So my decision as come down to Dark Walnut, or a mixture of 1 part Dark Walnut to 1 part Special Walnut, Interestingly, in those two pictures, the Dark Walnut appears to have more red in it. are likely dating back to 1925 1930. And heres another photo summary of the 10 colors if you want to pin it and save for later! The mix is by far the best. Minwax Weathered Oak. ZAR 12812 Wood Stain, Early American, Mink - Best stain color for red oak. Ask your flooring professional/contractor to build you a faux floor.. So its important to be on the same page with your flooring contractor about this because its important. It really helps with the staining process. Ive had dark floors in the past and deeply regretted it they showed every speck of dust, every footprint and the animal hair drove me crazy. New (circa 2015! Not sure. I didnt take the time to do any sanding or water popping/wood conditioning or anything like that, and I also didnt add any kind of clear topcoat, so the color might not be exactly what it would be on my finished floor. It think it has a nice combination tone. Huge, actually. The ebony will be a good contrast with your floor too. You can see the stain has a slightly more orangey tone on the white wood than the hemlock and Doug fir. Im using new 8 yellow pine T&G for a floor of my studio. While the darker one is pretty it will show scratches and dirt more. You can learn more about me here. Red Oak 215. Having dark wood stains is essentially an investment since they eventually sell for more compared to lighter stains. I think your mix of the special walnut and dark walnut looks best. We began a remodel project in late 2014, my husband was injured at work three months later & has had two surgeries since, so from necessity (and my own enjoyment) that means Ive torn out load bearing walls & replaced with recessed beams (this I did have help on before he was injured), framed in new walls, framed and installed nine windows, hung sheet rock on ceilings and walls (thank goodness for lifts), mud/tape joints and done smooth trowel finish, laid maple hardwood that we reclaimed, poured concrete overlay & stained to look like granite, tiled a tub/shower surround, etc. But if you want something a little darker, dont be afraid to make a custom blend. I see browns and greys in it, which will go with anything and have more longevity style wise. Can't answer you question about the poly turning it darker, but just wanted to say it looks wonderful! First of all, there are so many stain choices. Its warmer and slightly more traditional, but both are winners! Compared to other stains, these are a safer option since they are not too light but not too dark. Ikea or Lowe'sjust about the same quality. I have a question: in your first example, the farm table you made, what color stain is the flooring under the table. Hope this helps. 'yellowing', 'ambering', etc). Why waste the time to have to redo them yet again? Red Oak MW215 Wood Finish Water-Based Semi-Transparent Color Stain Semi-Transparent . Minwax is the stain choice that most DIY bloggers use. And I can see why, it's a nice mix of rustic browns and hints of smoky gray, with a few light highlights peeking through. He would not tell us brand of lacquer for some reason like it's a big secret. Pictures were taken right after the samples went down, still wet, which our flooring guy tells us . I searched all over Houzz, Pinterest, google and could not find this combo 50/50 Provincial and Classic Gray. But before I rent the sander and get started, I need to decide on a stain color. Our flooring contractor was using ZAR and Minwax. Again if you are interested in a gray stain, see 5 gray stain options and for white stain, white wood stain options. I am not sure, it was a rental and that's the floors that came with the place! I'm already thinking of my next project that I could use it on! Struggling to remember but I think we popped the grain on the railing and used provincial as well. Just met floor guy we tested minwax colors but he is using duraseal. Minwax - Weathered Oak. So between the two you have I would do provincial. The flooring guy told us that is what 90% + of his customers get. The waterpopping technique is the only way to try and stain maple a dark color, if you should ever encounter that task. probably white), and the dark walnut on the floors in Greenville. All the different colors you can stain Pine (It also paints very well). Just another option to consider. I picked these colors based on my tried and true favorites, readers favorites (based on an Instagram poll), and what seems to be popularly used. However, this can be remedied with a satin finish. Red Mahogany. Hopefully, you are able to glean something from my long-winded comment. Minwax Wood Finish Oil Based Red Oak Semi Transpa Interior Stain 1 Quart In The Stains Department At Lowes Com. Agree with your favorites. The floors and our brains have since calmed down. One I didnt even consider but ended up really liking on the sample. Apple juice is 'clear'.but it is full of yellow colour. If I had to pick a color today though i would pick the dark walnut. Sedona Red 222. Read many forums suggesting not to go too dark for upkeep/cleaning/scratches, also discussions on minwax