Wood Floor Design Ideas
A classic flooring material adaptable to every décor, from formal to wildly contemporary, wood works well in any room.

There's nothing like a hardwood floor for natural beauty and warmth, ease of cleaning, durability and the long-term value it adds to your home. Hardwood lends character and charm to any room in your home, and best of all - it never goes out of style. Rich in variety, you can choose from exotic, as well as homegrown favorites for elegant or casual settings.

Many factors will determine how your wood looks. How shiny the wood appears varies according to the finish, and a gloss level rated as matte (low), satin (medium) or gloss (high). Use a matte finish to help maintain your floor's appearance in high traffic areas, while high gloss finishes add elegance and grandeur to a formal space.

Hardwood flooring doesn't have to be smooth. In fact, many brands offer hand scraped, distressed, and reclaimed flooring. These types of floors have a classic look and add great value to upscale homes. A guaranteed conversation piece with your friends and neighbors, this style offers a unique touch to the basic hardwood floor. They also don't show much wear, since they already have a great deal of character interest.

Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of shades to match the environment you want to create. Use lighter shades of wood to open the room up more, or richer shades to convey an added sense of warmness. Wood flooring is also less noisy and softer than tiled floors, and they generate no static electricity (compared to carpet), which can be important for rooms with computers.

Hardwood floors have a clean, sleek look and are less likely to collect dirt or dander, and therefore less allergens, making hardwood floors a great option to those with sensitive allergy issues. Couple these characteristics with natural aesthetic advantages, and hardwood flooring is destined to be a favorite for many years to come.