Yes, it’s hot off the presses – the Top 12 Hardwood Trends for 2016. You’ll notice that several of these trends are synergistic with each other. And, you may also notice that some trends are contradictory to each other (e.g. dark and blonde colors are both in style).
Please note that different customers have different tastes when it comes to style and color choices. And, different woods work in different styles of homes. I generally advise my customers to do what they prefer and works for their home (and budget) not just to follow the trends.
This article is divided into 5 Trend sections: Stain, Finishes, Styles, Species and Sources, locations/construction methods . And, for the first time, I’ve added a 6th section that shows what’s fading or “not hot.”
Overall, there’s a shift towards darks and lights (yes, the two extremes), as well as cooler and browner tones. Redder and warmer tones are less popular and more polarizing.
Yes, dark continues to grow and grow and grow. I’ve been discussing dark hardwood floors for a few years. The most popular colors have been ebony, espresso (which is a 50/50 blend of ebony/jacobean), jacobean and dark walnut. We test these colors on our customers’ floors as the stains look different on different woods (and even different planks). And, please understand that many of the pictures on line looker darker than they do in real life.
Lately, we’ve had more requests to go darker and darker and darker. To serve this need, Duraseal has now added a darker stain than ebony…it’s called true ebony. It’s just about to hit the marketplace. Another solution to get the floors darker is to open up the pores with a water pop This extra steps costs more, but it helps the wood absorb the stain more for a darker and contemporary look.
Here are some key questions that customers ask about dark hardwood floors.
Yes, gray is hot when it comes to hardwood floors. This cool tone has grown in popularity and we get more and more requests, especially among our higher end and more fashion forward customers for gray. We get so many phone calls from across the country on how to refinish hardwood for that gray look. You can read more about that here: How to refinish and stain hardwood floors gray. The best way to do this is to mix ebony with white (read more in that post).
Gray is more expensive as you need to use a higher grade water borne poly such as Bona Traffic HD
You can also also get pre-finished gray floors. Generally gray looks best in maple and birch which are a bit more expensive than oak. But, there are now plenty of oaks in the marketplace. If you already have oak in your home, I’d recommend that you stay with the same species so that you can match the floors (even if you refinish later). Maple and birch are more challenging and more expensive to refinish as they are closed pore woods.
White wash is also making a comeback, believe it or not. But, it’s often done in a more contemporary way with a touch of gray or wire-brushed (more on that later). Or, it’s done as a steep contrast with white in some rooms and a deep ebony in others.
Blonde or natural hardwood tends to be the 2nd most popular color after the darks. Natural makes the space look larger and airier. It tends to give the home a more casual look, and often costs a bit less.
But, lately, I’ve been seeing a new twist on this, especially among those with white oak floors. Rather than using an oil based poly (which makes the floors a bit darker and more amber), many are opting for water borne poly, especially higher end Bona Traffic HDfor a lighter and less yellow look. The finish is more matte, too. This option has some other benefits, too including that it dries faster and smells less (but it does cost more).
Shiny and semi gloss are out; satin and matte finishes in. Satin (with a bit of sheen) is the most popular, but now matte is starting to gain more appeal. See this article: Which type of sheen is most popular for wood floors? Some of this is driven by the increased popularity of water borne poly as well as oiled floors and wire brushed finishes. Some of it is also driven by the honed look in granite and poured concrete counter tops.
Oiled floors are growing as well driven by the cottage chic look as well as a desire for a more natural look. US Floors Navarre line is a wonderful example of pre-finished oiled floors. These lower VOC products are easier to repair and give more of reclaimed wood look. The natural oils penetrate the wood and become part of the floor. They enhance the natural grain of the wood to preserve the original beauty and patina. While some prefer this look, it is more expensive and can be much higher maintenance. These items are rather niche due to both the cost and maintenance.
What does wire-brushed wood look like? Wire-brushed is a weathered and authentic look to your hardwood floors that’s created by using wire bristles to open and enhance the wood grain. It’s an etched look that gives subtle texture while still maintaining a smooth surface. It’s used for a cottage chic (or shabby chic) look and it helps hide dirt and imperfections more. It’s more expensive to make (as there is an extra steps and often 2 colors applied), and is generally only available in pre-finished hardwood. Shaw’s Castle Oak line is a perfect example of this.
