Dark Vs Light Flooring- What Is The Right Choice For Your Home? – Flooring Fx

Flooring FX

Our international buying power gives us access to better deals so we can pass the discount onto you, while our national distribution network means we have a truly national footprint.

We have access to thousands of square meters of flooring including, Australian Species, European Oak, Waterproof Hybrid and Laminate Flooring along with the accessories, trims, underlays and glues you need to get the job done.

There is some incredible timber, timber-look and carpet flooring options on the market today if you’re looking for new flooring. There are so many different styles and materials to choose from that when it comes to selecting the colour you might be a little confused. Will dark or light flooring work best in your home? Here’s our guide for selecting the colour variety of your new flooring.

Evaluate the space

Firstly, look at the space from the perspective of size and light. What we want the space to look like and the reality can sometimes be two very different things. Is the space on the smaller side? Does it get much natural (and artificial) light? How do you want the space to feel? Are the ceilings high? Are there many windows? What furniture will there be in the room? There are a lot of things to consider. An incredibly dark or small space will benefit from lighter flooring (and lighter walls etc.) If you are wanting to make the room feel larger and brighter. If the aim is to make the room feel cosy or more enclosed, darker floors can do this. If there’s an abundance of light and space, your flooring colour options are broader. Darker floors are impactful, sophisticated and can become the focal point or feature whereas lighter floors are soft, timeless and will easily work back with most furniture, materials or light levels.

Our Design

Whether you are a home owner, DIY renovator, or an owner-builder, we are here to make choosing your floor an enjoyable experience - easily, affordably and all in the one place.

Seek some inspiration

Jump on Pinterest or flick through some interior design magazines. Think back to spaces that have really inspired you- perhaps a friend’s home, a hotel, a shop or café. Don’t think solely about the flooring. How do you want the entire space/ home to look and feel? Pin pictures or create tear sheets of what you’re drawn to.

Once you have a few, evaluate what you have collected. Is there a common flooring (and general) thread throughout? Perhaps everything you have selected is contemporary, full of texture and modern furniture or maybe it’s layered, classic and featuring antiques. You will also see common flooring styles too, whether that be a design or colour. Choose a few images that really “speak” to you as inspiration for all of your selections. Having some reference when you shop or choose materials will be really helpful

Get practical

It’s time to get a little bit realistic. Compare your inspiration images to the actual space you’re working with. You might be drawn to dark flooring but in reality the space is small, dark and you want to open it up. That means a lighter flooring might work but you can pull the darker flooring reference into the space with smaller highlights, like a side table, artwork frames or a contrasting rug. You could also consider dark flooring but maybe something in the mid-range palette. You also need to think about how the space will be used and who will be using it. Darker hard floors can show up marks more clearly than their lighter counterparts but in turn, very light carpet can have the same effect.

Consider pet hair too, with light hairs showing up on dark flooring and visa versa. Think about the level of care and cleaning you will be maintaining (darker hard flooring might need a bit more cleaning) versus how much you want a particular style or colour of flooring- at the end of the day, it will be you that has to care for it! For carpet care tips click here and for timber  care tips click here. Vinyl care can be found here and hybrid here. There’s also a good guide for pets and carpet here.

Bring a sample to the location

It can be helpful to view an actual sample in the space where it is intended. Leave it on the floor over the period of a day to see how it looks in different levels of light. Consider if different seasons allow differing levels of light through that might impact the flooring. How a sample seems on the screen or in the showroom will be different in your own home. It might absorb the light differently at home. Does is seem more reflective? Darker or lighter than you thought?

Hold other samples (such as tiles or stone) next to the flooring if you’re doing a bigger renovation to see how they feel together. If it’s the only thing changing in the space consider how it will work with your furniture, rugs or other items in the room. You may only be replacing one area of flooring so also place the sample next to what will remain (new carpet next to the timber floor boards you’re keeping, for example). It should feel cohesive and refer back to your inspiration images for guidance if you need.

Get an expert opinion

If you’re still uncertain, head into a showroom where the experts are ready to help! Bring your inspiration images and ideas as well as pictures of your room or spaces you’re planning on replacing the flooring in so they can guide you in the right direction.

Carpet

Flooring FX stocks a range of products from luxurious Hycraft wool carpets to family friendly solution dyed nylon, innovative eco+ triexta. We have the best range of carpet and flooring to suit every home, budget and lifestyle from hard-wearing and stain-resistant for a busy family with children or a soft underfoot, luxurious woollen carpet for a quiet retreat area.

Timber

Our timber brings you sustainable, sophisticated, and simply beautiful floors but taking care of them to preserve their magnificent finish and quality presence is a must. Our reputable and ever-expanding product range includes high-grade European, American and Australia wood so you will enjoy the enduring beauty of your flooring for years to come.

Laminate

Laminate flooring provides the look and feel of real timber for a fraction of the price. It offers a unique layered solution for different rooms in your home or business.

Hybrid

The latest innovation in flooring, combining the rigidness of vinyl with the durability of laminate, hybrid flooring gives the best of both worlds.

Hybrid flooring is made of a decorative, textured print layer that is sandwiched between a protective top coating and a rigid, waterproof core board. Many models of hybrid flooring also include a pre-attached bottom acoustic layer, which reduces noise-transmission and eliminates the need to install extra underlayment.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a great choice for the rooms in your house that get the most foot traffic, most vinyl flooring has a wear layer on its surface that resists scratches and stains meaning it is very durable.

Our one-stop site is full of handy tips and design inspiration but head to see our full range of products please visit us in store and we can help find a solution to your flooring needs.