How to use the floor to define the room.

You know what you like and what you don’t. Choosing a floor is a vital decision, here are a few suggestions that may help:

1. THE BASIS OF YOUR ROOM

The floor is as important for your home as your shoes are for your clothes, i.e. it can make or break the overall impression. A beautiful floor will give an exclusive look to an otherwise basic interior – while a lower quality floor may distract from an otherwise beautiful interior.

2. USE ALL YOUR SENSES

Floor have a visual structure and texture. This means that you should let both your eyes and your feet decide before you choose whether to have a lively or calm, dark or light, brushed floor.

3. A BIG ROOM NEEDS A BIG FLOOR

Generally, a 1-strip floor looks better in a large room, while a 3-strip floor is perfect for a smaller space. Keep in mind that wide plank in a small room tend to make it feel smaller. Then again, this could sometimes be the look you want to achieve.

4. LIGHT VERSUS DARK

When you choose between a dark and a light floor you should reflect on a few things, i.e. how much natural light there is (whether the room is facing North or South), how big the windows are and what other sources of light the room has. It is also important to think about how the room is lit when it is dark outside, as this is probably the time of the day when you will see it most. Generally speaking, a dark floor goes better with light walls and vice versa.

5. MAKE THE FLOOR MATCH YOUR STYLE

The character of the wood is important for the overall impression of the floor. Graining, texture and color variations give the floor a lively look, while a calm impression is achieved with an evenly coloured floor.

6. THE DIRECTION OF THE FLOOR BOARDS GUIDES YOUR EYES

If the starting point of the floor is the window, the boards will be evenly lit and the joints disappear. If you install the floor towards the main sources of light, the light will reflect and emphasize the joints. You can also enhance the length or the width of a room with the direction of the boards, i.e. make it seem more square or rectangular.

7 .MAKE CLEAN TRANSITIONS

If you decide to install the floor without thresholds, you will achieve a natural flow between the rooms. See Kährs professional installation guide for specific instructions.

8. A MIX OF MATERIALS WILL ADD INTEREST AND CREATE CONTRAST

A “soft” wood floor combined with hard stone or tiles will add to the beauty of both materials. The same type of contrast is achieved with soft textiles and carpets, which will make the floor appear hard. The contrast effect will add an interesting aspect to your home.

9. THE LIGHT CAN GUIDE YOU

A floor with a matte finish will absorb more direct sunlight, while a silk matte or glossy finished floor will reflect the light, depending of course on its intensity.