The wire brushing process scrapes off the softest portions of the wood leaving the hardest wood. It exposes and emphasizes the graining to give it more character. You see this more often with wide plank flooring.
Wider planks make your space look larger and more modern. Generally, most new hardwood installations are 3 1/4″ and wider. Generally, 3 1/4″ to 6 inch planks, especially when they are site finished (so they are smooth and there are no bevels) look more contemporary (especially compared to the more traditional 2 1/4″ that are in older homes). Planks that are 6″ and wider, especially when they are pre-finished, tend to give a more rustic and barnwood look.
This is a trend where old world meets new. It’s hardwood that looks vintage (wider planks, more matte finishes or wire brushed finishes) but in more contemporary colors and cooler tones (vs. the warmer/redder tones you see in reclaimed or older wood). These floors tend to be flat with square edges (i.e. no bevels).
Oiled floors are growing as well driven by this modern vintage look as well as a desire for a more natural look. US Floors Navarre line is a wonderful example of pre-finished oiled floors. These lower VOC products are easier to repair and give more of reclaimed wood look. The natural oils penetrate the wood and become part of the floor. They enhance the natural grain of the wood to preserve the original beauty and patina. While some prefer this look, it is more expensive and can be much higher maintenance. These items are rather niche due to both the cost and maintenance.
You can also see this modern vintage style growing in furniture from West Elm and at the group tables in your local Starbucks.
First, I’m seeing a trend towards keeping the same flooring throughout the home in virtually all areas – same wood, same color ….including kitchens (see below for more info on hardwood in kitchens).
Second, I’m noticing the preference toward simpler layouts. So, the wood is the same width and same direction. Most are shying away from multi or random width planks, borders, herringbone, medallions. Less is More!
Third, customers seem to be more interested in long term sustainable solutions, rather than cheaper temporary fixes. They want higher quality hardwoods and ones that look more natural and higher grade. They are opting more often for solid hardwood that will last a lifetime (and then some) rather than engineered wood that will need to be replaced and often look more fake (as many are rotary sawn). This helps them both while they live in the home as well as resale value.
Fourth, ..eco-friendly choices…that are smart.
Oak accounts for approximately 80% of hardwood flooring in the US. While red oak comprises the majority of this wood (as red oak is more abundant than white oak), more and more consumers are preferring the smoother graining and more contemporary look of white oak. The linear mineral streaks add to this more modern look compared to the strong graining of traditional red oak.
For a higher end look (and more expensive), some are even choosing rifted white oak (this is a special cut that is more smoother and more linear (and has less expansion/contraction). On the flip side, some are choosing character grade white oak for a more vintage look.
Importantly, white oak tends to work best with some of the latest stain color trends (dark, gray and white). White oak is a bit darker, so it helps give a darker color with ebony, espresso and jacobean; white oak works better with grays and white washes (red oak tends to have underlying pink tones) and it looks more modern with a clean water borne poly (such as Bona Traffic). White oak is also more impervious to water than red oak. You can read more about red oak vs white oak here.
Hardwood continues grow in popularity for kitchen floors, especially as open concept floor plans are on the rise. Hardwood has surpassed tile as the preferred surface, especially here in the Westchester and NYC Metro area. Everywhere you look, you’ll find hardwood being showcased in kitchens – home magazines, houzz.com and pinterest.
Why is this? In a nutshell, hardwood is easier on your feet, warmer, easier to clean and makes your space look larger. It’s generally less expensive and improves the value of your home. It ultimately lasts longer, too.
You can read more about both the pros and cons with hardwood and tile in kitchens.
You can read more about it here:
There has also been a resurgence for adding hardwood in entryways and powder rooms as well. Here in Westchester County and NYC Metro area, most homeowners prefer to have hardwood in all areas on the first floor (or main living area).
wide bevels, pegged floors look rather dated.
