In recent years the hardwood flooring market had been shifting towards darker wood floors. From the medium brown hardwood floors all the way to gray and black. It seems every job we’ve taken on lately calls for a dark walnut stain or gray stain. The design world has really affected our industry. The homes these days are dominated by white and gray paint on walls and cabinetry with dark floors. 

So with change in color comes a change in look and practical use. Here are the pros for dark and gray wood floors:

• These floors look more modern and contemporary. When most of us look at a honey color wood floor we think of the 70’s floors when everything was finished with a clear urethane. Most homes in our area such as Berkeley, Oakland, Albany and Piedmont have oak floors. We had been refinishing them from a clear honey color to a dark walnut stain on almost every job.
• If you’re selling your home that is what buyers are looking for these days. Realtors are calling for white light paint on walls and cabinets and dark stained wood floors. This seems to be making a quicker sale coming with a higher price tag.
• It is much easier fitting modern new furniture with these floors since the furniture industry also turned into colors of the same design group. New furniture come in wire brushed finish, different shades of gray and white and a more rustic but light color spectrum. Staining the wood floors dark adds to a nice contrast. 

That is pretty much what I think are the pros of dark hardwood floors. Let’s look at what the cons might be:

• It’s a trend. Much like others it might go away in a year or two. Clear color wood floors might turn into the new trend again. That means you will be stuck with furniture that go very well with your floors.
• Dark shows everything. Talk to anyone who has a dark hardwood floor and you’ll soon find out that maintenance is a little more involved. Sweeping and vacuuming more regularly is a must. A small price to pay if you love the dark floor.
• The dark stain color is only pigments on top of a lighter most likely oak floor. Scratching through the color might show a lighter more visible scratch than other floors.
• Achieving the dark color on wood takes more skill, more labor and in turn more money. You’ll pay a little more to get that dark out of your floors than if you were to ask for a clear coat. 

It depends on your reasons and goals moving forward with your decision making. I don’t think any of the pros or cons are so harsh to drive you away from either option. Wood floors are beautiful and certainly more valuable than any other floor options. Light or dark – I don’t think you can go wrong.