Irrespective of whether you are renovating, extending or simply “re-looking” your home, a common dilemma is often whether or not you can lay two different floors in your house. There is little doubt that the simplest answer to this dilemma is a big “Yes!”, but, like all things, it comes with the caveat that whatever you are thinking of, make sure you plan it correctly. If you are planning a renovation, particularly in a small property, a uniform flooring solution throughout will make the house look bigger and will give a clean and stylish look to your project.
In a bigger property however, different wooden flooring options can be used to create interest and to define different areas with different purposes. The key to making two or more wooden floors work in the same project is to select woods that compliment each other and add charm to each of the rooms. One thing that is worth avoiding if you can help it at all, is combining two different wooden floors in the same room. That said, if you do find yourself having to extend a wooden floor, it can be done very effectively with some planning.
If you’re planning to combine 2 or more different wooden floors in your house, there are a few things to bear in mind. The first is the overall look you’re trying to create. It may be that you want to create a somewhat “bohemian” look for your home, whereby you choose random widths and colours of wood flooring in each room to instill a completely different look. This can work really well if it’s planned and each room has its own interior look, which reinforces the flooring choice you’ve made.
On the other hand, it may be that you’re seeking to create uniformity, in which case you’ll need to plan more carefully. If you already have some wooden flooring in your home, which is either original to the house or has been added some time ago, and you want to create uniformity, you’ll need to attempt to create a match for the flooring you have in place already. If this is the case, the ideal way is to recover a plank of the existing flooring from the room and send it to, or take it to your flooring supplier to find out exactly the detail of the flooring.
It may be that you have solid wood flooring already in place or it could be engineered wood flooring. Either way, if you’re keen to match up the two floors, it’s essential to establish the type, species, grade and finish of the floor you have already. Once you have done so, you’ll need to decide if a duplicate of the existing floor will work for your second room, or whether you’ll need to make new decisions. If you’re planning, for example to match an existing living room floor in a kitchen, it’s probably a good idea to match up the species of solid wood in the living room with engineered wood in the kitchen so it’ll stand up to the challenges of your day to day kitchen activities.
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FAQ
1. Can I lay two different floors in my house?
Yes, you can lay two different floors in your house. But it’s important to plan it correctly to ensure a harmonious look. In a small property, a uniform flooring solution throughout will make the house look bigger, while in a larger property, different wooden flooring options can be used to define different areas with different purposes.
2. Can I combine two different wooden floors in the same room?
It’s generally advisable to avoid combining two different wooden floors in the same room. However, if necessary, it can be done effectively with some careful planning.
3. How can I create a unique look with multiple wooden floors?
If you want a unique or “bohemian” look, you can choose random widths and colours of wood flooring in each room to create different looks. It’s essential to plan this well and ensure that each room’s interior look reinforces the flooring choice you’ve made.
4. How can I create uniformity with multiple wooden floors?
If you’re aiming for uniformity and you already have some wooden flooring in your home, you should try to create a match for the flooring already in place. You’ll need to determine the type, species, grade and finish of the existing floor, and decide if a duplicate of this floor will work in the second room.
5. Can I match a solid wood floor with an engineered wood floor?
Yes, you can match a solid wood floor with an engineered wood floor. If you’re planning to match a living room’s solid wood floor in a kitchen, it’s advisable to match up the species of solid wood in the living room with engineered wood in the kitchen to withstand day-to-day kitchen activities.