Light Or Dark Wood Flooring? How To Decide Between These Two Beautiful Aesthetics

Here at Hoff Parquet, we often get enquiries about our light oak engineered wood flooring, and our dark oak engineered wood flooring. For many customers, the choice between a light wood floor and a dark wood floor can be an incredibly tricky one. When both are so exquisitely beautiful, how can one decide? If you are in the grips of this exact dilemma, we are here to illuminate the best choice for your home or commercial setting. We've compiled all the factors that are useful when weighing which aesthetic to go with. Read on to discover the impacts that light or dark wood flooring will have, and which will best compliment your space!

​Let There Be Light
The way light enters and interacts within a room is always immensely powerful in dictating how that space will feel. Because a floor is such a large surface, it's important to take into account how it will impact the light interaction. If you were to install light oak engineered wood flooring, that paler surface would serve to reflect light, making the whole space feel much brighter and airier. In contrast, dark oak engineered wood flooring will not have the same illuminating effect. In some settings, the expanse of a darker floor can add cosiness and character.
 
To assess which is the case, begin by considering how much natural light the space has available. A room with little light will be opened up beautifully by a pale wood floor, while a space with abundant natural light will allow the intricate grain of a darker wood to shine at its best! You may wish to create a bright and calm aesthetic, in which case light wood may be the perfect selection. In contrast, you may desire a tactile and inviting space with bold colours, and zones created with pendulum lights or statement lamps. In this case, dark wood could help you bring your vision to life! Of course, these are only examples, but when considering whether your beautiful oak flooring will bounce light, or absorb it, you can begin to form a mental image of potential.
 
A Sense Of Scale
Just as light oak wood flooring allows a space to feel lighter, it also creates the illusion that a space is larger. This makes a fairer hue of wood better suited to small rooms, such as hallways, corridors, or smaller bedrooms. Of course, you may wish to harness this space-expanding effect in a large interior setting as well! In contrast, dark oak wood flooring may make a small space feel smaller yet. However, within large open plan interiors, a darker floor can unite the space, making it feel more intimate despite it's dimensions. In this sense, colour play at floor level can have a surprising impact on whether a smaller room still feels luxuriously spacious, or a larger room no longer feels like somewhere to rattle around!

A Question Of Style
It is important to consider the design aesthetic that is destined to be built upon your floor of choice. Are you dreaming of a sleek minimalist aesthetic, a taste of decadence, or a cosy Scandi style? Ultra modern vibes may be set off ideally by light oak engineered wood flooring, while an ornate interior with gilt touches may appear yet more decadent over a dark oak engineered wood flooring backdrop.
 
If you are not creating a space from scratch, but instead already have furnishings and decorative elements to work with, your new composition is vital to consider. For example, if you treasure a collection of dark wood furnishings, you may find that they get a little lost – and create an excessive sense of busyness – when upon a dark wood floor. If your furnishings are lighter in colour, or follow a particular colour scheme, the vibrant contrast that can be created with dark wood flooring might deliver your dream aesthetic! By envisioning the room as a whole, it becomes easier to identify the ideal flooring option.
 
All About The Grain
Finally, it is worth considering that, in the case of dark oak engineered wood flooring, the grain of the wood will be more visible, and will contribute greater detail for eyes that behold it! Many dream of oak flooring because of the beautiful patterning that this hardwood boasts. Whether light or dark, those inhabiting a space will always be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the wood underfoot. However, in the case of light oak engineered wood flooring, you can anticipate a more subtle addition to the room. Opt for a shade of oak that will complement the other intricacies that it will accompany, and you will be certain to arrive at an aesthetic you adore.

We hope that this guide to light or dark wood choices has indeed shed light on your options, however our team is always happy to offer further guidance. If you would like to learn more about the potential of oak engineered wood flooring for your unique interior, contact our Edinburgh wood flooring showroom today!