Your walls and wood floors are the foundation of your home’s design, and choosing the right colors can make all the difference. But choosing a matching wall color for your hardwood floors can be daunting – so many options! Whether you’re renovating or just looking to update your home’s interior, we consulted our painting experts to provide tips and ideas to help you turn your vision into a reality.
Figure Out Your Hardwood Floor’s Undertone
Understanding the undertone of your hardwood floor is crucial when choosing the right wall colors and decor accents for your home. This will help you create a color palette for your walls. Wood undertones usually fall into one of these categories:
- Cool undertones resemble blue, green, and purple.
- Warm undertones resemble yellow, orange, and red.
- Neutral undertones are a mix of warm and cool colors.
If you’re having trouble identifying the undertone of your hardwood floor, there are a few other tricks you can try.
First, consider the lighting in your home, as different types of lighting can affect the appearance of your floor’s color. Try looking at your floor in natural daylight and then again in artificial light to see if there are any noticeable differences in its hue.
You can also try holding up different colored fabrics or swatches against your floor to see which shades complement the wood best.
A warm undertone will exhibit shades of yellow, orange, or red, while a cool undertone will display purple, blue, or green hints. If your hardwood floor shows a mix of warm and cool undertones, it will likely have a neutral undertone.
If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, consult a flooring expert or interior designer. They can provide you with advice on which wall colors complement your floor.
Choose the Opposite Undertones for your Walls
Consider choosing wall colors with an opposite undertone to your hardwood floors. Doing this creates a sense of balance and harmony in your living space. Another benefit of choosing the opposite undertone of your floors for your walls is the ability to highlight and showcase the natural beauty of your hardwood floors.
When you choose complementary colors, you can draw attention to the unique grain patterns and natural characteristics of your flooring, creating a focal point for your living space.
For example, if your floors have warm, reddish undertones, choosing cooler, bluer tones for your walls can help to balance out the warmth of the wood and create a more cohesive look. The result is a stunning and sophisticated interior design scheme showcasing your home’s best features.
Floor and Wall Color Combinations to Consider
Whether you’re looking for a modern and chic look or a cozy and welcoming vibe, we’ve got you covered with our experts’ floor and wall color combination ideas. So, let’s dive in!
Wall Colors For Light Hardwood Floors
Light hardwood floors are popular for modern and airy living spaces, but choosing the right wall color can be challenging. Consider light and neutral colors such as:
- Beige
- Charcoal gray
- White
Looking for a bolder option? Consider these warm colors to balance out the cool tones of your light hardwood floors:
- Cream
- Peach
- Light yellow
Using neutral colors will help you create a sense of calm and relaxation. Warm and bolder colors help add a touch of personality and vibrancy. For the best pairing results, choose a color several shades darker or lighter than your floor.
Wall Colors for Dark Hardwood Floors
Dark hardwood floors are timeless and elegant, but choosing the right wall color can be tricky. Consider light and neutral shades for a great contrast that also creates a sense of balance and sophistication, such as:
- Off-white
- Cream
- Light blue
For a more dramatic look, consider bold and vibrant wall colors like:
- Navy blue
- Emerald green
- Black
Light colors help create balance and sophistication, making them a perfect color combination for any room in your home. Warm colors are best to pair in living rooms and bedrooms to create a cozier atmosphere. If you use bold colors, just keep furniture and decor minimal to let the colors be the focal point.
Wall Colors for Cherry Hardwood Floors
Cherry hardwood floors are a beautiful and versatile option, but choosing the right wall color can be tricky. Neutral and light shades will help you create a timeless look. Colors that can enhance the natural beauty of cherrywood include:
- Ivory
- Beige
- Light gray
You could try earthy and more muted colors like olive green or terracotta for a warm and inviting atmosphere. However, for a modern and vibrant look, opt for wall colors in hues like:
- Deep red
- Navy blue
- Black
Pairing cherry hardwood floors with neutral colors will create a sense of elegance and sophistication that works well for living and dining rooms. Warmer colors can create a sense of comfort and intimacy, so these color combinations are best for bedrooms.
Wall Colors for Gray Hardwood Floors
Gray hardwood floors are popular for modern and contemporary homes, but finding the perfect wall color can be a hassle. If you want to carry out the contemporary and modern aesthetic, your best colors are:
- White
- Beige
- Light gray
Since it’s hard to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere in contemporary homes, pairing your gray hardwood floors with warmer colors can help, choose shades like:
- Caramel
- Tan
- Light brown
If you’re going for a bold statement, you can use emerald green, navy blue, and even pink colors. These colors go well in areas like living rooms or offices, where a statement is sort of expected. Like with light hardwood floors, you still want to pick a wall color that’s several shades darker or lighter to maintain a harmonious look.
Wall Colors for Golden Wood Floors
Golden hardwood floors are a classic and timeless choice but probably the most challenging wood floor to complement. To maximize the natural warmth and beauty of your golden wood floors, choose the following:
- Beige
- Ivory
- Cool gray
For a warm and inviting atmosphere, opt for hues that complement the warm tones of golden wood, such as:
- Mustard yellow
- Olive green
- Terracotta
Lighter colors work great for areas like your kitchen, and warmer colors can help you create a sense of comfort, which is why they work best in living and dining rooms.
Experiment with Multiple Combinations
Choosing the right wall color to complement your wood floors can be daunting, but with these tips, it doesn’t have to be daunting. Whether you prefer light, dark, cherry, gray, or golden hardwood floors, there are plenty of color options. The key is to find a color that complements your floors in a way that enhances your living space. So don’t be afraid to get creative and have fun with your wall color and wood floor combinations!
