Choosing the right hardwood floor color for gray walls can be a tricky business. You want a color that will complement your gray walls without clashing, but you also want to choose a color that is durable and easy to maintain.
Having recently renovated my home, I spent months researching different hardwood floor colors and consulting with interior designers to find the perfect fit for my gray walls.
In this article, I’ll share my personal experience choosing the best hardwood floor color for gray walls. I’ll also provide tips for finding the perfect shade for your home and share some popular hardwood floor colors for gray walls.
Popular Hardwood Floor Colors For Gray Walls
Gray walls have become increasingly popular in recent years, thanks to their versatility. They can be used to create a variety of different looks, from modern and sleek to cozy and traditional. And when paired with the right hardwood flooring color, they can create a truly stunning space.
Here are some popular hardwood floor colors that go well with gray walls.
Warm Hardwood Floor Colors
Warm hardwood floors are the most popular floor color choice with gray walls. They have a reddish or yellow undertone. They pair well with all shades of gray, from light to dark. When your goal is to create a cozy, inviting ambiance in a room with gray walls, opt for warm-toned hardwood floors. .
- Oak: Oak is a classic choice with its golden undertones that radiate warmth. Its versatility makes it suitable for various interior styles.
- Hickory: Known for its striking grain patterns and a mix of brown and reddish tones, hickory adds a rustic charm that beautifully compliments gray walls.
- Cherry wood: For a touch of elegance, cherry wood with its rich, reddish hues creates a luxurious contrast with gray, elevating the room’s visual appeal.
These warm hardwood shades infuse the space with a sense of comfort and hospitality.
Cool Hardwood Floor Colors
Cool-toned hardwood floors paired with gray walls bring an air of serenity and sophistication to your interior. They have a grayish or bluish undertone, which creates a sleek and sophisticated look. They work especially well with lighter shades of gray, as they can help to brighten up the space.
Grayish hardwood options, such as ash or bamboo, create a seamless and harmonious backdrop, ideal for modern, tranquil living spaces.
For a more contemporary and unique look, consider bluish-gray wood varieties like blue pine. This color choice adds a fresh and modern touch to your interior design, offering a serene and sophisticated atmosphere, emphasizing the beauty of the gray walls.
Neutral Hardwood Floor Colors
For those seeking a versatile and adaptable foundation for their decor, neutral hardwood colors provide the perfect solution.
Woods like maple or birch are excellent choices, offering neutral canvases that blend seamlessly with gray walls. This neutral pairing serves as a versatile backdrop, allowing you to play with various decor elements.
Whether you opt for contemporary, traditional, or eclectic design, the neutral hardwood floor serves as a versatile canvas.
How To Decide What Color Works Best With Grey Walls?
To decide the best hardwood floor color for gray walls, consider undertones, the room size, the amount of natural light, the shade of gray your walls are, and the style of your home.
Consider Undertones
The first step in choosing a hardwood floor color for gray walls is to consider the undertones of your walls. Gray walls can have either a warm or cool undertone. Warm gray walls will have hints of red, yellow, or orange, while cool gray walls will have hints of blue, green, or purple.
To determine the undertone of your gray walls, look at them in different lighting conditions. If they look warmer in natural light and cooler in artificial light, then they have a warm undertone. If they look cooler in natural light and warmer in artificial light, then they have a cool undertone.
Once you know the undertone of your gray walls, you can choose a hardwood floor color with the same undertone. This will create a cohesive look in your space.
The Size of Your Room
Another factor to consider when choosing a hardwood floor color is the size of your room. Lighter hardwood floors can help to make a small room feel larger and brighter. Darker hardwood floors can make a large room feel more intimate and cozy.
If you have a small room, you may want to choose a light brown or white hardwood floor color. If you have a large room, you may want to choose a medium or dark brown hardwood floor color.
The Amount of Natural Light
The amount of natural light in your room will also affect the way that your hardwood floors look. Rooms with abundant natural light offer more flexibility in choosing hardwood floor colors, so both light and dark woods can work effectively.
However, in rooms with limited natural light, lighter hardwoods are recommended to prevent the space from feeling too dim. Opt for shades of oak, maple, or bamboo, as they help maintain an open and airy feel even in less well-lit areas.
The Shade of Grey Walls
The shade of gray walls that you have will also affect the way that your hardwood floors look. Lighter gray walls will pair well with a variety of hardwood floor colors. Darker gray walls may be too much contrast for some hardwood floor colors.
If you have light gray walls, you may want to choose a light brown, medium brown, or dark brown hardwood floor color. If you have dark gray walls, you may want to choose a medium brown or dark brown hardwood floor color.
Here are some examples of hardwood floor colors that work well with different shades of gray walls:
- Light gray walls: Light brown hardwood floors, medium brown hardwood floors, dark brown hardwood floors, gray hardwood floors, white hardwood floors
- Medium gray walls: Medium brown hardwood floors, dark brown hardwood floors, gray hardwood floors
- Dark gray walls: Medium brown hardwood floors, dark brown hardwood floors
Traditional vs. Modern Look
The overall look of your home will also play a role in choosing the right hardwood floor color for gray walls.
For a traditional, timeless look, consider classic hardwoods like cherry or mahogany. These warm, rich tones work well with a wide range of grays.
On the other hand, if you prefer a modern, minimalist aesthetic, choose sleek and light-colored hardwoods like ash or bamboo. These pair beautifully with cool gray walls, creating a clean and contemporary ambiance.
Tips for Styling Hardwood Floors with Gray Walls
Once you have chosen the right hardwood floor color for your gray walls, there are a few things you can do to style them to create a cohesive and stylish space:
- Choose the right furniture and accents: If you have gray walls and warm brown hardwood floors, you may want to choose furniture and accents in other warm colors, such as cream, beige, and yellow. If you have gray walls and cool gray hardwood floors, you may want to choose furniture and accents in other cool colors, such as white, navy, and teal.
- Create a focal point. A focal point is something that draws the eye in a room. It could be a fireplace, a piece of art, or a large window. When styling your hardwood floors, try to create a focal point in the room. This will help to balance the space and make it more visually appealing.
- Add layers of texture and interest. Hardwood floors can sometimes look flat and boring. To add layers of texture and interest, try adding rugs, pillows, and throws in different colors and textures. You can also add plants and flowers to your space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Gray and Wood Go Together?
Yes, gray and wood go together very well. Gray is a neutral color that can be paired with a variety of wood tones, from light and warm to dark and cool. The combination of gray and wood can create either a modern or a cozy and rustic feel, depending on the wood colors.
What Gray Looks Best With Wood?
The best gray to pair with wood depends on the undertone of the wood and the space style. Warm gray looks great with warm wood tones, such as oak, walnut, and cherry. Cool gray pairs well with cool wood tones, such as maple, birch, and ash.
How Do You Brighten up a Room With Gray Walls?
To brighten up a room with gray walls, add light-colored furniture and accents, and use mirrors to reflect light. You can also add plants, which make the room feel more alive.
Conclusion
Choosing the right hardwood floor color for gray walls can be tricky. Consider the undertones of your walls, the size of your room, and the amount of natural light. For a traditional look, choose warm hardwoods like cherry or mahogany. For a modern look, go for sleek and light-colored hardwoods like ash or bamboo.
Once you have selected the perfect hardwood floor color for your gray walls, you can start to think about how to style your space. Get the right furniture and accents to create a focal point and add layers of texture and interest.
If you liked this article, continue reading our guide on should floors be lighter or darker than cabinets.
