The only way to get the wood lighter than its natural color is to bleach it or use a white wash stain. I'm not a huge fan of these both because the color often reacts with these oils and resins on these woods and doesn't usually look the way customers expect and can become blotchy on non-oak woods.
An easy way to fill in microscratches and shine wood floors is to polish your floors after mopping. After dusting and spray mopping, use a designated microfiber mop pad to apply polish to wood floors to add shine. Bona floor polish is easy to use and adds a protection and shine with every application.
The most common way to lighten dark wood floors involves removing the present stain and applying a different one. You start this process by clearing everything out of the space. Once that's done, it's important to mop the floor and ensure as much residue is gone as possible.
Keep Things Light
Olma Fuentes, the founder and principal of New Jersey-based Deni + Dove Interiors, recommends using lighter neutrals such as variations of cream, whites, taupes, and beiges. “This will have a dual effect—the dark wood will stand out more and your lighter furnishings will seem brighter,” she says.
The finish is the protective layer of your wood floors. Since vinegar is an acid, it will actually break down the finish on the surface of your floor, and over time it will reduce the shine, and leave a dull appearance.
Avoid harsh detergents, vinegar cleaning solutions, and any other abrasive products. Clean hardwood flooring with steam, a small amount of water, or a cleaning agent purpose-made for hardwood. Mild, ph-neutral soaps also work. Remove hardened mounds of dirt with warm water and a putty knife.
There are four main ways to refresh a tired-looking wood floor: thorough cleaning, topping up the finish, buffing and polishing, or investing in a full sand and refinish. The method you choose will depend on the severity of your floor's condition.
Marble, White, Bronze and Wood
Keep the overall effect elegant and light by balancing the dark floors with white cabinetry and walls, warm bronze metals and wood accents just a few shades lighter than the floors.
If you have dark flooring, consider creating a cosy effect with a dark wall colour. Choose shades from deep indigo, emerald, slate grey or black and choose light or medium wood accents, warm metallics and neutral textures for an intimate room, perfect for relaxing in the evening.
Generally speaking, wood floors can be restored without sanding by recoating, using either mechanical or chemical methods. These can be used across wood flooring ideas for a living room, wood floors for a bedroom, kitchen flooring and splash-safe wooden bathroom flooring.
Light wood furniture on a dark wood floor offers a striking look. The best choices usually are furniture that is just a few shades lighter in color than the floor. Too much of a contrast will leave the room feeling stark. Partial match.
Whether you're using a small amount of bleach in hot water to mop your floors, or have spilled undiluted bleach directly on your hardwood floors, the bleach will begin to lighten the wood. The amount and concentration of lightening and might depend on what your floors have been treated with.
Harsh chemical solutions such as vinegar, ammonia, or other alkaline products that can strip away the finish exposing the bare wood of your flooring. Polishes and other wood renewal-type products that can leave a residue or build-up on your floors, making them look dull and waxy.
To clean your floors with this DIY mixture, combine equal parts olive oil and white vinegar, a few teaspoons of lemon juice, and five parts hot water. Dip your mop or rag into the solution, wring gently, and then wipe down your hardwood floors with this homemade wood floor cleaner that shines.
Ammonia is a powerful cleaner for sticky stains, black spots, and scuff marks on the floor. You can use one cup of ammonia dissolved in a gallon of water to clear up the haze buildup.
White furniture is always a good idea when furnishing your home with dark flooring. White furniture is incredibly versatile and can be paired with any color you can think of, including dark wood floors. Furniture colored white will always give the illusion of making a space feel bigger and cozier.
Warm Tan and Creamy Wall Paint Colors
Colors like warm tans or creamy beiges are a great option. Because they complement the dark wood flooring, especially the chocolate tones in the wood floor color.
If your floors are heavily damaged, it is best to use a trowel filler, a thinner wood filler that spreads and covers large areas (Image 1). You will apply this with a large putty knife. But if your floors are less damaged, use a wood patch filler on individual spots (Image 2). Let the filler dry completely.
Only use water and a pH neutral cleaning product that is suitable for timber floors. Avoid using household detergents or methylated spirits as these can remove the varnish that protects the surface of the floors. It's also recommended not to use polish or wax products as these can make the floor surface very slippery.