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Thinking about what stain you want for your new hardwood floors? Light stain? Dark stain? Something in between?

How about no stain at all?

It’s true. Unstained wood floors have become a thing, and the trend is taking off across the country (including here in Green Country) as more homeowners opt for a more natural look with their wood floors. Let’s talk about this trend, what it is and why it’s happening, so you can decide whether it’s a good choice for your home.

What Is the “Natural” Look?

In simplest terms, the “natural” look when it comes to wood floors is to leave the wood unstained during installation and before finishing. This basically makes it look as though the wood has been freshly cut from the trees–a light, warm, organic look. It can also lend a sense of minimalism since the wood is left to speak for itself without any staining to draw out the color or texture.

What’s Driving this Trend?

There are a couple of reasons why unstained wood flooring is on the rise in home design. Let’s look at these in more detail.

The Move Toward Nature

Partly in response to the recent pandemic where people had to spend a lot of time indoors, there’s been a huge push in home design to incorporate more nature into our homes. You can see this trend in the integration of more greenery, adding windows for more natural light, and the increased popularity of farmhouse-style decor. The popularity of unstained wood floors coincides with this trend. The lighter, natural wood tones tend to evoke a sense of warmth, space and light, which many people find quite comforting these days.

Low Maintenance

Darker stained wood can be quite beautiful and timeless, but it also shows scratches and dust more easily. The lighter color of unstained wood tends to conceal wear and tear for a longer period of time, making them a great choice for busy households or homes with pets and children.

Unstained does NOT Mean Unfinished

We should emphasize at this point that choosing the natural look does not mean your floors will be unprotected. Staining only refers to the color and shade of your wood floors. Natural wood can still be finished to a soft matte or even a high-polished finish. Furthermore, a good hardwood flooring company will make sure your floors are properly sealed and coated so they last for years to come. Where many flooring companies only apply 1-2 coats of polyurethane, at Renaissance, we finish our floors with three coats for an added layer of protection.

If you’re thinking about incorporating the natural look of unstained wood floors into your new project, our team of experts can help you decide whether it’s a good fit for your home. In Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and surrounding areas, contact us here for a complementary consultation, or just come by our showroom in Glenpool to see some samples.