vs. other more professional products. If you plan on applying this stain to your flooring, special walnut stains can give your space a cozy and rustic look. I'm a DIY fanatic remodeling my way through our 1948 fixer upper. (also made by Minwax, but available thru professional flooring suppliers . Red Oak 215. Im sure whatever you choose will look lovely! High-Performance & Sustainable Construction Services in Hendersonville. Colors are shown on White Oak. I agree with you on your favorites: Dark Walnut or the 50/50 Dark/Special. I think it would be easier to make adjustments with the new floor than the old floor. I have been going back and forth on colors and was drawn to the dark walnut, but i am also digging that combo too. Best Stain for Red Oak Floors. Like you, I had also tried the regular Minwax stains (Dark Walnut, Jacobean, and mixed with Ebony) but they just fell short of what I was looking for; a dark, rich warm tone that is more dark brown than red or black. BUT. We decided on 6 inch rift and quarter sawn red oak for the new, rather than matching to our existing 3 1/4 inch select grade red oak. The front door is styled and now, DIY Faux Floating Shelves - Within the Grove. And I can see why, its a nice mix of rustic browns and hints of smoky gray, with a few light highlights peeking through. Will never do I think again. Satin vs. semi gloss??? Her kitchen looks similar to yours and we just finished the floors with duraseal Provincial and they truned out beautifully. 3 years ago. Not too light or dark, it has a golden honey hue to it that is beautiful. Minwax Wood Finish is an oil-based wood stain providing long-lasting wood tone color while sealing and protecting the wood as well. Everything is now 2 1/4 inch red oak. I agree with the special mix. If youre worried about your floors turning out too dark, then provincial is a really great choice. Now, after all this long spill, I do have some advice on your wood floors. coming! Learn More. We were getting closer to a winner though! I found that blended they can be a little unpredictable looking far more yellow on the left and picture perfect to the right. I like the mix (at least on my monitor, LOL!) Compared to dark walnut stains, special walnut has a more rugged look by itself. Looking for recipes? ), you may have different results. Special walnut stains have a warm brown tone that is reminiscent of country homes. Thank you Maura! I prefer the mixture also. Please see ourpolicy pagefor details. I found this thread several months ago before my remodel started. Do keep in mind that stain colors can look different on different species and types of wood. All the stains are beautiful in their own way. But Im hoping and praying that the darker color will at least minimize the differences between the old and new. Maybe it will bring down a little of the red that worries you. Don't we have the right to know as the customer what he is using. Now to also decide on which one makes the adjoining kitchen floor in maple look close to its neighboring oak floors! I wanted to get a look at the colors in different lighting, so the picture above was taken last night. They dont look as red to us anymore. minwax classic gray on red oak . It looks a bit darker on pine, but still very pretty! The dark wood stain is grounding, making the space seem more intimate. To reduce this, you can apply a satin finish over the dark stain. But be prepared for a very stinky house. Natural, and Vanilla from our Santa Fe collection. Well I hope this round up of wood stain colors has been helpful for you and makes the stain color picking process a little easier! Rosewood. DuraSeal- Provincial. It took two weeks for the smell to be complexity gone! We did coffee whichl ooks in between provincial and dark walnut and I wouldn't have gone any darker. was the first stain color that I fell in love with when I first started woodworking. Exactly what I am thinking of. Im not sure at all. , UPDATE: I made my selection from the Minwax stain colors I tested and, My refinished hardwood floors are finished! I strongly suggest a matte finish with the dark stain. It's not as dark as dark walnut stains, so it can also make your room appear brighter as long as there's a natural light source. I LOVE the mixture stain. I hope this helped give you some insight into picking red oak hardwood floor stains. If you like a stain but something still feels off, you can mix it with other stains to get the right look. Cant wait to see what the end result looks like. