Trying to decide on paint colours for your walls? Something many people forget to take into account is the flooring in a space. If you have wood floors, most people assume anything goes, but that’s simply not true.
Light wood floors are wonderful for creating brightness in a space and they can work well with walls that are also light. However, you can certainly go darker, as well. A good rule of thumb is to aim for paint that is at least two shades lighter or darker than your floor colour.
Different woods will present as cool or warm. This can affect which wall colours look best, so you should first determine which category your floor falls into. You should aim to keep things similar; cool wall colours go with cool-toned wood and the same applies to warm tones.
Cool colours include:
Warm colours include:
Woods may be finished in a way that makes them look warmer or cooler, depending on the finish. However, maple, white oak, and ash tend to be cool-toned. Birch, beech, and hickory are warmer tones.
When it comes to painting your walls, you can never go wrong with classic white. A slight tint is added to this shade, to make it warmer or cooler, so it will always go well with the light wood flooring.
Pale neutrals are also ideal for this type of flooring. Taupe, light grey with tints to warm or cool it, beige, and off-whites are all good choices. Just remember that you need to ensure the paint tone is at least two shades lighter than the flooring.
If you would like to create a more dramatic look, consider a stronger colour. For example, a light birch floor with deep red walls will definitely make an impact. Deep blue or a golden yellow will also work well, depending on the floor.
This is a good time to get creative and test out how your home will look with swatches. If you need to install your wood flooring first, contact Just Wood. We have wood floors to match your needs.