Nature is a veritable palette of colour and wood is no exception. From blonde to black, wood colours vary dramatically according to the species. Light coloured woods include birch, pine, white oak, ash and maple and are extremely popular flooring choices for anyone seeking a bright, airy interior. That said, dark floors are also highly in demand at this moment in time. Irrespective of whether you’re looking to create a cutting-edge, modern look or a traditional setting, dark coloured wood provides a stylish and classy backdrop.
Wood can either be naturally dark or can be coloured or treated to make it dark. Naturally dark woods include the likes of ebony, mahogany, walnut, rosewood and certain species of teak. The problem with the likes of ebony, which is a naturally black wood, is the cost. A dense wood, ebony has an incredibly fine texture and is very smooth when polished. It is an extremely rare and exotic species, typically found in the likes of India and Sri Lanka. Because of its rarity, ebony commands a high market price. As a result, it is more typically used in small objects rather than a raw material for flooring. Most typically, you’ll find ebony used in the construction of musical instruments or the likes of chess sets or pool cue butts. So if you’re looking for black flooring, ebony is unlikely to be the ideal solution.
If you have your heart set on black wood flooring, what are your options? Essentially you can choose from an affordable wood which is naturally dark, for example black walnut, which you can buy unfinished or lacquered depending on your needs or a floor that has been coloured black. If you choose unfinished black walnut flooring, you have the flexibility of choosing the type of finish you prefer. Whichever finish you select, it’s important, when you’ve invested in a dark floor, to include an ultra violet filter to help protect your floor from the adverse effects of the sun.
An alternative to naturally dark wood is to seek out the likes of fumed oak. Fumed oak is essentially oak which has been “smoked” in an atmosphere rich in ammonia. Ammonia causes wood to darken by drawing the tannins in the wood to the surface. The longer wood is smoked, the darker it becomes. Fumed wood, could work out a cheaper way of achieving a very dark colour than investing in a wood that is naturally black in colour.
Finally, if your budget is seriously tight, but you still have your heart set on dark wood flooring, you could stain or paint an existing (or new) floor to the colour you desire. The secret with staining is to work with an unfinished floor and apply at least three coats of stain, allowing good drying time in between. Thereafter a couple of coats of varnish will help protect your floor. Depending on the look you’re hoping to achieve, you could also try painting your floor, but with either painting or staining, it’s a good idea to do a test section of floor before attacking the whole floor. That way you can make sure the result is what you were hoping for.
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FAQ
1. What are some naturally light-coloured woods?
Light-coloured woods include birch, pine, white oak, ash, and maple. These types of wood are popular for creating a bright, airy interior.
2. What are some naturally dark-coloured woods?
Naturally dark woods include ebony, mahogany, walnut, rosewood, and certain species of teak. However, rare woods like ebony are often more expensive due to their rarity and are typically used in small objects rather than as a raw material for flooring.
3. What are some alternatives to naturally dark wood for flooring?
If you want a dark wood floor without the expense of naturally dark wood, you can opt for an affordable naturally dark wood like black walnut or a treated wood such as fumed oak. Fumed oak is oak that has been “smoked” in an ammonia-rich atmosphere to darken it.
4. How can I achieve a dark wood floor on a tight budget?
If you’re on a budget but want a dark wood floor, you can stain or paint an existing (or new) floor to achieve the colour you want. However, always do a test section before applying stain or paint to the whole floor.
5. What should I consider when finishing a dark wood floor?
If you choose an unfinished dark wood like black walnut, you have the flexibility to choose the finish. When finishing a dark floor, consider using a finish with an ultra-violet filter to protect the floor from the sun’s damaging effects.