You guys, I am knee-deep in this renovation and I’m feeeeeling it. While I’m covered in tile, dust, and making it work in a house missing walls, I wanted to focus on something that is finally finished – our hardwood floors. Flooring is one of the key foundations of any space, and I can’t wait to walk you through all the choices I made to bring this vision to life.
Today on the blog, I want to chat all about why I chose hardwood floors again for our home and what I consider to be the best hardwood floor finish I’ve used time and time again.
A BIG Step Into Larger Renovation
It’s no secret, my house is in shambles right now. While I’m very used to the chaos and start/stop nature of a renovation, this one has felt long! For those that don’t know, we are doing a COMPLETE renovation to an entire floor of our house that required significant structural changes. I’m talking framing, electrical, and plumbing systems all needed to be reconfigured to fit with the blueprint for our dream floor plan. If you’re curious to read all about our renovation going on, check out this post: Why We Decided To Work With An Interior Designer…
With so much shifting of spaces going on, certain areas of the flooring needed replacing. That being said, the original floors were a beautiful feature of the house, and I was determined to keep as much of them as possible. Luckily, our contractors are amazing and wanted to keep the integrity (and cost down) in this house as much as possible too!
Matching New + Old Hardwood Together
When Craig and I walked into what’s now the Monarch Colonial home, I knew right away that taking down walls would mean we’d have to tackle the flooring where the walls used to be. Matching new flooring with the old can be a real headache if you can’t find a perfect match.
In the past when we’ve done renovations of this size, we were also replacing all of the flooring at one time. But this time around, since there was wood flooring installed throughout, it was a really nice change to be able to feather in the new flooring, sand everything down, and sand it the same color.
The existing flooring was a cool-toned grey which just isn’t my personal preference. A mid tone wood color is much more my style and I’m so glad we could make it happen!
I included one of my favorite photos in the middle of the renovation above because it shows how when done correctly, old and new hardwood can seamlessly flow together. This was a project far too large for me to take on, but our contractor was fantastic and let me see every step of the process. It truly was so cool!
After all the flooring was installed, he sanded off the remaining cool gray finish and the flooring was ready to add a finish on top. I’ll still never get over the fact that genuine wood allows you to sand off its exterior and start fresh again. Combining the old and new hardwood feels like such a perfect blend of the home’s character and my style.
Choosing Our Finish – oil Based vs. water based
While a hardwood flooring finish may not seem like a big deal, this is the color you’ll see every day for years! The finish you choose will not only affect how your floors look but also how they stand up to daily wear and tear.
Here are a few common types of hardwood flooring finishes to consider:
- Oil-Based Finish: This is a popular option that gives the wood a rich, warm glow. It tends to darken over time, adding character to the floors, but it also requires more maintenance in the long run.
- Water-Based Finish: If you’re looking for something that dries quickly and doesn’t have a strong odor, water-based might be for you. It’s more resistant to yellowing over time and is generally easier to clean.
- Matte, Satin, or Glossy Finish: Beyond the type of finish, you’ll also need to decide on the sheen level. A matte finish gives a more natural look, but a glossy finish gives a very slick look. Satin is a popular middle ground—offering some shine without being too flashy.
Let’s Chat Wood Stain Colors!
When choosing a hardwood floor finish, it’s crucial not just to browse stain colors online, but to see how they actually look on your floors at home. Wood varies widely and can reflect stain colors differently depending on factors like the sanding quality, the lighting in your home, and more. To get a true sense of how different stains will look, ask your contractor to apply samples directly to your floors.
This way, you can see the colors in your space and easily sand off any options you decide against!
BONA WOOD STAIN COLORS
Ultimately, the medium neutral perfectly matched my cabinet choice, making it feel cohesive and intentional. When selecting stains, think about how the color complements your overall design, including your furniture, cabinetry, and the natural lighting in your space.
Currently, lighter wood tones are trending, but I don’t give too much importance to that. To maintain a balanced approach, I believe choosing a mid-tone stain is always timeless.
About Gray Wood Floors…
One of the reasons I’m a huge fan of natural wood stain colors is their timelessness. While grays and overly warm tones have been trends in the past, natural wood tones age beautifully and blend well with a wide variety of styles. They bring out the wood’s inherent beauty, highlighting the grain and texture in a way that looks authentic. This approach worked perfectly, creating a seamless look between the older and newer parts of our floor.
Choose a Finish Wisely
The finish you choose will determine how your floors feel underfoot and how they hold up over time. I went with a water-based satin finish because it offers a subtle sheen without being too glossy, enhancing the natural look of the wood. Water-based finishes are durable and resist yellowing, unlike oil-based finishes, which can darken over time. This was especially important for me since I wanted the floors to retain their light, natural appearance. Satin finishes also strike a nice balance—offering just enough shine without being overly reflective.
The Hardwood Flooring Finish I Chose
After weighing all my options, I decided to go with Bona NaturalSeal, a water-based satin finish. You can see that it actually doesn’t give off color, but seals the natural color of the sanded wood in to protect it without covering it. It gives the floors a clean, polished look without being too glossy, and it’s durable enough to handle daily life without constant upkeep. This sealant is designed to enhance the natural beauty of the wood while resisting the yellowing that can come with oil-based finishes.
What I’m most excited about is after a few different tries, I found the color “Natural” that perfectly matches my cabinets! I can’t believe I got such a spot-on look and I am thrilled to see what the finished space will look like. If you want to shop my exact hardwood floor finish, click the link here.
Do you have a hardwood flooring finish you’ve used in your home and loved? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with all the latest on the blog, check out my recent posts:
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