We all have that one friend. Their home is artfully designed from top to bottom, and making decor choices comes as naturally to them as breathing.

If you’re not like your friend, you may experience some overwhelm when it comes time to choose a flooring color. It’s a huge decision that will impact the entire look and feel of your home, so we get it.

However, choosing the right floor color doesn’t have to invoke anxiety. We’ve broken flooring colors down into a few categories and added some of our pro-tips and tricks to make your choice an easy one.

Table of Contents

how to choose floor color

Why Is It Important To Choose the Right Floor Color?

Not only can flooring alter the entire look and feel of a space, but it sets the stage for the rest of your decor. The right flooring can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home, but there are other factors to consider. 

Flooring has the ability to change your space, complement your design and decor, and create the atmosphere you want by:

  • Changing the perceived size of a room
  • Evoking different moods and emotions; and
  • Harmonizing with other elements in the room

On the practical side, flooring color should also align with your lifestyle. Taking into consideration high-traffic areas and lighting conditions may also affect your decision on what flooring color to choose.

Most people don’t know how to choose a flooring color without a little bit — or a lot — of guidance. That’s where Interior Motives Flooring in Auburn, WA, comes in. When you work with us, you’ll have one-on-one support from our flooring experts, and you’ll also have the opportunity to visualize your selections with the help of Roomvo.

Roomvo utilizes AR (augmented reality) to create a realistic visualization of different flooring options in your existing space, with your existing furniture and decor. With Roomvo, you’re never left guessing if you’ve made the right decision. 

For more information, contact us or visit our showroom and browse our massive selection of quality wood, vinyl, tile, carpet, and laminate flooring options.

how to choose flooring color

10 Factors That Can Help You Understand How To Choose Flooring Color

When considering flooring colors, there are three categories to consider: 

  1. The space 
  2. The aesthetics; and 
  3. Cleaning and care 

When selecting your flooring color, certain factors take priority.

For example, if yours is a busy household with two dogs and three kids, you may find yourself considering cleaning and care more than aesthetics. Or perhaps you live alone and don’t have to concern yourself with maintenance issues quite as much, but you have an eye for design and like to go bold.

Choosing the right flooring color often comes down to personal choice and lifestyle. However, for many, the decision will also be based on a combination of the following ten factors.

Choosing a Floor Color Based on the Function and Attributes of the Space

#1: Room Uses and Traffic Level

Consider the function of your space. Is it a heavily-used room that sees high levels of traffic? If so, you’ll want to choose a durable material that can withstand heavy wear and tear.

If you’re decorating a family room where movie and game nights will be many, then you might want to choose something fun and bright. But, if you’re decorating an office space, you may decide on a clean and simple flooring design that flows with your office furniture.

Some people think they have to trade form for function. That’s simply not true. Where flooring is concerned, you should always be able to find a solution where form marries function, and everyone is happy.

Many materials come in a variety of colors and shades to choose from, so no matter how durable you need your flooring to be, choosing a color can still be fun.

#2: Room Size

The general rule of thumb is that lighter flooring will increase the perceived size of a room, whereas darker flooring can shrink it.

But, there’s more to it than that.

If you’re working with a smaller space, you may want to consider:

  • Lighter colors: Light gray, soft beige, or pale oak can make your small room appear more spacious.
  • Monochromatic colors: Closely match the floor color with the wall color to minimize contrast and create a seamless look.
  • Avoid dark and busy patterns: Steer clear of intricate patterns or dark flooring as it can make a room look even smaller.
  • Use large tiles or planks: fewer seams and lines on the floor can create a cleaner and more expansive look.

Larger rooms, on the other hand, give you more flexibility to experiment with darker colors and contrasts or to add patterns and texture.

#3: Natural vs. Artificial Light

Lighting plays a crucial role in determining the right color choice for your flooring. Artificial and natural lighting is crucial for creating your desired ambiance.

First, understand how the lighting conditions change throughout the day. 

Do you have a lot of natural light? If so, your space can accommodate a wide range of flooring colors. If your room lacks natural light, lighter flooring can help reflect and maximize the available light. 

Other considerations include:

  • Light sources: Incandescent bulbs tend to emit warmer, yellowish light, while LED lights can produce bluish-white light.
  • Color temperature: For a warmer atmosphere, choose flooring that harmonizes with warm lighting, and vice versa for cooler lighting and cool-toned flooring.
  • Undertones in flooring: Be mindful of warm or cool undertones and how they will appear under your lighting.

The goal is to choose a flooring that ultimately complements your lighting, suits your personal style, and enhances the desired atmosphere.

how to pick flooring color

Choosing a Floor Color Based on Design and Aesthetic

#4: Wall and Cabinet Colors

Before choosing your flooring, it’s important to consider what else is changing in the space. Are you doing a complete renovation? If so, you can choose your flooring first and design the rest of your room based on the color you choose.

