Let’s talk about wood. We chose solid oak hardwood for the four bedrooms and the upstairs hallway because much of the downstairs and the stairs already had a medium-toned oak that worked well for our household. That same durable, medium-brown oak served us well in our previous home and was both pet- and kid-friendly, so it made sense to match it upstairs for a cohesive look.

Our search began locally: we checked Craigslist first in case someone was selling a large quantity in the right tone. When that didn’t pan out, we went to Lumber Liquidators, a place we’ve used before for big flooring purchases and where we could find underlayment and tools in one stop. They had a wide selection and plenty in stock, which made the shopping process efficient.

Clara came along and promptly made herself at home on the display floor. She also climbed the small sample set of display stairs—apparently every kid in the store does that. We grabbed six samples to compare against the existing stairs. Because lighting affects how wood looks, we waited until morning to judge them in natural light at the house.

Before removing all of the upstairs carpeting, we pulled the runner off the top stair to check the condition of the wood beneath. After removing dozens of staples, we found the floor in good shape and liked the medium brown color: not too yellow, not too dark, not too light. It struck the right balance visually and was consistent with the oak tone we’d lived with previously.

Our preference for this medium, balanced oak is partly personal and partly practical. Dark floors show dust and pet hair more readily, while very light floors can reveal wear and scratches more quickly. We’d had this same mid-toned oak before and liked how it complemented our furniture and daily life, so matching it made sense.

From the sample photos, the clear match was the bottom-left sample: the color, grain variation, and 2 1/4″ width matched the rest of the house. While we appreciated some wider-board options, choosing the sample that matched color, grain, and width made the decision feel true to the home and visually cohesive.

Removing that first top stair took about 20 minutes, which suggested we had several hours of stair work ahead of us. Still, the priority was to remove the upstairs carpeting and install the new hardwood before moving in, so we focused on the bigger rooms first. The stair runner had been warned; we’d return to finish the stairs soon.

The next day we returned to Lumber Liquidators to place our order. With square footage in hand and our chosen hardwood decided, ordering was straightforward. We selected Lono Oak, a solid 3/4″ thick oak floor that can be refinished several times and came with a 25-year warranty. The listed price was competitive, and after a brief, polite negotiation emphasizing our repeat business, we received a 10% discount on the flooring and accessories. That lowered the price and saved on the underlayment and other items we needed.

We plan to install the floors ourselves to save on labor costs. The store’s quote for professional installation was around four thousand dollars, so doing it ourselves could yield significant savings if we manage the work well. Time is tight—we hoped to move in about two and a half weeks—so we also planned to paint the trim and possibly the doors while the carpet was out but before laying the new floors.

In the meantime, Clara found ways to entertain herself among the brochure displays while we finalized the order. We left excited about the project: the hardwoods were ordered, a matching grain and color had been chosen, and a plan was in motion for installation and trim painting. We’re considering renting or buying a paint sprayer for the trim work and will document the process as we go.

More Flooring Projects

If you’d like to read about other flooring projects we’ve completed, see the posts below:

• Refinishing Hardwood Floors 101
• How To Install Hardwood Flooring Yourself
• How To Install Hardwood Floors Without Nails
• How To Install Click-And-Lock Cork Flooring
• How To Paint A Floor
• How To Stain A Concrete Floor
• How To Remove Carpet