1) Light and dark flooring Choosing lighter coloured flooring to compliment your furniture can expand the perceived size of any room and can open the space right up. Think cream carpets, natural and neutral toned tiles and whitewashed wood flooring.
Wide Planks
Selecting wide floor planks is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make a room look bigger. Instead of thin strips, go for boards at least seven inches wide. Longer planks (four or more feet in length) can help as well.
A light-colored flooring such as light oak or a light-colored carpet will make the room appear brighter and more open. The same applies to the ceiling—use a light color or white to "open up" the space above. Increase the appearance of the size of the room by adding wall mirrors.
The truth of the matter is that studies concerning human color perception have proven that people perceive bright objects to be closer than the same object that is a darker color. Dark colors absorb light which make a space feel smaller…
Paler shades of wall and floor tiles reflect light which will visually open up a space, whereas darker tones absorb light which will make the room feel smaller.
Make the Bathroom Feel Smaller: The dark bathroom tiles anchor the floor, making the space appear smaller. To avoid this feeling, we recommend using light-coloured tiles for the floor with dark-coloured tiles for the walls or vice-versa. This contrast will create a horizon that will make the room appear larger.
Choose Light Colored Flooring
What's beneath your feet can set the tone for the whole room, and having light-colored flooring will do wonders for the brightness level of your room. A light hardwood like pine or oak will add plenty of appeal to a darker room and expand the space to feel more open.
Lighter colors help brighten up a room, making it feel bigger. The amount of natural light in the room: If you love natural light, and your home gets plenty of it, you may want to opt for a darker wood floor as it tends to fade less quickly than lighter flooring options.
Contrast Dark Floors With Light Walls
(Just think of the dark, cozy vibe of libraries or offices—usually, they have dark walls!) But interestingly enough, when light wall paint is paired with a dark floor, the contrast works to create an effect of openness and the feeling of a larger space.
'Contrary to traditional thinking, dark paint allows the room to appear larger and taller than it may be. Dark colors add depth, visually enlarge the space, and make a great statement,' says Lichelle Silvestry.
Earth tones and neutrals are a frequent choice for small bedrooms. If you prefer softer shades, grey, green or yellow can lighten a small room. Neutral shades can make the wall visually recede into the background, making the room appear larger and bringing more attention to the accessories in the room.
The Best Timeless Flooring Options
For a classic look, choose mid-range tones that are not too light or dark. Opt for timeless wood colors such as oak, maple, mahogany, pine or ash.
Wide plank floors go well in just about any space but they can definitely transform any small room in your home.
So, what flooring looks cleanest? Typically, lighter color woods show less dirt and dust. Dark floors can easily show dust, while lighter floors mask it. Similarly, matte floors show less smudges, foot and paw prints than high gloss flooring.
Darker hues can work to make a room seem larger, too, even though this may seem contradictory. This is because darker colors tend to blur the edges of a space, designer Rozit Arditi explains.
Light also influences how your wood flooring works within the room, and vice versa. Lighter shades reflect more light and brighten the room. Meanwhile, darker shades absorb light and make the rest of the room feel darker. Consider this when choosing the type of wood color you want.
In a room with no natural light, you can brighten the space by loading up on layered lighting, using mirrors to bounce the light around the space also allowing the area to feel bigger, and using light furniture.
#4: Light Neutral Colors
Another top flooring trend in 2023? Light and neutral flooring. Modern grey wood flooring continues to be popular, as are light floor colors like blonde and beige. A great way to add these lighter flooring shades to your home or business is to use bamboo flooring.
Greige and white oak are two of the most popular choices for hardwood flooring when it comes to house resale. They provide timeless elegance and neutrality, making them ideal for any home.
Contrast is one of the core rules of any style or décor, making it one of the most important tips for matching wood floors with furniture. Darker wood floors can make lighter wood furniture pop and look extremely satisfying. Alternatively, lighter wood floors provide the perfect balance for darker furniture pieces.
White oak, hickory, and maple are popular choices for those who want a classic look that won't go out of style. These floors work well with a wide range of decor styles, from traditional to contemporary.
While the current popular choice in flooring tends to be wide plank light wood floors like white oak, there is something timeless and traditional about the warmth and depth of darker hardwood floors. They are the perfect contrast to lighter colors elsewhere in your home.
Whether you prefer a classic-looking bathroom or a spalike retreat, Winn says, “white doesn't go out of style.” Think white paint, tile, countertops, vanities and textiles. If you find yourself craving color, you can add it with window treatments and towels, Gates suggests, or wallpaper and art.