How to Decorate With Walnut Wood Flooring

Walnut hardwood flooring brings a warmth and character to a room hard to ignore. Whether it comes unfinished, stained or even painted, this dense, durable and versatile wood offers timeless appeal. Walnut flooring goes with most any design scheme, offering an array of choices for room decor. Let the warmth of a walnut wood floor make up the subtle background of a room, or let it stand out as a design statement -- it all depends on how you decorate.

Rustic and Raw

Overly dark in appearance without calling too much attention to itself, the effect of unfinished walnut varies based on how agrarian or urban you decorate the room. To create a pastoral setting, choose grainier and unfinished or repurposed wood tables, shelving and lamp bases. Choose prints and patterns that reinforce the style -- for example, plaid curtains -- and accessorize with rougher materials, such as tossing a wool throw over the couch. For a sleeker urban vibe, balance the wood flooring with furniture featuring strong and simple lines -- a Mid-Century sofa, a modern sideboard, or a metal task lamp in place of a base and shade.

Create Contrast

Add layers of dimension to your space by creating a strong contrast against the walnut floors. When you paint the walls a light neutral like slate or cream, it allows darkly finished floors to anchor the room. Against the rich backdrop of walnut flooring's warm hues, subtle neutral walls and white furniture gain prominence while keeping the room visually light. Conversely, dark furniture stands out with greater distinction when paired with a lighter walnut floor. When decorating with these kinds of contrasts, do not be afraid to create a stark juxtaposition of light and dark.

Integrate the Space

Integrate your walnut flooring more smoothly into the room by tying it in with accessories and details. If your walnut floor is a chocolate brown, hang frames in a chocolate-brown finish. Stain the doors and doorframes the medium color in your walnut floors. Or frame the room even more strongly by adding matching molding along the ceiling. If you work with painted walnut, choose a lamp base with the same color, or at least a shade lined in the same color. Include small details that acknowledge the floor while avoiding the look of an overly matched room and subtly tie everything together.

Feature Through Minimalism

Walnut wood flooring has enough quality and character to stand out as the central element of a room. Feature walnut flooring by paring down the room to its essentials. In a living room, add a sofa or sectional that rests a few inches above the floor on taller legs, allowing more of the floor to show. A floor task lamp subtly draws the eye down without detracting from the floor itself. If you resist the temptation to fill the room with furniture, the floor itself can become a beautiful focal point.