A Light Color for Laminate Flooring Vs. a Darker Color

Room Size

• If you are installing laminate flooring in a small room, you must use light-colored laminate to increase the visual appearance of the room. Dark laminate colors like mahogany, cherrywood and walnut draw attention to the floor and make the room appear smaller. If you are installing laminate in a large family room, kitchen, den or bedroom, dark-colored laminate can add depth and warmth to the room design.

Home Decor

• Laminate floor colors are designed to complement your existing home decor. If you have a country appeal to your room design, you can use light-colored laminate flooring like pine or oak to accentuate soft natural accessories. If you want a modern edgy vibe, you can opt for darker colors like rich bamboo, ebony or mahogany wood tones. For a classical home design, laminate flooring that is not too dark or too light often works best. These laminate colors include maple and walnut.

Purpose and Layout

• When choosing laminate flooring, you must factor in the purpose and layout of the room. For example, in high-traffic areas like kitchens, bathrooms and entryways, a light-colored laminate floor doesn't show signs of fading as quickly as a dark-colored laminate. In less-visible rooms like dining rooms, offices and dens, you may want a darker laminate floor that adds depth and character to the overall room appeal. If your home only has one level and you want to decorate in a uniform fashion, one consistent laminate floor color usually works best.

Maintenance

• Light-colored laminate flooring is lower maintenance than dark-colored flooring. Oak, pine and natural laminate colors camouflage dust and hide light amounts of soil. As a result, these floor colors generally need to be swept and dusted less frequently. Dark-colored laminate floors draw attention to dust and leftover food particles. Both light and dark laminate floors do not require varnish or stain like their hardwood counterparts.