How to Choose the Right Floor

Floor – walls – ceiling: the three fundamental elements that together create the room’s feel. The interaction between these three surfaces can change the overall impression, depending on the choice of colours, patterns, lighting, etc. The floor creates the room’s base, weight and character, and it is also the basis for the other elements, including the choice of furniture and other decor. The floor is where fashion and style meet function.

A floor is so much more than just something to walk on. The floor, with the walls and ceiling, contributes the room’s fundamental feel. When designing your home, you should perhaps consider the floor first. The floor is the base – whilst you can always repaint walls and ceiling, the floor is of a more permanent nature. The appearance of the floor, i.e. the colour, surface, pattern and hardness, can vary a lot between different wood species. From light, calm Birch or Maple, through Oak and Beech, to dark and vibrant Walnut or Jarrah. Find out as much as you possibly can about different species and what they can mean for you in your home. Your floor sets the mood.

Light, dark or natural? The colour of the floor has a strong impact on how the room is perceived. A dark floor “swallows” a lot of light, but it also creates a sense of warmth and cosiness. A light wood floor reflects the light and adds space to the room.

Where are you planning to install the floor – and how much wear and tear will it be exposed to? A lacquered surface makes the floor easier to clean. Oil, meanwhile, brings out the fine structure and grain of the wood and enhances its natural colour. The hardness of the wood and the possibility to re-sand the floor should also be considered.

In general, a lacquered surface reflects the light more than an oiled one. An exception to this rule is wood treated with our ultramatt lacquer , which makes the floor feel and look as if it was made from untreated, newly sawn timber. A matt lacquerer surface is coarser than a satin lacquered surface.

The sense of space in a room is affected by the width and length of the planks, as well as the strip pattern of the floor. A general rule is to choose 1 or 2-strip floor for a large room and a 3-strip for a smaller room. Wide and long planks may be best suited for a larger space – but there are exceptions to every rule!

The impression of the floor is made up by what you see, as well as what you feel. Many of our floor designs include surfaces that have been handscraped and/or brushed to create a unique patina that speaks to all your senses. The look can be further enhanced with planks with bevelled edges.

Clean, calm and elegant – or rustic, rich in patina, knots and cracks? Kährs offers a selection of different gradings, each with a unique character. Grading depends on which part of the log is used when producing individual boards. We also use many types of surface treatments to create a wide diversity of styles.

Other features of the room are important to consider. Installing your floor lengthwise will accentuate the shape of the room. Meanwhile, light floors coupled with light walls will enhance the sense of space, while a dark floor will ground the room. Dark floors combined with dark walls diminish the room – but can bring warmth and cosiness.

What type of light is there in the room? Natural light, the size of the windows, other lighting and direction of the light, all affect the perception of the floor. The general rule is to install the floor lengthwise towards the window. If the room is long and narrow with windows placed lengthwise, you will have to choose what you feel is more important to accentuate the shape or light.

A good way of creating harmony in your home is to choose floors that match, but are optimal for each space. You could, for instance, choose a 1-strip floor for the living room and its 3-strip equivalent for the bedroom. Choosing matching mouldings and skirtings will further enhance the sense of unity.

Our floors are durable and easy to keep clean. With proper maintenance, your wood floor will retain its beauty for years to come. It is, however, worth bearing in mind that oiled floors demand more maintenance than lacquered ones. It’s also worth considering that light-stained and light-coloured species of wood are more sensitive to wear-and-tear Mix and match than dark ones.