Join the Dark Side!
Here’s an age-old flooring conundrum: Light-coloured floor vs dark-coloured floor. Whichever side of the line you fall on, chances are you’re pretty passionate that your choice is the right one! But for all those still fencing sitting, let’s take a quick look at how the two styles of flooring compare:
1) Space (light floors vs dark floors)
I think most of us can agree that light coloured flooring gives off the illusion of more space. So if your property or room is on the smaller side, then definitely light-coloured woods and tiles can help expand that spacious feeling. So, if light colours make spaces bigger, then it stands to reason that dark colours should should make spaces feel smaller. Which they do; however, they also make spaces feel much warmer. So if your space, be it home or work, is on the larger side and you want to make the space feel more intimate and enticing, a darker shade of wood or tile would work better for you. But what if you have a small room and really want to create warmth with dark flooring, without suffocating the space? The answer lies in lights and mirrors. Strong overhead lighting and wall mounted mirrors can balance out the darkness of the floor, resulting in a warmth below which rises into a comfortable and spacious light the higher up you go!
2) Maintenance (light vs dark)
Again, I think it’s safe to say that darker floors are more difficult to keep spotless than lighter floors. What happens on darker floors is that blemishes like scratches and even dirt, like pet hair, are much more visible than with lighter-coloured flooring. This is particularly true with wood or laminate flooring, but the same holds true with tiles and vinyl too. So if your space is pet free and you’re a very careful person, then darker floors are a great choice! But if you love animal companionship, have a habit of scraping your chairs across the floor, or simply want to sweep up your house less often, then lighter is better for you!
3) Finish (light vs dark)
Your choice of light flooring or dark flooring says a surprising amount about you. Lighter-coloured spaces exude a bright and happy atmosphere, which of course is a reflection of your own personality. Whereas darker-coloured rooms are all about class and sophistication, again people will subconsciously associate these traits with you too. Bear in mind that the darkness of your floor can also time-stamp your property. Light coloured floors, particularly white washed finishes are super modern. Whereas darker floors, particularly carpets tend to lend themselves towards the more traditional home.
4) Contrast Tip
This isn’t really a point of comparison, just some design advice really. If you opt for lighter-coloured flooring, definitely make your furniture choices darker to provide a visual contrast. The same principle works in reverse. If you want your floor to be dark, pick out furniture a few shades lighter. Remember our previous post – Contrast is King!
Check out the two Expona Simplay images below: One of light-coloured flooring and one of dark-coloured flooring to see the effects of both choices for yourself. So there you have it, a little bit of advice about the light side and the dark side, choose wisely my padawan!
It’s definitely worth visiting our online store to browse our extensive range of light and dark flooring options. I’ll see you on the next one!
