I don’t often prefer to play favorites, but when there’s one dwelling design selection I’d make many times with out a second of hesitation, it’s this: provincial stained hardwood flooring.
Basic. Heat. Timeless. And completely underrated, if you happen to ask me.
After we first moved into our 1960 colonial dwelling, the unique hardwood flooring had been one of many first issues that stole my coronary heart. That they had that heat, medium brown tone that simply felt proper. Not too darkish. Not too gentle. Not too orange or grey. Simply… proper.
Wooden stain shade is a query I get requested a couple of LOT. And with regards to making large, costly choices, my reply will at all times be to decide on timeless. (Timelessness is one thing I undoubtedly deal with in my DIY Decorator College course.) Provincial stain is strictly that.
A Colour That Transcends Developments
From pickled and bleached finishes within the early 2000s to the cool-gray craze of the 2010s, I’ve seen all of it sweep by Pinterest like wildfire. However by all of it, our provincial-stained flooring have stood robust, by no means wanting dated, by no means screaming for an replace.
It’s the Goldilocks of wooden stains: wealthy sufficient to offer depth and dimension, however gentle sufficient to let the pure grain shine by. It really works with almost each model—from trendy farmhouse to conventional colonial (hello, us!) to coastal to transitional. It’s the sort of shade that performs effectively with all the things, which might be why we’ve by no means as soon as regretted retaining it.
A Excellent Match—Even After All These Years
Seven years in the past, once we determined to refinish the hardwood flooring in Regan’s bed room, I crossed my fingers and stated: Please let this match.
Spoiler: It did.
Our contractor sanded all the things down and restained the flooring in Minwax Provincial wooden stain, and to at the present time, you’d by no means know that room wasn’t a part of the unique flooring plan. It blends seamlessly with the remainder of the home and proves simply how constant and dependable this stain shade actually is.
Matching outdated wooden tones may be tough—completely different species, getting old, solar publicity… it’s an entire factor. However provincial has that chameleon-like potential to drag all the things collectively. Heat oak from 1960? Recent boards from 2017? Doesn’t matter. It simply works.
What We Nonetheless Haven’t Completed (But!)
We nonetheless have one little secret hiding below the carpet in our visitor bed room: extra hardwood flooring, unique to the home.
We haven’t touched them (but), nevertheless it’s excessive on our undertaking record for later this 12 months. And also you higher imagine when the time comes, we’ll be pulling that carpet up and giving these flooring the identical provincial stain therapy.
Truthfully, I’m itching to get to it, as a result of I do know as soon as it’s accomplished, it’ll really feel like the ultimate puzzle piece snapping into place.
Why Provincial Stain Simply Works
For those who’re presently standing over a sea of stain samples along with your head spinning, let me make the case for a provincial flooring actual fast:
- Timeless attraction – This isn’t a stylish stain you’ll remorse in 5 years. It has actual endurance.
- Versatile heat – It pairs superbly with whites, blacks, grays, pure wooden tones, and even pops of shade. No clashing.
- Hides grime and dirt – Darkish stains present each speck. Gentle stains can look washed out. Provincial is the proper center floor.
- Simpler to match – Whether or not you’re touching up outdated flooring or mixing new and outdated collectively, provincial makes the job a lot much less nerve-racking.
- Enhances the grain – It brings out the character of the wooden with out masking it, which is particularly beautiful with purple or white oak.
For those who want a runner-up to provincial, Minwax Particular Walnut is available in at a really shut, barely lighter second for me when it comes to timelessness.
Ultimate Ideas
Typically I scroll by flooring inspo and surprise if I ought to be tempted by these pale whitewashed planks or moody espresso hues. However then I look down at our flooring—some 60+ years outdated and nonetheless going robust—and keep in mind: provincial stain was the best name. It nonetheless is.
For those who’re selecting flooring to your dwelling or debating a refinish, take it from somebody who’s lived with provincial-stained flooring for years: you received’t remorse it. Some issues simply don’t exit of fashion.
Extra Wooden Stain Sources
