanel de JagerOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Chanel de Jager
Original Author

Chanel de Jager
Original Author

Chanel de Jager
Original Author