When you’re planning a re-look for a room or if you’re planning a room in a new build from scratch, there’s plenty to consider. Things like who will use the room, how often and for what purpose are amongst the key things you need to be asking yourself. The responses to these questions will influence to a great extent the style and décor you choose. But as you drill down to the detail there are more considerations you need to take into account. Here we’d like to explore the situations where open and tight grain wood flooring work best.
Architecture
When you’re creating the backdrop to any room in the home, you’re likely to take into account the architecture of the room and the floor before anything else as these will act as the backdrop to everything you put in the room. It may be that you already have furnishings that you either can’t afford to or don’t want to replace or it may be that you’re planning a complete re-vamp with everything sourced afresh. If you’re planning a family ‘den’ in a small room that’s tucked away between your formal lounge and the kitchen, your approach will be very different to that you’d adopt for a formal dining room or master bedroom suite.
When it comes to planning the backdrop to your exciting new project, the architecture of your room will play a large part in the styling decisions you make (once you’ve allowed for functionality must-have’s of course). If you’re fortunate enough to have a room with high ceilings, ornate cornice work and ceiling roses, you might want to embrace this grandeur and reflect it in the flooring or you might want to go wild and create a contrast. This is where your flooring plays a huge and important role.
It’s all about grade
Wood comes in open or tight grains. As the name suggests, an open grain wood is where you see the grain of the wood clearly and it creates a natural looking ‘pattern’ on the floor. Whether or not the open grain wood you choose comes with an abundance of natural knots or not will depend on the grade of wood you choose. As any regular reader of this blog will know, when wood’s lumbered, it is graded into one of four different grades: prime, select, natural and rustic. Going down this list from prime to rustic, grains tend to become more open and knots more abundant. This doesn’t mean in any way that one option is of better quality than another; it just means that it’ll look different (and cost less the further down the list you go).
Likewise, when it comes to choosing between open and tight grain wood flooring, it comes down to two things: personal preference and the look you’re hoping to create.
Cool and casual
If your aim is to create a cool and casual look for your room, there’s no getting away from the fact that an open grain wood floor will provide the perfect backdrop. An open grain oak floor, for example, will give you a stunning compliment for either a room with a big squashy sofa and plenty of distressed furniture or a shabby chic look. It will also work well in rooms where you have a real mix of furniture that you want to bring together using the floor as a common element. An abundance of old oak or pine furnishings particularly suit this casual, yet charming style. This look can ideally be topped off with a brushed and oiled finish to reinforce its natural allure. Wide boards are also worth considering if you really want to achieve this confident “jeans and trainers” look for your room.
Polished and formal
On the other hand, if you’re seeking more of a ‘suit and city shoes’ look and have a host of highly polished antique pieces that you want to display in accordance with their grandeur, then a tight grain wood floor with a lacquer finish is more likely to fit the bill. This sort of tight grain floor will tie in perfectly with the pieces you have and will reinforce the splendor of the interior you’re looking to create. Although wide boards can also work well with this look, a narrow board is undoubtedly your best bet.
If you’d like help to choose the best flooring option for your project, don’t hesitate to get in touch. At Wood and Beyond, we’re here to make sure you make the very best decisions for your wood flooring project.
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FAQ
What is the difference between open and tight grain wood flooring?
Open grain wood flooring is where the grain of the wood is clearly visible, creating a natural pattern on the floor. This type of flooring often fits well in more casual or rustic settings. Tight grain wood flooring, on the other hand, is less textured and provides a smoother look, making it a good choice for formal and polished environments.
What factors should I consider when choosing between open and tight grain wood flooring?
You should consider the architecture of the room, the purpose of the room, and your personal style preferences. If your room has high ceilings, ornate cornice work, and ceiling roses, you might want to reflect this grandeur in your flooring choice. The functionality and usage of the room are also important considerations.
How does the grade of wood affect its appearance?
Wood is graded into one of four categories: prime, select, natural, and rustic. As you go down this list, grains tend to become more open and knots more abundant. This doesn’t indicate a difference in quality, but rather gives you different aesthetic options for your flooring.
What type of look would open grain wood flooring suit?
Open grain wood flooring suits a cool and casual look. It provides a stunning backdrop for rooms with distressed furniture or a shabby chic look. It also works well in rooms where you have a mix of furniture styles, using the floor as a common element to bring them together.
What type of look would tight grain wood flooring suit?
Tight grain wood flooring suits a more formal, polished look. If you have a host of highly polished antique pieces, a tight grain wood floor with a lacquer finish will tie in perfectly and reinforce the grandeur of the interior.