You want your floors to be durable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing; fortunately, hardwood offers all these benefits and more. With so many types of hardwood floors available, how can you find the perfect variety for your home and your needs? Below are three ways to help you narrow down your selection and decide on the ideal floor.

3 Ways to Choose New Hardwood Floors

1. The Hardness Rating

The Janka scale is the rating system by which you can judge the hardness of a type of wood. Wood species with a higher rating are firmer, and species with a lower rating are softer. For high-traffic areas, the higher the rating, the better. Red oak and white oak are prime examples of harder wood, while walnut has a lower, and thus softer, rating on the Janka scale.

 2. Color Options

Most wood floors look brown or beige upon first glance—but with closer inspection, you can see every type of wood offers distinct variations in color. Maple is a light, cream color with an airy feeling; mahogany is dark and rich, adding instant depth and anchoring to any room; and American cherry is a lustrous tea color. Don't hesitate to explore the natural shades of hardwood up close. You will be amazed at the natural detail in every plank.

3. The Wood Grain

Every type of wood has different styles of grain. Some, like pine, can have wide, arcing swirls and dramatic knotholes. Others, like beech, have a straight, tight, more uniform wood grain. Consider what characteristics will work best with the décor of your room, taking into account other wooden furniture pieces and patterned fabric.

The experts at Carolina Wood Floors have been serving clients throughout the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, area for over 25 years. They carry all the hardwood varieties mentioned above as well as many more options. Call (336) 765-0680 or visit them online to get an estimate for new flooring installation. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter to stay current on hardwood floor specials and advice.