Hardwood Floors are Easier and More Beautiful than you Think

Hardwood floors bring an unparalleled richness that makes them seem a bit intimidating in regard to maintenance and decor. One of the arguments against hardwood flooring is usually that "they are so hard to maintain". However, hardwood flooring is exactly the opposite and may be the easiest flooring type to maintain. Sweeping is all you'll need to do. The main advantage to wood flooring is that there is a lot you can do to prevent problems. Mats and rugs and inexpensive furniture pads will prevent damage from regular use.

Unlike carpet, vinyl, tile and linoleum, hardwood flooring does not need to be replaced after only a few years. Refinishing, which used to be expensive, cumbersome and messy, is hardly "necessary" anymore. Old products that were used to maintain wood floors were not very "user-friendly" and refinishing may have immediately been recommended by your flooring professional then. However, with today's finishes, if a wood floor is properly maintained, it will outlast you, your mortgage and your house.

Not only is wood flooring easy to care for, but the natural beauty and long-term value it adds to your home make it the reason you'll want to incorporate it into your design and decor. The species and finish you choose can set the atmosphere for your whole room. Home Gurus shows how wood flooring fits into any style and decor. For a traditional style, oak is the most popular choice. Oak grains are classic and timeless and you'll have your choice of practically any stain color and finish. A modern look may include the smooth look of maple or the surprising pattern of an exotic wood like tigerwood. If rustic is your choice, hickory and cherry are great options. Walnut is a great choice for a worldly look.

Design is also important in decorating with hardwood flooring. Dark finishes on your wood flooring and light finishes on furniture (or vice versa) may appeal to you if you prefer contrasts. For a modern look, a high-gloss dark stained floor may fit your image. Rich colors like mahogany or honey seem to appeal to traditionalists. And country lovers will be drawn toward antiqued or hand-scraped hardwoods.

Last thing to consider in design and decor is the size of the flooring boards you'll use. Strip flooring is the most popular and is considered to be any board's width that is 3 inches or less. Strip flooring gives a traditional and modern look. Plank styles, any board width greater than 3 inches, or Wide Plank, any board width greater than 5 inches, will give your space a rustic feel. And Parquet flooring is easily recognized from is square pattern. Parquet floors were used in churches and palaces and give a formality and majesty to your design.

So when you hear: "Wood flooring - so hard to maintain, so expensive, and so hard to install", you'll know what to tell them now.