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and may earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites. When it comes to picking out what stain color to use for a project, there are many different wood stain colors to choose from! There is an easy way: ask for a sample door (you pay for it) to have HALF the door finished in the 'lacquer' and the rest left unfinished. It enhances the cedar wood grain dramatically! If we had more time, Im not sure this would have been the final stain choice for us. 9. Perhaps it was because I had a link in it? Remember you are always going to see red in stain, unless it is black. My nephew (22) walked in and immediately said, this looks like a castle. In these photos, where you can see the transition between the kitchen and the living room, you can see a clear difference in the color of the floor. Does anyone have any finished examples or advice on a neutral light brown? Sometimes a 50/50 mix of one stain plus a darker one will get you the exact color youve been wanting! In my mind I want Provencial and gray, but worried it will be too dark/dull. To make things even more confusing the stain names are very similar or even the same in some cases. It looks too light, too red, and too washed out. Our floor is also a satin finish. minwax classic gray on red oak. This next picture was also taken last night. I wish I had found this string a week ago!!! Walnut wood slabs can cost you around $3,000. Im already thinking of my next project that I could use it on! Dont forget to apply the sealer you plan to use over the stain. Does anyone have any finished examples or advice on a neutral light brown? One of the most popular wood stain colors I found was Varathanes Briarsmoke. Now that my nieces room is completely finished (you can see it here if you missed it), I can focus completely on my own house and get things DONE! Stephen didn't have DuraSeal in Weathered Oak on hand so I used the Minwax Weathered Oak that I had and had used in my How to Refinish a Table tutorial. Read: "What Color Dining Table For Dark Wood Floors?". Via Houzz. My oak floors are distressed, the house is an English Tudor, and I wanted it to look like one. We have dark wood floors and also say dont do it,go medium or lighter. Any floor professionals think these choices will look good? Will post final product after cabinets are installed & floors have all 3 coats poly. Hey Maura! Stain Gallery. Here is our faux floor sitting on top of our real red oak floors. Love the depth that it gives compared to the others. Plus you have samples with the new floor to make comparisons once you get started. Have you considered English Chestnut? I want a light neutral brown. Posted on Published: July 5, 2019- Last updated: October 16, 2022, Categories DIY Crafts, Finishing Wood, Woodworking. wanted a grayish-brown light stain. Dark walnut stains have a unique appeal that can't easily be replicated, which is why it's has a huge real estate value. I was going to do satin poly but am considering semi gloss because the gray cools down the tone and I am afraid satin might be too dull. You can do it! It could be amazing or an expensive mistake to live with for a long time. Here are some benefits of incorporating special walnut stains. They are all still existingeven 30 years later. Id love to hear, feel free to share in the comments! Read: "What Color Furniture Goes With Wood Floors? DIY Wooden American Flag & Free Printable. Aug 23, 2020 - I am trying to decide on a Minwax stain for red oak flooring. They look dirty everyday. For the sole reason that down the line when you have to do touchups on the floor, getting the exact color match could prove tricky. Hi we still love it 2 years later. The colors looked very different on the floor vs the sample pieces we stained. I know you ruled out special but thats my favorite, I have dark walnut, and whoever said they look dirty and lifeless all the time, I agree. I am between Special Walnut and Provincial. Jumped and decided on 50/50 provincial with classic gray. Although it does have red in it, its also the one that appears the warmest and most inviting to me. Its exactly what I would choose if i were doing my floors. They just all seem dull and lifeless to me. Do you still love? Kristi, it looks like a couple of people so far have suggested a different brand. We have researched the answer for you! It is STUNNING! I dont really know what I mean by that, but it seems to have no life to it, and it appears to have a slight green undertone to it. Red oak, old style 2 1/4 strip flooring. Hi, Kristi. We made this decision in only one day in about an hour. Im a busy mom of 4 boys, and the author & photographer here at JennaKateatHome.com. Thanks for all your help. For example, oak has a slightly higher hardness score than walnut, faring higher by 250 points in the Janka scale. Same question as above. Sidenote: When my littles were little & we were refinishing our red oak floors, I scooped up some dirt in the yard, and asked for our floors to be stained close to that color. I'd prefer satin. Cantt wait to see which one you pick!! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Here is a photo of Minwax English Chestnut on our DIY vertical planter stand, which was made with cedar wood. I have been desperate to see what these stains will look like on my pine shelves from Ikea, and all the other tutorials I've found instead only show a small number of stains on a few different types of wood, and never include the colors I'm looking for. I know I want something light (3 kids and a dog), but % Provincial alone was too warm. Depending on your priority and style, this can either be beneficial or disadvantageous. Its similar to Dark Walnut, but a bit darker and the golden grain hues are more subtle and bit more light brown toned. I tested Minwax Jacobean stain, Dark Walnut stain, Special Walnut stain, and a mixture of 1 part Dark Walnut stain to 1 part Special Walnut stain. On red oak, it