Lately, interior decor colors have been bright, vivid and fun. Think tropical fruits and icy blues or green (the new neutral, believe it or not). You have only to look at upholstery and other fabrics to see today’s color trends. What has this to do with wood floors? Just about everything, because wood –– any wood floor –– has its own unique color and wood colors need to be included in the overall design scheme of a room. Wood colors are grouped broadly in yellows, reds and browns. Think of these tones as a decorator would, as cools, warms and neutrals. With a warm Brazilian Cherry or perhaps a Mexican Rosewood, you might consider a décor rich in warm cabernets and paprika’s. If you already have a decor in mind, think in the reverse. What wood color will go with your new decor? To “cool down” a room, you might opt for an exotic hardwood with a hint of blue, like angelim, or amber or yellow from Brazilian Eucalyptus. For a dramatic statement, think wenge from Africa with its intriguing grains and black-coffee finish.

The color you select may change a bit, depending on the texture of your floor. Hardwood Flooring with normal shades of light-to-dark will take on a lighter or darker tone in some areas as each strip is set in place. You may prefer this kind of visual interest versus a tailored, uniform color flow. Two other techniques can affect the color tone in your room as the light changes. They are installation techniques like herringbone and parquetry and different surfaces like the handscraped look –– and certainly gloss level. Hints for home designers, if you’re redoing one room, give serious consideration to the impact your wood floor’s color will have on adjoining rooms and hallways. If you’re doing a large area (living room, dining area and the hall) or the whole house, and as much as you may like a host of different hardwoods, resist the urge to mix them. Keeping to the same or similar woods presents a consistent design look. There’s lots to know about color palettes of today’s wood flooring.