How to Match Your Wood Floors to Your Personality

Minimal bedroom with a whitewashed wood floor, a wooden lounge chair, a woven rug and an unmade bed

7 years ago

Blog, Carpentry, Colors, Hardwood Floors, Home Renovation

Do you yearn to dig your toes in the sand and let sea breezes waft through your hair? Perhaps you prefer the tinkle of crystal to the sound of the waves and you’d much rather be in black tie than swimwear. Or maybe the bright lights and art scene of the big city beckon. Whatever your taste, it’s time to revamp your tired wood flooring with finishes and stains that suit your personality.

Comfortably Natural

Minimal white bedroom with pale whitewashed wood floors, a wooden lounge chair, a jute rug and gray linen bedding

Big windows with lots of natural light, Scandinavian aesthetics and sheer curtains that blow in the breeze are hallmarks of natural style. Do you dream of lingering walks by mountain lakes and picnics in meadows with rustling grasses? If this all makes you exhale in delight, this might be your design type.

Rejuvenate your wood floors in the soft, natural hues of ash and birch trees, pebbles and lake sand. Then layer in sheepskins or cotton throw rugs in quiet, calm colors. Continue the look with paint in the palest grays, creams and blues. Add light wood furnishings with gracefully curved limbs, and plenty of nubby wool blankets and natural linens on beds that cry out for lounging with long novels.

Boho Chic

Are you pining after artists’ garrets, longing to put pastels to paper and travel to far-flung locales with markets piled high with ocher spices and intricately patterned tiles? Doing so might lead you down the off-the-beaten-path to the boho-chic design personality.

In these eclectic, no-rules spaces, let your unique vibe dictate the design. Warm up your flooring in cocoa, terra-cotta, bronze and buff shades, then add plush Moroccan rugs and floor pillows. These earthy colors work well with brick walls and wooden beams. Weave in vintage furnishings with soul, try sofas and chairs in rich blues and violets, and tall plants with lush leaves.

Beachy and Bright

Take a deep breath and smell the salty spray of your daydreams. Do you spend every possible weekend chasing the surf or watching seagulls soar overhead? Even if you don’t live next to a beach, your inner sandbound self can find joy in sea-inspired surroundings.
Opt for rustic, windswept flooring colors inspired by the driftwood, pine and oak found along the shoreline. Pair them with crisp white walls, wood furnishings and splashes of turquoise and bottle green. A surfboard and shells wouldn’t be out of place either, let down your hair and show your coastal soul.

Classically Elegant

Tall glasses of champagne at crystal-filled soirees and spring evenings spent strolling the boulevards of Paris make you swoon. Trends make you tired, and you applaud timelessness along with serene spaces.

Dress up your floors in shades of mahogany or antique brown for a traditional look, or bring a bit of edge with pewter or ebony. These hues marry beautifully with ornate moldings, sleek tables and chairs, and antique brass. Contrast your floors with a muted palette of creams, grays and cool pastels for the ultimate in refined glamour.

Modern Sophisticate

Your cocktails are shaken, not stirred, and you’re known at all the most interesting art galleries around town. It’s been a while since you’ve worn an outfit that’s not black, and you slip into literary salons and jazz clubs with natural ease. Your surroundings at home are similarly bespoke.

Add depth and drama with flooring in shades of charcoal, graphite and walnut, or lighten up with pale, minimalist hues. Look to modern art and furniture design for inspiration. Pair your au courant choices with long, low seating in rich browns, deep plums and emerald greens. Let glimmers of brass, glass and gold wink from the sidelines to complete your urban-inspired abode.

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team, by Bona.

How to Match Your Wood Floors to Your Personality

Related reading