There are so many great color choices when it comes to hardwood flooring . Options will vary from natural wood to dark browns and black. There is a stain color that will work for all spaces and just remember these tips as you go through the process.

• Always have your floor finisher put sample options on the floor. It is important that you see your stain choice on the floor and wood itself.

These are the basic colors offered, but blending is a great way to go custom

• A custom blend is easy to do. If you can’t decide on one color have your finisher mix some different stains together for a custom look. You should not be charged extra for this. Special Walnut and Jacobean mixed 50/50 looks great!!

Great Special Walnut/ Jacobean blend on a 4″ White Oak

• Are you going to have a more traditional design, if so think about the colors Early American, Special Walnut and Gun-stock- these are all  really great looking and timeless.

• Dark wood is in!! 7 out of 10 of our new hardwood floors are dark and people love the look it offers. Some great colors are Dark Walnut, Royal Mahogany and Jacobean.

Variation is a great feature of your floor, stain will effect this aspect.

• Remember that scratches and dust  show extra with on darker stained floors. Maintenance is more difficult with darker colors.

Love my floors, but they are hard to keep looking good.

• Don’t be afraid of a semi-gloss finish. This will be more hard than a satin finish and will “dull” out over time.

Remember you don't have to stain the wood, sometimes the natural beauty is all you need.

• Use a premium stain, such as Minwax. You will also want to use a very high grade finish such as Polo-plaz.

Great look on a semi gloss floor, plus increased durability.

• A dark stain will need an extra day of finishing time to allow for the stain to really soak into the wood and no bleeding occurs through the finish.

Timeless and warm, the hearth is nice too!!

• When matching existing flooring, go a shade darker and this will make for a better match.

• Species of wood effects the way the floor will take stain—this goes back to having a sample made. Oak stained Gun-stock will appear much different than Walnut stained the same color.

This will go with any decor or style

• Be consistent and have one color—unless areas are separated visually, but even then I would recommend consistency.

As always try to make the color and floor be a reflection of you.

Who would have thought that the most fun and colorful flooring available is for office and business use? Now, of course, you may want subtle elegance for your living room- but what about the kids playroom, or bonus room areas? Have you thought of using commercial flooring in those spaces? It is less expensive and looks awewsome!! It cleans great and junior is not going to be able to wear it out.

Talk about color choices??

The best thing about using commercial products is the color choices. One can truly create great looks on limited budgets and know they are getting a product that can last. I would love to see parents think about these options when thinking about the kids areas.

1) Are the kids going to like this?

2) Is this a good value?

3) Does it clean easy?

The answer is yes to all of these questions.

I love this floor, can you inagine this for a group of kids?

I think this would win "coolest playroom in the 'hood award"

I think color really stimulates the senses and for a fun area consider doing a collage on the floor. Look how fun this is.