The White Oak Look: Trending Flooring for Families

The look of white oak exudes class, sophistication, and simplistic charm that fits nearly every type of interior design style. As one of the most popular flooring looks this year, it has certainly earned its right to be featured in a number of stunning homes. Rightly so, as it’s one of the elements that has, in fact, helped to make these homes so beautiful.

Molina Sliced White Oak hardwood by Floorcraft Heritage

Whether showcased in a large, rustic great room surrounded by tall ceilings or a craftsman home full of old-school charm, there’s no end to the undoubtedly amazing beauty of wood and wood look flooring, especially when it’s the white oak look. So what makes white oak the top trending look, why is it so popular, and how can you get the look in your home?

To get a better understanding of the white oak look and why it’s become a top contender in today’s trending flooring, it’s crucial to learn about white oak products, their versatility, organic appearance, and many stains and finishes, as well as the enduring features of flooring that feature the white oak look.

WHITE OAK – HARDWOOD OR LUXURY VINYL?

Mount Vista Callatin luxury vinyl by Downs H2O

One unique aspect of the white oak hardwood look is that it is multifaceted and can be found in both genuine hardwood products and luxury vinyl wood look flooring products. Determining what is the best for your home will greatly depend on your lifestyle, your desired maintenance regimen, the color you want, and your budget. While genuine hardwood has many advantages, wood look luxury vinyl also offers unique features and an appearance that is nearly identical to genuine wood flooring.

Coventry Oak in Crewel hardwood by Floorcraft

No matter your specific lifestyle factors, both solid white oak flooring and wood look vinyl are excellent choices for creating a timeless, beautiful style in your home that is not only adaptable, but also long-lasting, unique, and trendy.

ADAPTABILITY AND VERSATILITY IN DESIGN

When looking at white oak flooring in any home, there’s no doubt that it has a great mix of old-world visuals and modern touches that allow it to steal the spotlight. Its ability to take center stage as the focal point without being too loud, no matter the interior design style—makes it an incredibly adaptable and versatile flooring option. Whether you are working toward an antique farmhouse look, a warm industrial-chic look, or making a home feel sleek and composed with simple elements, the white oak flooring look fits basically any mold.

Amur Oak in Amalfi by Downs hardwood

When it comes to adaptability and versatility, both genuine white oak flooring and wood look flooring are not just ideal for today’s current trending looks, they’re equally important in a flooring investment because they stand the test of time in both style and durability. And the white oak look has proven time and time again that its natural visuals are here to stay. While trending décor and furniture can always be changed, flooring is one thing that’s a lot more permanent. That’s why white oak floors are an excellent choice—they offer a canvas that’s perfect for creating a custom interior design that speaks to your personality throughout the evolving trends.

APPEARANCE

While each style and species of hardwood has its own unique character, including specific graining, tones, and hardness levels, one thing that makes white oak special is its raw wood appearance and straight graining. Classically chic and elegant, hardwood has always been a great flooring option for adding raw warmth to any space. And because white oak is a natural wood material, there’s no denying that white oak hardwood will be able to provide that warmth. Let’s dive deeper into its graining and natural characteristics.

Mount Vista Inspire in Bay luxury vinyl by Downs H2O

White oak hardwood has a smooth, coarse grain, meaning that it has a less dramatic appearance when compared to other hardwood options. These grains run in a vertical direction and draw the eye across planks and, in some cases, even make rooms look and feel larger. This is one of the many reasons white oak’s popularity has risen so quickly—the smooth graining makes white oak floors look modern and polished while still offering the perfect amount of natural material and character to any space.

When it comes to tone and color, white oak naturally has a golden-yellow tone, rather than a brown hue. Its honey-amber color is incredible on its own, and when paired with a light sheen, it stands alone beautifully. However, there is also a variety of attractive stain and finish options available that are equally as impressive to the eye. If your design style skews more upscale or you simply enjoy a high-gloss hardwood finish, these options may be for you.

WHITE OAK STAINS AND FINISHES

Along with the refined beauty that white oak brings in its natural state, there are many finishes that make it available in even more colors, tones, and styles. Because white oak is a wood that offers a naturally smooth, modern look, it can be manipulated with stain to take on almost any color available.

From rich, dark brown shades of stain that will enhance its straight graining and mineral streaks to a light-toned, weathered stain that brings out the pure beauty of the wood, white oak flooring does a great job of showcasing stain colors.

Amur Oak in Verona by Downs hardwood

Not only does white oak take on any color stain and look great in any stain, it is also available in several finish sheens as well. Today, a matte finish on white oak floors gives a casual, modern appearance, which is perfect for creating a simple look for any family home. Glossier wood finishes can also be found and offer a more traditional or high-end look that’s perfect for traditionally styled living rooms adorned with vintage antiques and custom fireplaces. No matter the stain or the finish, there’s bound to be a white oak style that suits your home’s looks and needs.

ENDURING FEATURES

Not only does the white oak look dazzle with its high-quality and timeless appearance, it also impresses with its many appreciated features that satisfy a variety of home needs. Whether you opt for wood look luxury vinyl or genuine white oak hardwood flooring, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your flooring offers easy cleanup for dirt and debris. Families with children and busy lifestyles will appreciate the ease of maintenance and ability to handle all kinds of lifestyle situations that come with hard surface flooring.

Amur Oak in Genoa by Downs hardwood

But the features don’t stop there. Waterproof floors have changed the world of flooring. This, in turn, has caused a significant rise in flooring that looks like wood but also offers water-resistance and incredible durability. For example, some styles of wood look luxury vinyl are waterproof or water resistant, and because these products offer water resistance, you won’t have to worry about messes from the inside or the exterior elements. Plus, you’ll be able to choose a uniform flooring throughout to unite the interior design of your home in your entryway, kitchen, bedroom, laundry room, and other spaces.

If you instead decide to opt for genuine white oak hardwood floors, you may not get water resistance, but you’ll get the benefit of their long-lasting nature. Once installed, these floors are sure to last when taken care of properly. In some cases, after many years of use they can even be sanded and stained to bring them back to life depending on the age and hardwood product.

WHITE OAK HARDWOOD IN YOUR HOME

To get the white oak look in your home, opt for either solid or engineered hardwood flooring in the white oak species, or choose to go with a white oak wood look vinyl. It’s easy to identify the wood look, but what may not be as simple is choosing from the many stains and finishes available! Gray, hints of red, deep browns, and natural finishes offer a variety of unique tones, and determining what’s best for your space can be one of the toughest choices you have to make.

Mount Vista Premiere in Cache luxury vinyl by Downs H2O

Will you opt for a character-filled genuine hardwood look with knots and a natural-looking finish, or instead go for a clean, modern vibe that offers you the chance to choose décor and linens that complement it flawlessly? No matter what you decide in the end, the white oak flooring look is sure to be a hit not only in its appearance, but also in its longevity!

Visualize Your Flooring Dreams

Want a preview of how new floors will look in your home? Try our room visualizer, My Floor Style. Upload a photo of your room, select your style preferences, and get a virtual look at each different flooring style. With My Floor Style, there are no surprises. Only beautiful new floors.