Bamboo seems to have gained popularity from cheaper big box stores, and most are made in China and many have a lot of adhesive and may have high levels of formaldehyde. Customers are getting smarter and realizing this. Generally, these products are bought by 1st time homeowners for apartments and starter homes. The 60 Minutes investigation on Lumber Liquidators exposed a lot of issues among the cheaper wood flooring and composites, especially those made in China.
If you live in the Westchester County/Fairfield County area, give The Flooring girl a call at 914-937-2950 and we’d be happy to set up a free flooring consultation. (Out of state, please call 914-407-3899).
If you live outside of Westchester County/Fairfield County, feel free to use my special link to Fast Floors to order your flooring and have them shipped directly to you. In particular, I recommend the following brands: Somerset, Armstrong, US Floors and Coretec Plus
Hardwood, Cork, Bamboo Flooring Up-to 70% Off! www.fastfloors.com
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As 2015 is coming to a close, I thought it would be helpful to do a round up post highlighting my Top 7 flooring articles for the year. These cover hardwood flooring, wood floor refinishing and carpet.
1. By far, my top article for the year is Top 10 Hardwood Flooring Trends for 2015. This article shot up to be my #1 blog post on a monthly basis with over 5,000-7,000 clicks/month. This article took a long time to write, but it was well worth it. Several industry sites link to this page and it’s received over 1,300 shares on social media.
2. I was excited that my #2 article for 2015 is for carpets – 7 Carpet and Runner trends for 2015. This is now my #9 monthly article. This is the first time I’ve had a carpet article in the Top 10 (as hardwood seems to be the largest draw on the site). But, carpet and hardwood go together (especially when you consider carpet runners on hardwood steps and area rugs.)
4. Tips on Matching New and Existing Hardwood floors comes in at #4. Here in Westchester County NY, most mid and higher end homes already have hardwood floors in most of the areas. Now, many are adding hardwood to the kitchens, entryway, family room or sometimes additions. This article provides tips on matching wood for the new areas to match the older areas.
6. I couldn’t believe that I had not written an article on this site covering solid vs engineered hardwood, so I finally did! It’s a high quality article, but so many others have written about this before, so it’s more challenging to rank high on the searches for this.
7. And last but not least I have FAQ’s on Hardwood Floor Refinishing – Everything you ever wanted to know. This itself is a round-up post with the top questions my customers ask about sanding and refinishing and it links to key articles on the site about how long it takes, what types of polyurethanes are best, stain color trends and much much more. If you are planning to refinish your floors soon, you’ll want to check out this round-up.
So there you have it. My top 7 articles of the year – as chosen by my audience. Thank you for your continued support and make it a wonderful 2016.
If you live in the Westchester County/Fairfield County area, give The Flooring girl a call at 914-937-2950 and we’d be happy to set up a free flooring consultation. (Out of state, please call 914-407-3899).
If you live outside of Westchester County/Fairfield County, feel free to use my special link to Fast Floors to order your flooring and have them shipped directly to you. In particular, I recommend the following brands: Somerset, Armstrong, US Floors and Coretec Plus.