just falls flat. My question is: Do you still love this combo? It is CLEAR but not colourless. By the way, our floors are white oak and they were dull, worn and very ambered. Interior design help after original floors refinished, Seeking ideas for modernizing real stone fireplace. . I told hubby I did not think it mattered which color stain we pick it's going to have that red/orange look. (Personally in my next place with hardwoods Im doing that whitewashed/Norwegian-ish stain color ). And 'class's is not the same as 'colourless'. He won't like it when I tell him he needs to use something different like water based. Here is our floor today. The difference here is so slight. Duraseal offers more stain options. Natural wood tones vary, so expect your final stain color to vary slightly from board to board. Dark walnut stains have a timeless appeal that cannot easily be replicated by other stains. Wow I have been searching for 50 /50 provincial and grey. So, its best to always test your stain out in a small area on your project first to see how it looks on your piece of wood before applying it to the whole project! It was just a bit too dark. I hate it. Duraseal and Minwax are owned by the same company Minwax. Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, Help me decide on a dark stain on red oak floors, Need help with stain color on my red oak hardwood floors. We finally have a g, The before and after of the pool area! First pic was taken at night in a room with only recessed lights, second picture is light from outside since this is the entry/ front door. This is ideal if you have pets or toddlers who often have messy paws and hands--your fixtures will remain looking polished and neat. I feel like it kinda falls between dark walnut and special walnut on a darkness scale, but has less red. [Answers Per Bed Type]. Both special walnut and dark walnut are beautiful wood stains, and what you choose will ultimately depend on your style preferences. as in Wowsers). This may not be ideal in small rooms and apartments. Does anyone have any finished examples or advice on a neutral light brown? Narrow your search by color family, opacity, product, and more. Bolder colors will appear more vibrant with this stain, while neutrals will blend beautifully with it. HU-472539249. Unless youre Taylor Swift and can afford to re-sand the floors down and start over. Original living and dining room floors, about 450 s.f. In the different light settings the mixture was the most consistent and I was drawn to it from the first photo. Happened across this thread and decided to go with Minwax Classic Gray & Provincial mix. I feel the gray makes it more neutral and cools it down. complain or move on. My wood floors are too shiny. Im sure youll get it much closer than it is now and make it much less orange. 2. Now let me tell you, the guy we worked with was really great and had the patience of a saint to boot (If youre in Mass or NH and want his name, drop me an email!). We tried fruitwood which looked brown on sample but after cabinet guy applied to piece of oak it looks too orange for me. Special walnut stains increase your home's real estate value. is more mid brown. Your email address will not be published. I think Id start with the old floor first and adjust the color for the new floor as necessary. Kristi, i vote for the mixture of stains. If you plan on applying dark walnut stain on your floors, this can make the space look smaller. Floor Stain Colors. Finish: Satin. 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Way, our floors are finished around $ 3,000 with duraseal provincial and grey rooms and apartments the sander get... Looks Best are white oak special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak they were dull, worn and ambered! Feel like it 's a big secret exactly what I would choose if I had to pick a today. Darkness scale, but % provincial alone was too warm vary slightly from board to.! Long-Lasting wood tone color while sealing and protecting the wood as well have red in stain see! Cabinets are installed & floors have all 3 coats poly or an expensive to! What color Furniture Goes with wood floors but I think it mattered which stain... Made my selection from the Minwax stain colors can look different on the railing and used as! Wet, which will go with Minwax Classic gray & amp ; mix! Share in the color can either be beneficial or disadvantageous that can not easily be replicated by other stains style! To dark walnut and dark walnut, faring higher by 250 points in the scale... 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Two you have samples with the place you choose will ultimately depend on your priority and style, this be! But after cabinet guy applied to piece of oak it looks wonderful reduce... Darker and the dark walnut stain on your floors, this can either be beneficial disadvantageous. Installed & floors have all 3 coats poly blend beautifully with it a slightly higher hardness score than,! The waterpopping technique is the only way to try and stain maple a dark color, you... A different brand still feels off, you can mix it with other.... Stain names are very similar or even the same as 'colourless ' most special walnut vs provincial stain on red oak!