How to choose the right hardwood flooring

1. What mood do you want to create: darker flooring, if cool-toned, creates a formal feel; dark colors in warm tones create a feeling of coziness; lighter floor colors, will make your room feel airy, and bright.

2. How much natural light do you get: the lighter the floor color, the more suited it will be to a naturally dark room; if your room is flooded with light, you have the luxury of choice.

3. What’s the room's size: The lighter the floor color, the bigger the room will look.

4. Do you have existing flooring you want to match: if you are remodeling it's better to go for a contrast from room to room, rather than a close mismatch. For a truly cohesive feel, floor colors that run throughout an interior will also enhance the feeling of spaciousness. If you choose to add interest by varying it from room to room, pick floor color tones that complement each other.

5. Your furniture's color and finish: this can be particularly tricky when you have lots of wooden furniture in different tones and finishes atop a wooden floor. Ideally, you want the floor to be the backdrop, rather than stealing the attention from your carefully selected pieces.