Choosing the right wood for your walls and floors

Design expert Samantha Pynn walks us through different options for wood floors and walls, from engineered hickory to inexpensive laminate.

Design expert Samantha Pynn walks us through different options for wood floors and walls, from engineered hickory to inexpensive laminate.

Species

Hickory: One of hardest North American woods, it shows the grain and looks good on floors as well as walls in cottages.

White oak: Grey colour works well in modern homes. The grain is more uniform.

Red oak: Super durable, this wood was used for parquet and thin-strip wood flooring in homes built in the 1970s and earlier. It takes stain beautifully.

Oiled white oak: This wood is a vanilla colour, has a uniform grain and a flat matte look. It needs maintenance. You have to oil it every couple of years

Ash storm: A versatile grey colour that goes with most furniture. You can feel the ridges in the wood.

Brazilian cherry: Exotic hardwood. When you take these types of wood out of their native climate and into a cold country, they can warp and split.

Reclaimed pine: This orangey soft wood and will show dents and scratches. You have to embrace the patina. Good for walls

Walnut: Popular with designers, this goes with every type and colour of furniture. It has a soft grain and comes in a wider plank.

Types of wood

Engineered hardwood: The top layer is the real deal, while the core and bottom layer are plywood. They’re meshed together to create a very hard wood, so there’s less warping. Super durable.

Laminate: This synthetic flooring product looks like wood, has colour variations, and is inexpensive and durable.