Creativity is one of the most important elements in interior design. Until recently the steadfast rule was to choose furniture, accessories and paint first. Then almost as an afterthought, choose flooring.

Nowadays, decorators have changed their tune. They recognize that flooring can be the centerpiece of the room and the first step in the design process. Many of the best designers and architects are choosing wood flooring over other options. Not only is wood more pleasant to walk on than laminate, tile or even carpet, it is hypoallergenic which makes it a great choice for people sensitive to dust. It’s easy to clean and durable. If well cared for, a wood floor can last for hundreds of years or more.

Whether you want your home to have an old world feel or would prefer something more modern, here’s a good guideline to follow for choosing what wood floor to put in.

Grain
If you want the grain to stand out as a decorative element, you’ll want to select a wood that has prominent grain in it, like hickory, oak or ash flooring. Cherry, maple and eastern white pine are considered mellow flooring because their grains are less prominent.

Grade
If you want a more refined, clean look, you’ll want to use a select grade wood that has less character. To create a rustic look indicative of the floors from 150 to 200 years ago, you’ll want to go with a country grade wood that is rich in character.

Width of the Boards
Single width boards create a more formal and refined look. If you choose random width boards, you’ll get a hand-crafted, comfortable feeling in the room. The wider the plank, the more unique the room will look. Wider boards, by their very nature, have a lot more character. Character depicts the life the tree has lived and often people will want to feature the knots, mineral stains and worm holes to create focal points in the room.

Color
Most wood floors installed today retain their natural color, but stains do exist that can make them mimic more expensive materials. For example, to make an oak floor look more like walnut, you can stain it Brown. The stain selection is so vast that you can create just the color you want for your room. Plus custom stain colors can be created to perfectly match your furniture.