6 Design Ideas Using Chocolate Wood Floors

April 4, 2019


Flooring takes up a large part of the visual space in a room. It’s not only an integral part of a home’s function, it also plays a big role in the interior design and style of the space. 

Natural wood is one of the most popular materials for use as a flooring option. It’s warm, welcoming and has plenty of personality. Plus the durability of solid hardwood flooring ensures it will hold up longer compared to other floor types such as laminate flooring. There are also many wood flooring types to choose from! Hardwood flooring comes in a range of wood species and colors, wide plank and narrow plank, and different finishes, so it’s possible to complement nearly any home design.

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When it comes to selecting the color of your hardwood flooring, there are few colors that have more universal appeal than a rich, chocolate brown. This dark chocolate color works well with nearly any interior design and room, from the entryway to the living room. And when it’s paired with different wood looks, species, and gloss levels, it can take on a variety of appearances

Color and Wood Grain

chocolate flooring

The term “chocolate” can mean many different things when it comes to hardwood flooring. It could be a patina the solid wood has taken on, it could be a stain, or it could be the way that a particular stain or patina is interacting with a particular wood species or grain. This is part of what gives this color of solid hardwood flooring its appeal; the color will vary over the hardwood floor, ranging from lighter to darker, and sometimes taking additional tones, like grey, orange, or black. These tones can help the wood blend in better with different decors.

chocolate flooring paneling

Brushing a wood to help bring out the natural texture and grain can also change the color slightly. This Artisan Brushed White Oak flooring is lighter in tone along the grain, with the lower areas becoming increasingly darker. And despite the chocolate overtones, the grey of the white oak shows through as well. It’s these variations that help make each chocolate brown hardwood floor unique, giving it a lot of its appeal.

Chocolate Brown Wood Flooring Design Ideas

Because different woods can take on the dark chocolate color in different ways, you may find that one may be a better fit to your home than another. Check out these 6 design ideas to get some inspiration for adding dark wood floors to your next diy project or professional remodel.

1. Lights and Darks

chocolate brown flooring

Hardwood flooring doesn’t need to be a single species or color of wood to be beautiful or interesting. This blend of reclaimed hardwood flooring called Coastal Collage features different tones, grain patterns, and wood looks. Combined, they add a lot of movement and depth to the hardwood floor, while complementing numerous other tones in the room.

2. Age and Grain

brown flooring

This antique oak floor has its grain showing, along with a lot of its age and wear. This, combined with the dark chocolate color, are what give it a lot of richness and interest. The lights and darks of the grain are emphasized by the antique finish, letting its natural patina come through.

3. Rustic Flooring

rustic chocolate flooring

This antique oak floor not only has wear and patina along with a variation of color, it also shows off some of its original saw marks as well. These additional marks change some of the color of the dark wood floors, so not only does it complement the rustic decor of the home, it also brings more color variation.

4. Narrow Board

narrow chocolate boards

The width of the floorboards has a big impact on how the color and grain appear as well. The narrower the board, the more variation you’ll see between them. This antique fir floor is fairly uniform in color. The slightly more narrow boards let more variation in, and therefore more depth.

5. Patina and Finish

antiqued chocolate flooring

Many antique or reclaimed floors, like this rustic antique oak, have a patina to the wood, as well as the finished color. Patina varies from board to board, depending on where the wood was located during its original use. In this case, the patina shows as darker areas in the dark wood floor, which adds a lot of interest to the living room.

6. Highlights

deep brown floors

The grain of a floor doesn’t need to be the darkest part of the color. This European white oak floor has a rich brown color, but the grain is the lightest part. This creates an unusual pattern that instantly draws the eye and becomes the focal point of the room’s design.

Utilize Chocolate Brown Wood Floors in Your Home

Whether you’re looking for an aged and rustic floor, or something more contemporary, choosing a rich, chocolate brown color for your floor can have impressive results. This versatile finish works well with a variety of settings and accent colors within a room.

Depending on the type of wood, its plank size, and its finish, chocolate wood flooring can take on a large number of looks and styles. Consider adding a rich, warm wood floor to any room of your home to capture some of these designs and benefits for yourself. Choose from a variety of wood species such as red oak, hickory or walnut to match your home interior. Contact the experts at Elmwood Reclaimed Timber to find a floor choice that fits your diy design vision!

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