Hardwood, Cork, Bamboo Flooring Up-to 70% Off! www.fastfloors.com
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Caramel Apple Vodka is one of the most delicious drinks you’ll ever have, and it’s perfect for taking shots, sipping over ice, or adding into a cocktail. It’s surprisingly easy to make, and unlike many infused alcohol recipes, only takes a couple of days to get the flavors all happy into the vodka. And bonus, […]
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A mason jar ornament was one of those ideas that are almost so simple you wonder why you didn’t think of it sooner. But honestly, I didn’t think of it. My teenage daughter wanted something fun to put in little gifts for her friends and she came up with this idea. It turned out to […]
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Caramel has always been one of those recipes that sorta scared me. I have no idea why, because it is one of the easiest homemade candies you can make – and the recipe is one you can’t forget. Four ingredients and about 20 minutes and you have a batch of caramel that tastes like heaven […]
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Superhero snow globe… According to my grandson, this is the coolest thing I’ve ever made. Which is awesome, because he’s the whole reason I made them Creating a snow globe is super, duper easy – a project you can make in about 2 minutes that will have the superheroes in your life something to cheer […]
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*Thanks to 3M for partnering with me on this post* Simple Christmas mantel decorating is my favorite kind. Not in the lazy sort of way, more along the lines of a minimalist tendency sort of way. And I have a little secret on how to decorate a Christmas mantel, one that takes only a few […]
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Kahlua is one of the easiest infused alcohol drinks you can make. There’s a ton of recipes out there on how to make homemade kahlua, some of which are easy and some aren’t so easy. Most of them all need to steep for at least a couple of weeks, but I’m honestly too impatient for […]
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Anyone who follows my Instagram page (@nbritsky), knows I am a big cocktail geek. I found these amazing stemmed tea cups on Etsy and fell in love. When trying to order them I discovered they didn’t ship to the U.S. I’m not one of those guys that finds something on Etsy and yells ‘I can make that’. You really should support the artists and reward them for their cool idea. But I made an exception because of the shipping rules. Here is my process. I’ve done it 10 times so far.
*Thanks to Rockler for partnering with me on this post.* After I built a new porch this summer, I decided I wanted to build an outdoor sofa for seating. Then that turned into an outdoor furniture set. Which led into more and more… well you get the idea. This project started six long months […]
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*Thanks to 3M for partnering with me on this post* Christmas trees aren’t just for inside the home! Go all out this holiday with a festive lawn display that shines and boasts the most creative décor in the neighborhood. Start by making a few DIY outdoor Christmas trees, then light them up quickly and easily to […]
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*This post is in partnership with Yankee Candle* My favorite gifts to both give and receive are Yankee Candles. There’s a reason they are America’s favorite candle, because of the quality. But the reason they’re my favorite is because I know they are so giving with charitable donations to both cancer research as well as […]
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All photos courtesy of The Crafty Lumberjacks
Andrew and Dennis, both actors, met while traveling with the national tour of “Fiddler on the Roof.” They found themselves crafting in their off-hours, and making Valentines and goodie bags for all their cast mates. When the tour ended, the Crafty Lumberjacks blog was born for all those friends who wanted to keep up with the crafty pair’s latest projects. (One of their earliest projects that everyone loved was this Zombie Prom (Judy) Garland.) Three years later, they’re still getting crafty in their off hours. The blog is going strong, thousands follow their Instagram account, and you may recognize them from shout-outs on Sweet Paul and BuzzFeed among others.
Both guys have been DIY-ing since childhood: Dennis acted as his mom’s assistant during her craft shows on Long Island, and Andrew worked his way through vintage craft books at a young age. So it comes as no surprise that they share creative duties gathering ideas from everywhere – TV, Pinterest, even the Crate & Barrel bag used to wrapped boxes above. (Andrew’s idea: Genius.)
When I checked in with Andrew and Dennis, they were in their Queens apartment telling me about some of the holiday crafts they’ll be cooking up this season. Like most of the crafters I know, Halloween to Christmas is their favorite time of year! At that moment, they were thinking of ways to incorporate Lincoln Logs into some holiday decor, so I loved seeing this cute little cabin show up a few days later on Instagram.
The thing I dig most about this crafty pair is that their projects always get a lot of “Wow!” without a huge investment or twenty steps. They keep it simple. “We have no time for meticulous!” Their goal is simply to be creative, and they knock it out of the park. Most of their crafts can often be completed while sipping Old Fashioneds and Netflix-ing. In fact, they encourage it. (Click here to get their recipe for the perfect Old Fashioned.)
So if you’re looking to get your holiday crafting on this weekend, check out Dennis and Andrew’s blog for DIY ideas and even a few recipes. (Sriracha Maple Bacon Cheeseball, anyone?) Follow them on Instagram to see a little Christmas cheer in your stream each day. And if you love homemade gifts, but don’t necessarily want to make them yourself, click over to their new Instashop!
The Creative Genius series on Made + Remade features fabulous DIYers and makers who inspire us. Meet more Creative Geniuses and help us share the spirit of DIY!
