ADVICE

Reader's question:

"We are renovating our bedroom and I am confused about what kind of hardwood floor matches best with the wardrobe and the doors, that are wenge in color"

Our answer:

Choosing the kind of hardwood floor that best fits your bedroom is a crucial decision to make. There are issues of both substance and style that need to be taken into account.

The basic elements in your bedroom (the wardrobe and the doors) are wenge in color. Wenge is a tropical timber, an African wood, very dark in color with a strong wood pattern, warm in feeling and suitable for formal settings.  Usually, a black streaking is present throughout the surface. It is also a hard and heavy wood, ideal for flooring, furniture and staircases and dark enought to be used as a substitute for ebony.

Since, wenge wood is dominant in your bedroom we suggest you to choose for the flooring a light-colored wood or in other words we suggest you to think of the flooring as a background that will make a contrsast with the dark surfaces and at the same time will high light them. Preferably, choose a wood variety with yellow, gold, red or honey shades.

Suggested wood varieties are:

• Tingerwood wenge,
• doussie,
• iroko,
• Red oak: Reddish in color with a coarse grain. It's a stiff and dense wood that resists wear 
• white/honey ash 
• cherry: Cherry is a light brown color. It is a soft wood
  

Though, you should have in mind that the finish is what gives the floor its final color and luster.