Every plank of solid wood has a distinctiveness to it – depending on how it’s milled, when it’s harvested, and where it comes from within the tree.
The most important element that determines the color of wood isn’t its age and curation, it’s the species. From red oak to white oak and maple to hickory, every species has a distinguishable grain and natural coloring.
Keep reading to discover the most popular wood colors and names (with pictures) to help you choose the best unfinished hardwood species for your home interior.
What Gives Wood Its Color? Nature vs Human Effect
The color of your hardwood floors is determined by two main things – nature (the most influential factor) and human effect. The human effect is how the wood is finished. For example, the stain used on the surface.
The species of the wood primarily determines the coloring, but the age and part of the tree also have an effect. Unfinished hardwood flooring has the natural color and grain of the wood species.
Here’s a quick summary of what affects the color of hardwood:
- Species: Each species of wood has its own unique hue, and this is the most important factor in determining the color of hardwood
- Age: The older the wood, the more it can darken or lighten, depending on the species (e.g., cherry darkens with age, while walnut lightens)
- Part of the tree: Wood floors are made from heartwood (which is the inner part of the tree and has a darker color) or sapwood (which is found on the outer layers and is lighter), or a combination of both
- Stain/finish: The protective coating on top of the wood (found in prefinished flooring) will enhance the natural color or “overtake” it
Popular Wood Colors and Names (With Images)
Unfinished hardwood is just that – unfinished. It almost has no human interference, like any stain or finish added to the surface. Therefore, these floors have a very natural coloring.
You still need to apply a protective coating over unfinished hardwood, but this can be done when it’s installed in your home. This means you can choose a subtle finish (to maintain the natural appearance) or one that matches your home interior the best.
White Oak
White oak flooring is naturally lighter than most other types of hardwood. It can usually be described as light tan or pale brown, with sometimes a pinky hue to the surface.
The most notable natural factor of white oak isn’t its color, but its grain. White oak is known for its tighter grain pattern and high tannin content (compared to red oak), which gives it a clean, more uniform appearance.
Our top picks of white oak hardwood flooring include:
Red Oak
Red oak is a gorgeous, warm choice of hardwood for the home. It possesses a lighter wood color with a pinky-red hue, or wheat-brown color. This gives the floors intimacy and a natural character that’s unlike any other wood species.
Lighter red oak is generally derived from sapwood (found on the outer part of the tree), which makes it appear similar to white oak. Red oak hardwood that’s derived from heartwood has a darker, more brown coloring. Over time, red oak lightens in color as the wood dries.
Our top picks of red oak hardwood flooring include:
Hickory
Hickory is particularly distinctive. It has a creamy, medium to light brown coloring, with prominent grains and knotholes. The natural character of hickory flooring makes it one of the boldest, most striking types of floors.
Because it possesses such richness, a lighter stain is recommended for unfinished hickory floors, as this will best highlight the mineral streaks and naturally beautiful coloring.
Our top picks of hickory hardwood flooring include:
Maple
Maple is known for its light, vanilla brown coloring and a fine, subtle grain. As a hardwood, it often features a beautiful blend of light-colored and darker-colored planks. This is usually due to the mix of maple’s heartwood and sapwood being used for the flooring.
Another benefit of maple floors is their tight, soft grain. This reduces the risk of water damage, making maple one of the best floors for high-traffic areas of the home.
Our top picks of maple hardwood flooring include:
FAQs
Does Wood Get Lighter or Darker With Age?
Different wood species get lighter or darker with age. Here’s a quick guide to which species lighten or darken over time:
- Lightens with age: Walnut, hickory, and red oak
- Darkens with age: Cherry, white oak, maple (warms up rather than darkens), and pine (darkens only subtly)
The changes happen naturally as the wood dries, but they can be advanced depending on the protective coating used, the UV exposure (i.e., sunlight), and visible signs of wear.
Is Maple and Oak Hardwood?
Yes, maple and oak are types of hardwood floors. You can get these hardwoods unfinished (which look like their natural color) or prefinished (which has a stain that slightly changes the natural coloring).
Uncover Your Signature Style of Hardwood Today
With a collection of hardwood floor species to choose from at Panel Town and Floors, we can help you uncover your signature style today.
Use our flooring visualizer to test different hardwoods in your home, or shop our collection of real hardwood floors.
Looking for hardwood floors in Ohio? See the beauty of solid wood floors in person. Visit our luxury showroom to discover the best hardwood floor colors and species for your home.
