Everything You Need To Know About Gray Wood Flooring

Gray wood flooring is one of the hottest trends in flooring right now, but just like any other type of flooring, it can go wrong in many ways. Gray floors running through your whole home can look HGTV-chic or...1980s shoulder pads/perm awkward. Yikes. Luckily, we’re here to help. 

Our guide will help you find some beautiful options and show you the tips and tricks you need to find a style that will match your home’s aesthetics. Let’s take a sneak peek at all the world of gray flooring has to offer!

Tips for Choosing the Best Gray Wood Flooring

Before you begin eyeing gray wood flooring samples, take a quick read through these tips and tricks for choosing the best gray wood flooring.

Think About Plank Width

Most gray hardwood flooring comes in varying widths, usually starting at about five inches or wider. Some even come in extremely wide planks. Too wide a plank can make your normal-sized room look bigger, while some smaller rooms benefit from a smaller plank size.

You have to think about the width when you think about the size of your space and the shape. Even a big space that has odd cutouts can feel smaller with a wider plank.

Do You Want Engineered or Solid Wood?

Solid hardwood tends to be more expensive, but tends to last longer because you can repeatedly sand and refinish it. However, engineered wood floors are really great and work especially well for warm and humid environments. It is also a great option if you have a concrete subfloor.

Most gray floors are engineered because of the plank width preferences of most people - it is harder (and more expensive) to get wide planks that are solid wood.

One word of caution is that if you get solid hardwood planks that are greater than 5” wide, you will need to glue and nail solid hardwood flooring down so that it stays put.

How Glossy Do You Want to Go?

We can’t deny that the matte look is the hottest style right now, but some people just drool over the shiny or glossy look. To each their own! With gray, in general, though, people tend to prefer matte, which means there is no gloss at all.

You will have to match the type of bonding you use with the level of glossiness.

Which Wood Would You Want?

It seems like there are more options for gray wood flooring every day, including the types of wood used. Usually, you will see oak, maple, birch, ash, hickory, and a few others. There are some floors you will never find as well. Pay attention to the way the grain looks and move on from there.

Oaks tend to have stronger graining, which seems to be the preference right now.

Best Options for Gray Wood Flooring

While there are many options out there for gray wood flooring, we think these are your best bets to get the look and feel you’ll like today and into the future. These flooring options may look similar, but they give a completely different look and feel to your flooring, your home, and your other decor.

The only sure-fire solution is to order plenty of samples and see which you like best for yourself.

Best Gray Hickory Wood Flooring

If you love the look and feel of hickory flooring, then the 5” hand scraped ash gray hickory wood flooring is one of your best options. This is a tongue and groove construction that is easy to install on your own. It is an engineered wood in an ash gray color that is timeless.

The wood is 5” wide and 84” long, making it perfect for spaces that are large and open as well as spaces that are smaller and more compact. It comes in a random length, which makes the flooring look more natural when installed correctly.

It also comes with a 50-year warranty for the structural quality and finish, so you won’t have to be a wishy-washy wood worry-wort. 

We also love that this particular type of gray wood flooring is easy to keep clean.

Best Gray Birch Wood Flooring

If you prefer birch flooring, then the 6.5" hand scraped shadow birch wood flooring is another fantastic option. This is an engineered wood flooring that is hand scraped. The color is shadow, which is lighter than the wood flooring listed above. The pieces come 6.5” wide and 74” long in random lengths. When installed, this gives a very natural appearance, and it is highly unlikely that you will have any repetitive patterns.

It comes with a lifetime warranty for the structural quality and 35-year finish, and if you take care of it properly, it is likely to last way beyond that. There is only a slight gleam to it, but this flooring does look matte under most lights.

Best Glossy Gray Wood Flooring

If you do want shiny gray wood flooring, then our 7" wire brushed greystone stone-core flooring is a fantastic option for your space. This is an engineered click and lock wood flooring option that is absolutely beautiful and shiny in all of the best ways.

It is the perfect option for the neat freak who loves to see their floors shiny and beautiful. It is also the perfect option for people who need something that is easy to take care of, including those people who have pets or kids.

Advantages of Gray Flooring

There are numerous advantages to gray flooring, which is why so many people have chosen it for their homes. The first is that it is very stylish and having “Its moment” right now - if you are going to sell your home, this is the type of flooring to use.

Another reason people choose gray flooring is that it goes with so many different colors and styles. You can use it with white cabinetry, quartz countertops, many different color cool-toned paints, and more.

Finally, gray flooring hides dirt extremely well, making it perfect for anyone who may feel that they have an exceedingly dusty home. They are also pretty easy to clean. You usually won’t have to worry about staining with gray wood floors, but they aren’t so dark that they make a room feel dark and dreary.

Gray floors really are popular for a reason and among our favorite floor options.

Going Gray: Are Gray Floors for You?

You may have seen the gray wood flooring trend over the last few years and wondered if it was for you. The answer is that yes, gray wood flooring can be for everyone. You just need to find the flooring type that is perfect for you and your family. There are plenty of options out there, so be sure to investigate them all, and then be bold and take the plunge! We bet you’ll be surprised by just how much you love your new gray flooring.

Sources:

Colors That Go with Gray Floors | Design Idea

Solid Wood vs. Engineered Wood Flooring: What's the Difference? | The Spruce

How to Choose the Right Hardwood Floor Color | House Beautiful