However, if your walls and cabinets are staying the same, you’ll have to consider these existing elements. Choosing a flooring color that complements your existing walls and cabinets will help pull your space together and create a pleasing design.

#5: Furniture and Decor

It’s not common to replace your furniture when getting a new floor or to replace your floor because you’re getting new furniture. Most often, however, you’ll be matching your new floors with what you already have in place for decor.

Finding a color that doesn’t clash with your existing furniture, artwork, and even area rugs will help maintain an appealing design aesthetic and keep your costs low.

Take pictures of your room with the existing furniture and visit Interior Motives in Auburn, WA. We’ll use the innovative technology of Roomvo to help you visualize your favorite flooring choices in your room with your existing decor.

If you don’t have this option, ask your local flooring experts to provide you with samples. This will help you to get an idea of how the flooring will change the overall look of your space.

#6: Timeless vs. Trendy

Whether you choose a timeless option, like oak flooring, or a trendy option, like luxury gray vinyl, is completely dependent on your personal preferences.

There is no right or wrong answer when choosing timeless vs. trendy, but you may want to consider how often you’ll change your flooring or how soon you may be selling your home.

Trendy, new flooring is a great option if you’re putting your home on the market within the year as it can increase your resale value and attract potential buyers. 

But, if you plan to live in your home for many years, a traditional option may be what stands the test of time — and decor. Classic tones, like pine, oak, walnut, birch, and mahogany never seem to go out of style.

#7: Solid- vs. Multi-Colored

Choosing between solid or multicolored flooring mainly depends on your interior design goals and personal preferences. 

Solid-colored flooring can create:

  • Elegance and simplicity with a clean, timeless look
  • Space enlargement when choosing a light solid, such as white or beige
  • Emphasis on furnishings for those statement pieces
  • Visual coherence as a consistent and neutral backdrop for your furniture and decor

Multi-colored flooring can create:

  • Visual interest, depth, and character as a focal point in the room
  • Design flexibility with a variety of styles to choose from
  • Cohesiveness with other design elements, such as wall colors and decor
  • Camouflage for those high-traffic areas that are prone to dirt, stains, or wear

You can also strike a balance by using area rugs to introduce multicolored elements to a room with solid-colored flooring like some luxury vinyls, or by adding a solid area rug to a multicolored floor like engineered hardwood. 

#8: Desired Mood

When creating your desired mood with flooring color, you want to select a palette that aligns with the atmosphere you want to achieve. Here’s how flooring can create specific moods:

  • Calm and serene: evoking a sense of tranquility and relaxation with light and cool colors such as light grays
  • Warm and cozy: making a space feel inviting using earthy tones like warm beiges or rich browns
  • Spacious and airy: reflecting light and creating an open ambiance with light and neutral colors such as whites, creams, and light grays
  • Sophisticated and elegant: conveying a sense of sophistication typically involves richer colors like espresso or deep charcoal
  • Natural and organic: connecting your space to the outdoors and nature using earthy and natural tones like warm wood grains or neutral stone colors
  • Modern and minimalist: achieving a modern look and feel usually involves monochromatic color schemes and clean lines paired with light or dark neutrals such as white, black, or gray flooring

how to choose a floor color

Choosing a Floor Color Based on Care and Maintenance

#9: Light vs. Dark

Light and dark floors each have their advantages and disadvantages where dirt and maintenance are concerned. Here’s a quick comparison:

  • Light floors will:
    • Show less dirt
    • Hide minor imperfections
    • Appear brighter, fresher, and open
  • Dark floors will:
    • Show more dust
    • Require regular cleaning
    • Create depth and contrast

#10: Matte vs. Glossy

Lastly, consider the finish of your flooring: glossy vs. matte.

Glossy floors will show more dust and dirt and are also highly reflective compared to matte floors. This may accentuate any dirt or dust seen on the floor, so regular cleaning will be necessary to maintain the shiny, elegant appearance you’re looking for.

A matte finish on flooring shows less dust and dirt, making them far more forgiving. Matte flooring is usually more subtle in appearance and works well with contemporary designs.

Interior Motives: A Family-Owned Flooring Company Serving Auburn, WA

When it comes to flooring color, the choices often seem daunting, and may even cause color anxiety. It’s a big design decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Let the experts at Interior Motives Flooring in Auburn, WA, help. 

Not only do we have decades of flooring experience, but we utilize the latest in AR technology to help our customers visualize their space before making a decision. With Roomvo, you can see exactly what your floor will look like, taking out any guesswork on your part.

Our goal is to help you achieve your desired ambiance with the right flooring color. With Interior Motives, you don’t need to know how to choose a flooring color — we’ve got you covered.

For more information, or to explore the hundreds of flooring options we offer, call us or visit our showroom today. 

how to choose flooring color