Simon Hopes

Whether it’s solid, engineered or LVT, the colour of wood flooring is especially important for the room you are renovating. Whilst different types of wood can have particular textures, durability, cleanability and longevity, none of them will mean an awful lot if you get the colour wrong.

This is why it is such a daunting task. Oak, chestnut and walnut colours each offer a wide spectrum, and each one of them will give the floor a different feel. In fact, they can give the whole room a different feel. No matter how much thought you may have put into a room's décor, the floor can either make or break how it will be received.


As the decision-maker, you are the one who holds the power. With just a bit of research, there is every chance you will get it right. The results when you do are thrilling and you will be so relieved that you put the effort in. But for now, take your time with your decisions and don’t be afraid to go a little outside of your comfort zone if you think it will end up benefiting the room itself. Below are a few points to help you make the best decision possible.


Light Oak Wood

This wood flooring will give any room a natural, organic feel. It also works with almost any floor design, with a particular emphasis on parquet flooring. Not only this, but oak can make a space feel larger. This is because the outdoor light can bounce off this colour far easier than a dark floor, making the room feel even bigger than it actually is. In this way, light oak can be a great call if you have a room with plenty of natural light.

Grey Oak Wood

Despite not being for everyone, grey oak has seen a popularity surge over the last few years. This is because the look it can give a room is one of elegance and luxury. It is an especially modern design colour, which coincidentally offers a consistently clean appearance due to the invisibility of dust on its surface. There is, however, sometimes a feeling that grey can be a bit too plain, with little room for contrast. But it’s whatever floats your boat. If grey will work with the room, then it is a fascinating and exciting choice.

Cocoa Chestnut Wood

The colour of chestnut, although not too dissimilar to oak, can give a room an intensely warm and welcoming feel. If you are designing the floor around the kitchen, dining room or living room, then be sure to keep the furniture in mind when choosing this colour. Chestnut can help to balance a room if the furniture is dark, but if the furniture is light, there can be little balance to find and the room can end up overbearing. It is, however, a beautiful choice and well worth a look into.

Dark Oak Wood

Venturing into the darker spectrum, there is no doubt that darker colours can offer a richness to a room that light wood cannot. Dark oak wood will work best if you have lighter walls or furnishings, as the darkness of the floor can offer a contrast which will make the room pop. This is often lost among a lot of people when deciding on floor colour. Some say that dark colours can make a room look smaller and a little less impactful, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. If done right, a darker floor can give the room a wealth of character, making it look beautifully high end and luxurious.

Black Walnut Wood

The walnut colour can be one of the best if you are thinking about going down a darker route. Not only can it offer a warm and rich tone that is synonymous with darker colours, but it is also insect repellent and moisture resistant, which can be perfect if you are planning to use walnut in the kitchen or outdoor space.

Take The Time And Go For What Works

Whatever you decide to go for, just make sure that you have taken into account every aspect of the room you are installing the floor into. Take a step back and let your eye decide what tone would work best, then browse through as many alternate floors as you can. The chances are you will find the perfect colour for your space.