Should we try to match existing floor or go with contrast?

2 years ago

We currently have dark wood engineered floors in living spaces (living, family, hallways) that we installed about 15 years ago. We are looking to install new floor in the master and are torn between trying to match the old (dark) floor or contrast with the light one below. We have found a couple of wood floors that come reasonably close to existing floors, though obviously not exact. The only place the two floors would meet is at the doorway to the bedroom (30" door).

I think overall no one would notice the difference between old and new floors if we tried to match. People don't really ever go in our room as it is. But, I am intrigued by the lighter floor that looks fresh and airy to me. I feel like it could be very nice, though I don't know if it is more trendy and thus might not stand the test of time. I also don't know if it would look odd even with only the small transition point.

Curious what people think and what you might choose. Thank you.

Comments (6)

calidesign
2 years ago
Since the only place the floors would meet up is the doorway, I would choose a new floor that matches as closely as possible to what you currently have. I think two completely different colors will look odd. If you want to lighten things up, you can place a light colored rug over the hardwood in the bedroom, or consider having all your floors sanded and restained in a light color, and then choose a bedroom floor to match the new stain.
Juan Ramirez thanked calidesign
Erica Yoder
2 years ago
I have a friend who did this, I love both floor colors, but not together. Go with the one that matches what you have, sorry sorry!
Juan Ramirez thanked Erica Yoder
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If I’m understanding this correctly, the area between the two sets of stairs is this discontinued floor, the both sets of stairs are carpeted and the main living area (up the stairs) is also the discontinued flooring. Is this correct? If so, eliminate the discontinued flooring in between the two sets of stairs and replace it with whatever you choose to do for the stairs. You can keep the flooring upstairs as it is, but changing the floor at the entry to match the stairs will make it less disjointed and more intentional. Do not try to match it too hard or it will look just like you tried to match it. I would purposely contrast, but it needs to compliment. If you pull a color from the current floor, I would lean more toward light (although hard to tell, I can make out some very subtle light streaks). I would steer clear of the darker tones as dark floors tend to show everything and these sets of stairs happen to be an integral and unavoidable part of the house, which will make the high traffic very conspicuous on dark floors. I also suggest rugs!
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kculbers
2 years ago
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Juan Ramirez thanked kculbers
tedbixby
2 years ago
Is the existing floor at the point that they need to be sanded and restained?
Juan Ramirez
Original Author
2 years ago
@tedbixby No, the existing floor is fine. It may or may not be lighter than it was when installed but looks uniform and good still.
tedbixby
2 years ago
If you have no plans to sell down the road put in what you want and what looks best with your furnishings. If there might be a chance of resale try to match the dark as close as possible as having 2 different floor colors could turn off potential buyers as they would be thinking they would have to sand and refinish all the flooring to match and that cost could reflect in an offer or the buyer not wanting to hassle with it and they walk. If you put in the light one and find you like it a lot next time your dark floors need to be refinished you could go in that direction with the stain color. Lighter is less trendy than dark. That said, and if you still aren't sure what way to go, listen to your gut as if you had loved the dark/light combo right away would you have come here?
Juan Ramirez thanked tedbixby

Should we try to match existing floor or go with contrast?

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Should we try to match existing floor or go with contrast?

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