A hardwood floor design, such as herringbone, or a box pattern, can stand on its own with one type of wood. To give a floor extra pop, depth and interest, however, try combining two types of hardwood into one floor design.
Colors and Tones of Hardwoods
There are many ways to combine hardwoods to achieve a rich and detailed design. Selecting the two hardwoods that will be used together is the first step.
Some of the selection process will be based on the pattern, while the rest of the selection process will be governed by other wood tones and colors in the home. If a light toned floor is desired, then try using maple hardwood flooring as the predominant color of the floor design. Thin planks of walnut hardwood flooring or mahogany flooring can be used to highlight and accent the maple. If used sparingly, the dark floor tone can define the shape of the room, or create a medallion in the center of a space, allowing the lighter color to reign.
If a deeper, richer floor color is desired, consider using two colors that are similar to one another. To different types of cherry for example, such as Brazilian cherry with an American cherry. Or use two types of mahogany flooring, like standard mahogany and ribbon mahogany. By using a more sedate hardwood, and its more highly decorative and grained sister hardwood, a multiple dimensional appearance is formed.
If a contrast is desired for the entire floor space, try to use two tones of wood that will not seem stark next to one another. Quarter sawn oak, combined with walnut hardwood flooring can make for a rich and interesting color combination, without being too hard on the eyes.
Patterns and Floor Designs in Two Colors
Once the colors of the hardwoods being used have been selected, it’s time to create a pattern. If using light and dark contrasting woods, try inlaying one thin strip of dark hardwood flooring around the perimeter of each room, moving through doorways into adjoining rooms without a threshold or transition piece. Move the dark inlay one or two planks in from the wall, to define and enhance the space. This pattern works particularly well for homes with large, open doorways leading from one space to another.
Contrasting floor colors that are not as dramatic can be used to cover the entire floor of a room in one pattern. Try creating a diamond pattern by laying walnut in the form of an outline and filling the interior of the diamond with oak. Or divide the room into quarters, moving from one central point in the room, out to the four corners. Then use alternating stripes of color, set at diagonal angles to one another. This will draw the eye to the center of the room, and works particularly well for foyers or entryways, with large, overhead lights.
Dark hardwood, combined with light, can also be used in a strapping pattern. This forms a large grid on the floor. Begin by marking the floor in sections 3’ increments along each wall, and lay a dark hardwood, such as walnut or mahogany in straight lines, to form 3’ x 3’ boxes on the floor. On the interior of each one of the boxes, lay a lighter toned hardwood, such as maple or oak in a diagonal pattern, changing the direction of the diagonal with each square.
Two subtly different hardwoods can be used in random patterns by mixing not only the tones of the wood, but the widths and lengths of the wood as well. Try using 40% decorative hardwood, and 60% sedate, of which each color would have 30% long planks, and 70% short ones. This will create a great deal of movement and depth in the floor, but without a defined pattern.
Mixing colors in traditional herringbone patterns, or box patterns, by alternating the two colors of wood can add an extra depth and richness to the floor, without drawing extra attention to it. This style works particularly well for open floor plans, and lofts, where one pattern is being used everyone in the home.
Two toned hardwood floor designs can help take the design of the home to a new level. No matter the home’s style, adding even the most basic of inlays in the floors can give it an extra touch of design that can compliment any space. Consider the use of two shades of wood in the next home renovation, and watch the floor take on new dimension.
Sarabeth Asaff - Sarabeth Asaff is a freelance writer and artist with a passion for cooking and good food. Growing up in the kitchen of her Lebanese ...
