Dear AT,
I'm so inspired by your website and the community that I finally took the plunge and decided to renovate my 500 sq ft. rowhouse in Denver. I decided to paint the walls white/off white. I had decided on dark tile floors, but now I am wavering and thinking about something light colored...
Can you tell me will dark floors make my tiny place look bigger or smaller? The overall effect that I want is it to be airy and organic. This is such a big decision and I'm nervous. Please help!
Karen
Dear Karen,
In general, the lighter the floors the airier the space. Check out the rooms (with white or light floors) in today's earlier post on Stellan Herner's interior photographs (pictured above). However, we pulled another example of a bright, simple, organic space - Andreas's Greektown Loft house tour. He chose to paint his floors black throughout rooms otherwise committed to white and off-white. Although we think lighter floors will make the space feel somewhat larger than dark floors, the latter helps define boundaries and adds visual interest:
Another example, Joseph's Wicker Park nest has white floors, which show you just how airy this technique can be:
What to AT-ers think? Should Karen go bold with dark tiles or emphasize openness with light floors? Karen, whatever you decide, please send in some photos!
Related Links:
• Look! Our new bedroom floors
• Good Question: Small Bedroom Solutions
• ColorTherapy Survey: Light or Dark?
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I'm a fan of dark floors to contrast light walls. But one thing to consider is whether you will be breaking space up with area rugs? If so, the lighter floor will definitely read as bigger. The darker floor will act as a border around the area rugs and will make the space seem more intimate.
One other thing to consider is whether the dark floor will fade considerably or unevenly. Even though I prefer dark floors, our year-old cork floor is light because we have a ton of windows and knew it would fade (one drawback to cork). I figured the fading would be less noticable if the floor started out light.
view avimom's profile
I thought the conventional wisdom was that dark floors would recede visually, making the space look bigger.
view Joan A.'s profile
Personally, for a small space I would go for glossy white. But if you are having trouble deciding you could cover your floor with something dark (like trash bags) and then something light (like sheets) and just see which you like better. If nothing else this might make you more confident about your chose.
Good Luck.
view cericericeri's profile
I decided to go with dark floors. I was thinking along the lines of what Joan A. said.
We went with large format, kind of charcoal colored, porcelain tile.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/art_chel/501354051/in/set-72157600128826994/
I think the combination of white walls and the dark floor does create a certain visual spaciousness.
One thing to keep in mind is that either way you go, both will obviously show dirt more than a carpet or wood floor.
If you go with white, look into a poured epoxy floor, those are pretty striking.
view art's profile
I liked the dark floors with white walls. I have something similar in my condo now.
view klamyfeat's profile
Everyone,
Thanks for the encouragement. I like the idea of trying out the colors with sheets or garbage bags. That is one of those "why didn't I think of that ideas!!!"
I'll send pictures when it's done.
Karen in Denver
view denverdigs's profile
If you go with white, look into a poured epoxy floor, those are pretty striking.
Yes! I've seen a few of these - they look like poured milk. A very nifty effect and supposedly very durable.
view sunspot42's profile