Decorating Ideas for Natural Dark Wood Floors

Furniture

• The most popular way to complement a naturally dark wood floor is with white furniture. If you are not a fan of decorating a room in white, remember that there are limitless shades of white and even more complementing colors. For those with a Victorian theme, complement white furniture with dark green plants and deep red and blue throws. For a country theme, paint a single wall with a cotton blue.

Warm Walls

• If you prefer an Italian or Sonoran look in your home, then transform the room by using warm colors. Cover the walls with Italian plaster stained warm yellow. Complement the warmth with white and tan rugs and dark brown furniture with white or gold cushions and pillows.

Floor Art

• For a minimalist look with fewer rugs and furnishings in the room, decorate the floor. Decide on a theme for the room such as Edwardian. Then find some stencils that agree with that theme and match your furniture, such as grapevines. Decide where you want the grapevines to appear on the floor, such as around the edges or in a circle in the center of the room, and sketch them onto the floor using paint or gold foil. Add a layer of varnish to seal the images once the paint dries.

Distressed Wood

• If you have a country or primitive themed home, those dark regal boards do not have to be the death knell of your design. Instead of carpeting or hiding them, fill the room with distressed wood furniture. To further carry the look, use faux distressed panels for the walls. If you are really daring and know you'll stay with the look, you can also distress the floor by hand.