I am not sure if your picture is one or two rooms, but it is ok to put two different types of floors, since your already matched your step down n hallway to existing LV and want a darker shade, pick the darkest shade of your existing floor so it will still pickup and harmonize with other areas of your home. But if you want to maximize the size of your home I would stay with same floor type.

Thank you for taking the time and energy to respond to my post. This is a photo of the current living room (foreground) and the step-down living room (directly ahead and to the left behind the railing of the dining room)
I do appreciate your input.

Your spaces are opened to each other, you will get a sense of choppiness with all different flooring. If you wanted to change your living room floor, one thing you might want to do is extend it into your kitchen. That way it flows together a little nicer.

If you wanna live there for a long time make it all the same!

How warm and inviting!!

I would replace with the same wood flooring as the addition.

The dining room is tile and I think 3 different floors would be too choppy.

I have same problem with my floors too far gone to refinish. I agree that different floors would look choppy. I think I've decided to do tile throughout the house that looks like dark wood planks. I may even put heated floor in some areas.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. I think part of me knows that I should go with the same flooring, but I really, really, love the look of the cherry. Ultimately, the practical and sensible will most likely win out, especially with so many of you voicing the same opinion.

Hi appytrails, I would also try to use the same wood floor and finish for the bedrooms as well.

If budget an issue, you can install carpet. It wouldn't be as nice the same wood floor throughout and still a bit choppy, but at least it's not a different color wood.

That looks like a solid oak floor not engineered. Why can't it be refinished?

Darzy --Budget is not an issue, and living in the country with a large breed dog, carpet is not an option, especially in that room where all the traffic passes through. Thanks for the thought, though. Coocoocouture -I was told that there are a few worn spots that go pretty deep. Considering it's the original floor to the house, 35+ years old, I figured that assessment was probably correct. Also, having to leave the house for 4 days, with husband and dog in tow.... somehow it just sounded like a better idea to install a new floor. That's why i was excited to maybe get a "new look" out of the deal, as long as I was going for the new floor option. I have decided on strand bamboo, which by all accounts will wear really well. It's just the color that's still undecided.. match the oak in the step down, or go for more drama.
Judyg--Thanks so much for the photo. It really does bring to life what I was thinking. Much appreciated.

We love the look of different woods in a home! It bring out a classic charm to the home. We would love to answer any questions you may have on wood types and help you find the right match for your home. www.mrtimbers.com or visit us on Houzz Manomin Resawn Timbers

Sounds like you made your decision - do love your home - it feels good!

Paradise - You made ME feel very good. Thank you...

If you notice the photo above they have colors on walls and furniture the pickup the darker shade which in turn harmonizes the space and bring all the colors together. So, go ahead with a darker shade and enjoy your space. Love bamboo, but be careful with type of bamboo and where it is finished because exotic wood can be high maintenance if temperature in the house isn't regulated, it can work to your disadvantage in upkeep. So do your research before hand.

Just thought I'd share what's in my 100-year old house. The main floor and the hallways in the upper floors are one type of wood - maple. However, the bedrooms are all pine (and all the stair treads thoughout are oak). I'm guessing that the logic was to use the dressier wood where people would see it. That said the woods are basically in the same color range.

Hi Casey,
While my advice to appytrails is to go for the more consistent wood throughout, I too lived in a house from about 1918 with three different woods. It had ash floors in the kitchen, white oak in the living and dining rooms, and wide plank pine in the 2nd floor bedrooms. And it too was finished in the same color throughout (though I have no way of knowing if that was the original condition). And I think you are absolutely right about the logic of it. The most expensive and durable woods were used in the most public and well-used rooms.

Madeline -Thanks for the heads-up about researching bamboo. I've spent days online doing just that, as most of the local stores that sell hardwoods have less than knowledgeable salespeople. I had put a light maple in a back bedroom, and within months it was scratched terribly by my (then) two dogs. I thought maple was a HARD wood...so I wasn't going to make that mistake again. Seems both hardness (ability to withstand denting) and type of finish (prevent scratches) are two separate factors to consider. I also discovered that there are different types of bamboo, the hardest being strand bamboo. I found a factory that puts 10 coats of finish on their strand bamboo in an eco friendly way (no formaldahyde(sp?) and am waiting on floor samples now (light and dark)

JudyG always has just the right answer! The big contrast in wood tone would work beautifully here. Yes, you have a lovely home and am looking foward to the "after" picture!

Thank you , Darzy, for the compliment. What a great spot, houzz, I think we all have that "decorator" in our genes.

Appytrails good luck with your project....btw do you have the name of the bamboo flooring factory you mentioned. I am looking to using bamboo in the MBR and the hall and landing that I just gutted and reframed.

pgerini - The bamboo company is called Cali bamboo. Good luck with your flooring project!

You could install hardwood floors in the hallways. In my opinion, each bedroom should have its own carpet choice. It is easier to replace one room of carpet if there is an "unfortunate event" (like nail polish spilled in the bedroom by a teenage daughter; or your little kid gets a hold of the sharpie permanent markers). In the main living area, I like wood or ceramic/stone tile floors with a variety of easy to replace area rugs that are in the same color family. When you have a family that actually lives in the house, you want to make your decorating choices with reality in mind. I like easy to clean and maintain tile floors in a kitchen, entryways, and family room - with indoor/outdoor or polypropylene area rugs ! FYI, when I visit showroom homes (Parade of Homes) they always mix flooring materials . The designers tell me it is boring to have only one flooring. I guess it depends on how big the area is if it will look "choppy" or not. Anyway, that is my humble opinion.

