Are you replacing floors in your home but can’t decide whether carpet, tile, or wood is the best option? Even though the choice is difficult, hardwood flooring has several advantages over other surfaces.
Wood floors offer a classic look many homeowners prefer over the appearance of carpet or tile. They’re warm, elegant, and have a historic look that draws many people to them. They’re also versatile and can match almost any home’s age, size, and aesthetic style.
Besides their good looks, there are many more benefits of hardwood floors. Here are 11 great benefits of having hardwood floors in your home to make your decision a little easier.
- A Timeless Look
There’s no doubt that wood floors are timeless. Original wood floors in historic homes often intrigue home buyers and raise the value of an old home.
Wood floors were popular out of necessity for hundreds of years, but today they continue to be a popular flooring choice despite a myriad of other options. Their elegance and warmth make a home more inviting. In some cases, wood floors can make a room feel larger and more spacious.
Be careful to choose wood floors that are timeless and not trendy. While trends are great in the moment, trendy styles aren’t long-lasting. Fortunately, there are a few wood floor designs that are timeless.
If you’re adding a new wood floor, look for flooring with long and wide wood panels. These floors have a modern meets timeless look that isn’t going out of style any time soon. Consider the color, texture, and type of finish of your wood floor as these all affect its timelessness.
Floors with warm wooden tones and a touch of texture offer a classic rustic feel. Gray wood tones mute the warmness of wood and give it a neutral vibe.
If you’re unsure about the finish, less sheen is usually better. Wood floors with a little texture and a satin finish will stay in style for decades.
- Durable and Long-Lasting
Upgrading to wood floors is an investment in durability. Wood floors are surprisingly resilient to most scratches and damage. Yes, you can damage wood floors, but it’s more challenging than you’d expect.
If durability is at the top of your list of flooring needs, look for solid wood floors. Solid wood can withstand repeated sanding, repairing, and refinishing. This is an important need for those with pets or children who may accidentally scratch or damage the floors with claws and toys.
When it comes to moisture, engineered hardwood floors are more durable than hardwood. Engineered wood has 2 layers of wood glued together with a hydraulic press and is sealed with veneer. This prevents moisture from penetrating and damaging the wood.
Wood floors are incredibly long-lasting. You can see how well they age in homes that are well over 100 years old. As long as you care for your wood floors, there’s no need to worry about replacing them after only a few years.
- Easy to Clean
Speaking of maintenance, cleaning wood floors is much easier than any other floor type. You can choose any method of cleaning such as sweeping, vacuuming, and steam-cleaning to keep your floors clean.
Always use soft-bristled brooms and vacuums with soft nozzles to prevent scratching your wood floor. If liquid spills on your wood floor, clean it right away with a damp cloth. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain to prevent liquids and debris from sticking.
Wood floors don’t hide any dirt, dust, or mites like carpet. When dust does collect on the wood floors, it’s easy to notice and clean.
- Variety of Styles
The list of styles, colors, and finishes of wood floors available today is endless.
Wood floors will have a different appearance depending on the type of wood or stain. You can also choose anything from a classic horizontal installation to complex patterns and designs. You can go for a traditional look with narrow planks or keep things rustic with wide ones.
The next step is to decide between all-natural or engineered hardwood flooring. Both offer several benefits and will enhance the look of your home.
- Easy Installation
Compared to tile and carpeting, most wood floors are quick and easy to install. Many wood floors manufacturers today will cut wood planks to fit and snap into place. This type of floor is referred to as a floating floor.
For the avid DIY-er, a floating floor is a great cost-effective way to install a new hardwood floor. Floating floors make installation faster and easier for professional floorers as well. This will reduce installation time and save you money.
- Boosts Home Value
The upfront costs of wood flooring are higher than most other flooring types. Despite this slight disadvantage, installing wood floors in your home can improve the property value.
Houses that have hardwood floors typically sell faster than homes that don’t. Around 54% of homebuyers will pay extra for a home that has hardwood floors.
What is the obsession with wood floors?
Many young homebuyers, like Millennials, prefer the aesthetic that wood floors offer. The major reason homebuyers love wood floors is that maintaining and repairing them is easy and rarely requires the help of a flooring professional. It’s also difficult to stain or severely damage wood floors, meaning you don’t need to regularly replace them.
- Improves Air Quality
Hardwood floors don’t trap allergens like dust, dander, pollen, or dirt. This makes it easier to clean and improve the air quality of your home. Individuals struggling with allergies will often prefer wood floors because of this.
Are wood floors better than tile or laminate when it comes to improving air quality? Perhaps surprisingly, yes.
Quality wood floors don’t have the wide seams or grout lines that laminate and tile floors have. These seams, embossing, and grout lines can trap dust, pollen, mildew, and even mold.
- Better Acoustics
Is sound important to you? Whether you’re a musician, a music enthusiast, or one who loves good surround sound during a movie, hardwood floors will improve the acoustics. The sound is crisp and clear while reducing vibrations or hollow sounds.
Wood floors are a popular choice in buildings other than homes. Dance studios choose wood floors for their acoustics and resistance. Concert halls use wood floors to enhance the sound of the performing musicians.
If you think the floors will make your home too loud, add rugs and furniture to absorb some sound. If you’re adding a new floor, install subfloors beneath the wood flooring to help absorb sounds as well.
- Matches Any Style
Wood floors can match almost every interior home style imaginable. You can change out your interior design themes without having to worry about changing the flooring.
The reason for this is due to wood’s natural and neutral appearance. It can look equally great with the trending modern Millennial style or a classic New England aesthetic.
But there are a few tips you should follow to prevent wood floors from clashing with your aesthetic. Wood colors range from in colors including lights, grays, darks, and browns. You want to use colors and shades that work well with the floor.
To do this, consider working with a palette that matches the floor. If you have deep dark hardwood floors, use a dark color as an accent and lighter colors to add contrast.
Do you not like the color or finish of your existing hardwood floors? Well, you can change that without having to replace the entire floor!
- You Can Refinish Wood Floors
Do you want to make your hardwood floors lighter or darker? If you’re not a fan of the color of your existing wood floors, you can refinish them. Refinishing wood floors is a more cost-effective and faster option than replacing the floors entirely.
Over time, wood floors will need a little extra tender love and care. Some areas will wear faster than others and it can be noticeable. Rather than replace the entire floor, you can sand and refinish the floors get them looking like new.
- A Worthwhile Investment
One of the biggest benefits of hardwood floors is how well they can stand the test of time. Some hardwood floors last well over 100 years. As long as you regularly care for your floors, you won’t need to replace them even after 1, 2, or several decades.
Another great benefit is they can increase in value over time. If cost is a concern, there are affordable wood flooring options available. Almost anyone can invest in the long-lasting benefits of hardwood floors.
Reap the Benefits of Hardwood Floors and Add Style to Your Home Today
Hardwood floors are a classic and long-lasting flooring option that every homeowner is happy to have. Not only will you love the look, but you and your family will love the many other benefits of hardwood floors as well.
Want to learn more great ways to increase the look and value of your home? Check out our latest articles for some ideas.
