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.