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Common Ground News

Can hardwood floors be matched?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on March 15, 2026

Can hardwood floors be matched?

Generally, if you have oak hardwood flooring, provided that you match the existing species and grade, you can generally refinish the wood to match the stain on the existing portion. Please note that because hardwood darkens over time, it may not be an exact match, but it will be pretty close.

Also asked, how much does it cost to match hardwood floors?

Professional hardwood floor refinishing costs $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot without staining. The average cost to sand, restain, and refinish wood floors is $2 to $7 per square foot. Refinishing hardwood stairs costs $25 to $85 per step. DIY costs to redo and resurface wood floors is $600 to $1,100.

One may also ask, is it difficult to match wood floors? Hardwood flooring is by far the preferred choice of flooring especially in mid to higher end homes. The good news is that it's usually fairly easy to match your existing hardwood for a harmonious look.

Also to know is, is it OK to have two different types of hardwood floors?

Put simply, the answer to the question do wood floors have to match room to room, is entirely one of personal choice. You can choose to have different flooring in each room if that works for you, but synergy and flow from selecting one central flooring material can look wonderful too.

How do you match old hardwood floors to new?

When laminate or engineered flooring is involved, try and match the faded tones of the existing floor to new products being installed. Gather samples with different intensities of the same color, then pair them with the existing, faded floor. Choose whichever sample is closest in color to the existing floor.

How much does it cost to install 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?

On average, wood flooring costs between $3 and $7 per square foot for materials and $3 to $5 per square foot for labor. An estimate for installation of 1000 square feet of hardwood flooring runs between $6,000 and $12,000.

Do hardwood floors have to match upstairs and downstairs?

Some homes tend to have carpeting floors upstairs while having hardwood flooring downstairs. It may not match the hardwood floors on the first floor; hardwood is much easier to match to hardwood, even if they don't match at first glance.

Can hardwood floors be refinished to a different color?

When you refinish your floors, you can change the color of your flooring. Most hardwood floors can be made darker, lighter, redder, or anywhere in between. If your flooring is solid hardwood, it can be sanded and refinished in a different stain for a different appearance.

Do hardwood floors have to match stairs?

Stairs do not need to match flooring.

How much should I pay to have my wood floors refinished?

According to HomeAdvisor, the typical price range to refinish hardwood floors is between $1,074 and $2,485, with the national average at $1,757. This comes out to $3 to $8 per square foot, including materials and labor. Roughly 80 percent of the cost to refinish hardwood floors comes from labor.

Do floors need to match?

Do floors need to exactly match your countertops or other fixtures? No. Instead, try to coordinate with them in the same way you would coordinate with the other floors. This goes a long way towards creating a well-balanced and well-designed space.

What is the best time of year to install hardwood floors?

The best seasons of the year for hardwood floor installation are the spring and fall, when there is a moderate amount of moisture in the air but the climate is not overly damp. Whenever you decide to have the floor installed, an indoor humidity level between 45-65 percent is recommended.

Should all flooring in a house be the same?

There is absolutely no need to change flooring from room to room. We often work with homeowners who feel the urge to pick a different flooring for every room of their home, but there is absolutely no need to do this. Your home will look best if you create one consistent look that travels from room to room.

Does kitchen floor have to match living room?

Some people love the cohesive look of flooring that matches throughout the house. Using the same flooring creates a clean, uniform look that flows nicely from room to room. Matched floors can also help a space look larger. However, no rule says your floors have to match throughout the house.

How many different floors should be in a house?

The Rule of Three

The flooring “Rule of Three†states that from any point in the home, you should see three different types of flooring, or less.

Can you install hardwood floors on a rainy day?

Sure. You'll be letting them sit in the house for a week or so, and documenting the moisture % of the floors and subfloors with a moisture meter before they get installed. Or, that's what should happen.