No one can ever say that hardwood isn’t a flooring with classic, timeless beauty that doesn’t ever go out of date.

Walk into any store and you'll be amazed at the variety of species, colors, and stains.

Still, it’s never completely easy, and a floor can change the entire atmosphere of a room. That’s why it’s so important to get it right the first time.

First, know the difference between a trend and a fad

Trends are usually updates on the already tried and true.  There’s a lot of consumer research behind them, and they aren’t expected to end anytime soon. Hardwood examples would be gray, whitewashed, rustic-look and farmhouse-style floors.

While no one knows exactly when the barn-door flooring style will end, it is characterized by weathered and distressed woods, a look that has been around a long time.

Fads, on the other hand, are usually knee-jerk reactions, the “brainchild” of someone, much like the pet rock craze.

Balance, coordination is crucial

This would be the ideal time to invest $20 or so in a color wheel, so you can see exactly what color tones lean toward the warm or cool.  Don’t just look at the primary color, but also the undertones (secondary shades).

If the flooring is cool, you may want to paint the walls a warmer color or add some appropriately hued accessories. 

Sometimes it can be difficult to determine the hardwood undertone.  If that happens, ask the retailer for his or her advice.

Be sure to examine any other woods, such as coffee or end tables, as well as any transitional spaces. While your flooring doesn’t need to be a perfect match, the undertones do need to coordinate; if your tables have cool undertones and your flooring is warm, you’ll just end up with a very confusing look.

Also, explore any transitional spaces.  Again, they don't need to match and, honestly, you can use different types of flooring in each space; for example, a carpeted living room and a hardwood floor in the dining room in which it opens. Just be sure the colors coordinate and that there's a balance between cool and warm.

For more information, visit the Gowdy Flooring showroom in Amarillo, TX.  We also service Canyon, Dumas, Borger, Hereford and be sure to ask about our estimates.