​Dark colors often get a bad rep, mainly due to the fact that dark colors used incorrectly can cause a space to feel small. However, dark colors can also be used to add depth, richness, and a certain amount of coziness to a space. Let's look at some ways to embrace the dark side and add enjoy the richness and beauty it can bring to your home.
 
When you think of dark colors, you might just think of blacks and grays, but don't limit yourself. There are unending palettes of dark beauty in green, red, and blue shades. Don't underestimate how beautiful your space can look using a dark color as your primary wall color. It's a popular belief that dark colors can make a space feel small and gloomy, but this is not always the case. If used correctly, dark colors can be stunning and make your space rich and warm. If you’re not ready to take the full plunge, dark colors can be incorporated as an accent wall coupled with lighter, neutral walls to add a stunning contrast.
 
Balance is the key to using a dark color pallet. If your primary wall colors are dark, bring out the contrast with a light neutral for trims and furnishings. Don't over-use textures and patterns because your dark colors are already your contrast. Too many textures or patterns can overwhelm the space. An excellent source of textures is wood, used through wood furnishings and especially hardwood or wood-look floors. Your floors can help balance a dark color scheme by choosing a light, neutral wood or wood-look.  
 
Maybe you’re thinking about neutral walls with deep, dark floors, or maybe you’re bold enough to couple dark walls and floors. Either way, there are so many gorgeous options in dark hardwood and wood-look flooring in vinyl and WPC. Shades range from traditional browns to blacks and ebony. How dark you go really depends on your personal taste. Also consider lighting, both artificial and natural. Lots of light will keep the space from feeling too closed in. Lighter accent pieces and furniture add contrast as well.
 
Don’t be afraid of stepping over to the dark side. The key is balancing deep hues with light, neutral floors, trims, furnishings and accent pieces. Embrace the beauty you can achieve with deep dark colors.

With fall and winter right around the corner, it's time once again to break out the coats and scarves, cozy sweaters, and our favorite hot drinks. Not only do we want to remain warm and cozy when outside, but we want our homes to be warm and inviting too. Let's look at some tips to keep you and your guests feeling warm and fuzzy in your home. 

To start with, home accessories are an easy way to get your space feeling cozy with warm colors and textures. A few fuzzy throw pillows or blankets in rich, fall-inspired colors add comfort and style and can easily be swapped out for different looks as the seasons change. Rugs are also a great way to add warmth to cold floors. Look for shag rugs or rugs with longer fibers and wool which is also a good insulator. You can even get shag carpet in beautiful patterns that add a unique touch of style to your space. 

Carpet, of course, keeps your house warm, comfortable, and better insulated, but what about hard surface floors? You might be surprised to know that cork is an excellent choice! Cork is a natural insulator, thanks to its porous cell structure that allows it to trap heat. Cork is a good choice year-round because it insulates and feels warm under foot in the cold months, and in the summer months it keeps excess heat from being emitted into the room. Cork also comes in many colors and patterns, even wood looks. 

WPC, or waterproof flooring, with cork backing is another great option. The cork backing offers the same insulating properties as cork flooring. WPC can easily be installed via the floating method, is exceptionally durable, warms quickly, and won't expand or contract. 

Tile is a favorite flooring in kitchens and baths, but let's face it: no one likes stepping onto that cold bathroom floor with bare feet on a chilly morning. That's were a heating system like Schluter Ditra-Heat can be installed with your tile to bring you all the benefits of tile with the comfort of heated floors. Most floor heating systems can cause cracks in the tile and grout because the fluctuation of temperature causes the tile to expand and contract frequently. This heating system is unique 
because of its uncoupling system which prevents any movement and stress that occurs in the subfloor from cracking the tile and grout above. The Schluter Ditra-Heat system is the only systems that provides floor warming and uncoupling in a single layer, making it a quick and easy installation. 

For those that prefer wood floors, Engineered hardwood is constructed so that it resists expansion and contraction due to changing climates. When installed using the floating method, engineered wood is a great heat conductor. 

Other flooring like vinyl planks, sheet vinyl, and laminate provide some softness and warmth. Adding an underlayment to these floors also helps provide insulating properties, and they won't expand or contract due to climate. They also warm up quickly. 

​To keep your home feeling warm and cozy, use accessories like textured pillows, throw blankets and area rugs. Consider flooring options like carpet and cork that keep your house well-insulated or vinyl and laminate with underlayment. Floating engineered wood floors and tile with the Schluter Ditra-Heat system are also great options for cozy feet! ​

Dining, living, and family rooms are the main gathering places of the home. Since you and your guests likely spend a lot of time in these rooms, a lot will be asked of your flooring in both style and durability. Let's take a look at two popular hardwood flooring options that meet the needs of these spaces well: prefinished and engineered.
 
Furniture feet, pet claws, and lots of foot traffic are just some of the abuse your dining, living, and family rooms endure almost daily. Despite its greater potential for damage from scratches and moisture, hardwood still takes the cake for one of the most popular floor coverings for these spaces. There’s a reason real estate ads mention wood floors too. Hardwood adds timeless value and aesthetic appeal to your home. While hardwood isn’t the most durable flooring, there are some hardwood options that can help you get the most out of your wood floors.
 
When it comes to solid hardwood, prefinished has a hand up over unfinished wood flooring. Prefinished hardwood is sanded and stained in factory, and the factory stain and finish comes with a warranty you won’t get with unfinished hardwood. Factory-applied finishes are also significantly tougher-wearing than what a contractor would likely apply. When you have prefinished hardwood installed, you can go back to walking on your floors shortly after installation. Unfinished hardwood takes a sufficient amount of time to dry before you can get back to your regular routine.
 
Engineered wood floors have a veneer of finished wood attached to the substrate, but it has all the beautiful wood looks of solid hardwood with some advantages. Engineered hardwood is often cheaper than solid wood flooring. Because of this, exotic wood species such as Brazilian walnut or tiger wood are often more affordable. These woods also make a good choice because they are more durable than oak or maple. Although all wood is effected by moisture, engineered wood floors are less susceptible to seasonal shrinking and swelling. In addition, engineered wood floors are more flexible in that they can be installed directly over concrete sub floors and even sometimes over existing flooring.
 
Dining, living and family rooms take a lot of foot traffic, spills, and scratches, but also are the most seen and used parts of the home. Hardwood is still a popular choice for these spaces for its timeless look and the value it adds to the home. Prefinished hardwood floors are a more durable choice than unfinished wood, but engineered wood floors are a more affordable and durable wood flooring option.