We are taking the wall down between the kitchen and dining room. We have wood floors in all the rooms except kitchen . The kitchen has tile. Should we replace the tile with new tile that matches the color of the wood flooring in the dining room? Or should we bring the same color wood into the kitchen?

@Tracey Shaw New thread!

Ii have same issue. I have hickory in great room and ceramic tile in kitchen. can I use something different in the kitchen that would complement the great room?

Just a few things to consider...

While using the same flooring throughout your home creates a
sense of space, it's not necessarily the way to make the most of each individual
room. Dark wood floors, such as Brazilian walnut or mahogany, work well in both
south-facing rooms and large rooms; smaller rooms benefit from lighter tones
such as ash, maple or white oak. Also think about combining different woods elsewhere,
such as the furniture and cabinets.

{Contrast} Ensure the different woods in one area are
distinctly different, as combining woods that are too similar in color can
appear as if you have simply made a mistake. In the hallway, for example,
combine a dark wood on the stairs, stair rails and doors with a much lighter
color on the hallway floor.

{Laying the Floor} In a long, narrow area, avoid
laying the flooring so it runs parallel to the length of the space. This will
only reinforce the sense of length and lack of width, creating a bowling alley
effect. Laying the floor so it does not run parallel with the length of the
space makes it appear wider and takes the emphasis away from the length.

{Transition} Ensure that the transition between
different flooring in two adjoining rooms happens in a straight line at the
threshold of the room. A piece of T-molding is a quick and easy way to create a
neat transition, or get creative with tile/marble.

{Room Size} large rooms that receive little natural
light, opt for a warm wood for the floor. Beech, Brazilian cherry and redwood
are all suitable and feature warm orange and red hues. Picking out those warm
hues and using them in the paint on the walls will not only complement the
floor, but it will further help to create a cozy atmosphere. In a small room,
use a light wood -- such as hickory, maple or cypress. Opting for a highly
polished surface also helps to bounce light around

I have decided to go with cortec petrified forest in my large kitchen. It borders my great room which is engineered hickory, but I didn't want more hickory. The cortec is supposed to be easy maintenance and I do not have to pull up the existing ceramic tiles to install it. fingers crossed!

Last year I put laminate floor on the upstairs bedrooms and kept carpet on the loft upstairs and stairs but now I want to put laminate on the entire downstairs and I would want a different color but when I went to shop for laminate floors the sale representive told me that is not a good idea to have to different colors of laminate that he perfer for me to put tiles downstairs and to complete the upstairs loft and stairs with the same color of laminate because it would increase the value of the house mind you i have no plans to sale the house

what do you think

I do not recommend having different types of wood floors in the same space.

What color do you think would look nice

So i should keep the upstairs with the same color then what about the stairs should i match it with the color from upstairs or the color i am going to get for the downstairs?

By the way I have dark color furnishes

I would not put ceramic tile in the whole downstairs. It takes a jack-hammer to remove it later - so there isn't much flexibility there! I have no problem with two different laminate floors materials on different levels of the house. When it is time for re-sale (and if you think it is a problem for buyers) you have the option of easily carpeting over any or all of laminate on the top floor. People seem to like carpet in bedrooms, and hard surfaces in the "public" areas anyway. I would keep the carpet on the stairs and find an area rug or wall color with the same color as the carpet for the downstairs room that is right next to the stairs. I like ceramic tile in my kitchen, bathrooms, and entry ways because it is easy to clean and water doesn't bother it. Personally, I carpet my bedrooms individually and use laminate in the upstairs hallway and tile in the bathrooms. My downstairs is laminate but the entry way, powder room, laundry room and kitchen are ceramic tile. I like my guests and family to not worry about ruining the flooring! God forbid a major "accident" would force me to replace all of the flooring in the house! No way that is going to happen. Using area rugs downstairs and carpeting bedrooms individually prevents that problem. :)

I have a beautiful parquay floor in my kitchen and eating area. I would like to replace carpet in dining and living spaces, but not sure it will look ok. Any ideas? The two floor types would meet in two areas

Hi all!
I have a mixed hardwood flooring dilemma . We have expanded our kitchen that our s right next to our living room and sunroom. The flooring that I love is a dark stain hickory wood that would bump up next to a honey stain oak 2 inch plank.
Any suggestions ?

Hi Colleen. I have the same dilemma currently. I seem to read mixed opinions, but I really want to use the darker wood in my family room/kitchen, while the rest of my house is honey stained oak. Did you resolve your issue? I don't see any responses. Let me know how it worked out. Thanks!

Hi Colleen L. and Pattib929, the decision to mix wood colors is certainly dependent on your personal preferences. However, since these two different hardwoods will be up against one another, our general rule of thumb is to keep the woods within the same color family. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Colleen and Pattib929 what did you decide. I have the same dilemma! Jo

Hi. I ended up choosing an acacia wood that has multiple colors in it, so it picks up the color of my existing honey stained oak. It's actually being installed today so I hope it turns out well!

Hi pattib929.. I used hickory engineered hardwood floors in a slightly deeper color. It blends just fine, thank goodness!

I have the same problem. I’m taking down a half wall between kitchen and d8ning room...complete kitchen remodel. My din8ng room and liv8ng room and hall have oak hardwood... I’m so confused. i wanted to extend the hardwood into kitchen but the color isn’t available