Count yourself as lucky if you have ripped up that old carpet to find hardwood floors! Or maybe you’ve had hardwood floors for years, but are renovating for a different look. No matter the reason, at the end of the sanding, you will need to pick a stain for your hardwood floors. It is a big decision, as it can be pretty costly and it will be around for quite some time. We have a few pointers to help you along with the process!
Questions to Help You Decide
What is the future of the space?
Are you getting the home ready to sell or are you looking to stay for a longer period? This question alone will rule out some options. If you are prepping to sell, you will probably want to limit your decisions to more classically approved options. If you are planning on staying in the space, you have unlimited options! Go ahead and choose that fun teal stain! You’ll only have to please yourself, and maybe whoever else lives with you… we’ll let you duel that one out!
What Type of Wood Is it?
Stains will look different depending on the wood. Identify the type of wood and you will be able to make a better decision. The color and pattern will also affect the stain application. Some patterns lend themselves to sticking out, while others might need subduing.
What type of traffic will travel across the space?
This question is very important to consider. Do you have kids and/or pets? Are you a neat freak? Think about how often you’d like to sweep. Lighter floors tend to hide hair and debris better than darker floors.
Dark floors also don’t lend themselves to hiding dust or shoe prints. If your heart is set to pick a stain that is dark, perhaps using a rug and a no-shoes policy on the floor should be in order.
Are you a fan of contrast or bright spaces?
If you are unsure of what you want, it is time you sample some designs. Do some browsing of furnished or renovated spaces. Look for differing pictures – one room with white walls and light flooring and one room with dark flooring and light walls. See what piques your interest the most. You might be surprised at what you enjoy. Don’t forget to get the other occupants in on it!
Time to Test Stains!
After considering some of the above questions and doing a little research, you should have an idea of what you want. It’s now time to get a better idea by testing some stains out! Go to your local hardware store and pick out some stain samples. You can also pick a stain online. Keep in mind that after you sample them all and still are not impressed, you can mix two stains to get some different results!
There are a few ways you can go about testing the stains. You can buy planks of wood that are the same type you have from the store to test on or you can apply the stains directly to the floor. You can also test the colors out virtually! Here are some visualization tools to check out.
Bottom Line for How to Pick a Stain
We hope this blog helped you in your journey to pick a stain that is perfect for you! You might feel a lot of stress in being satisfied when the floor is finished. Keep in mind that although it does have a bit of permanence, it can still be re-done. The floor can always be sanded and re-stained. Happy staining!
Looking to get your hardwood floors refinished? We’d love to help you change them up! We sand the old finish off to bare wood before the restoration process. After that, we prep the area for a brand-new stain! Contact us to get a FREE quote today!