Choosing the right wood floor for your hallway
There are many hazards that your hallway floors will be presented with so you need to choose a wood floor that can cope with them all.
One such risk comes from its placement. It’s the area that brings people into the home which means that there is a high probability that dirt, debris and water from outdoors will be carried in from footwear and onto your hallway floors. It is almost completely unavoidable unless you, your household and your visitors remove shoes before even stepping foot into the home. This can work if you have a porch or a large doormat but, for the most part, it’s a bit of a nuisance and, odds are, the rule will be broken from time to time.
This means that your hallway floors are at risk of scratches from stones or grit, stains from mud and dirty rainwater and any other outdoor elements that are brought in on the soles of shoes.
Not to mention the potential damage caused by the shoes themselves, especially heels.
Fortunately, there are several species of wood that are highly durable and can hold up well against high footfall from outside and the dangers that this presents. Some of the more hard-wearing woods are oak - which is often used as a reference point when experts talk about durability - maple, ash and bamboo.
Furthermore, these types of wood floors are easy to maintain as long as they are cleaned regularly and refinished every 5 - 7 years. Given that your hallway floors will endure a lot of wear and tear this is an important thing to consider too.
You can also make maintenance that bit easier by putting things in place that will reduce potential damage to the floor. For example, a large entrance mat can be placed right by the front door so that shoes can be wiped clean and made free of debris before stepping into the house any further.
You should also consider the finish, grain, style and colour that would look best in your space based on your interior choices, lighting and the size of the hallway.
A narrow, dimly-lit hallway lends itself best to lighter wood floors with a glossy finish as this will brighten up the space and make it feel bigger. This is key to making the entryway feel a little more grand and a little less claustrophobic which is important seeing that this is an area of the home where people often gather whether it’s to welcome people or see them off.
On the other hand, a larger hallway with lots of natural light can get away with having darker wood flooring and using bold patterns such as parquet and basket weave. There are less limitations because the light and space are already there and don’t need to be achieved through interior design choices.
The hallway, as we previously mentioned, is the entry point of the home so not only should it make a strong impact for guests and be a welcoming area to step into after a long day at work, it should be a clear reflection of the environment that you want your home to be. This could mean picking a unique style of hardwood flooring that befits the playful and modern style throughout the rest of your home, or something simple and traditional if you want your home to feel cosier or more classic.
All in all, the wood flooring that you choose for your hallway should be taken into careful consideration because it is such a visible space that any and every visitor will see. It needs to set the tone for the rest of your home and create an environment that is welcoming yet representative of your overall interior choices.
But, most importantly, you need to find a wood floor for your hallway that is resilient, easy to maintain and works within your budget.
