Hardwood doesn’t have to mean formal

A lot of people tend to think that hardwood makes a room very formal looking and is only for formal rooms such as dens and formal dining rooms. This however is completely untrue. While hardwoods can make a room feel very formal there are ways to get around this. Characteristics such as beveled-edge details, light colors, bold graining, random-width planks, surface irregularities and a low-gloss finish can make a room appear less formal, without diminishing overall beauty or sophistication. Hardwood can really create any feel that you want. It can make a room look extremely formal or just the opposite a very rustic look and everything in between.

My suggestion is to make sure that you match the feel of your overall house with the wood you choose. While yes the smooth high gloss Brazilian cherry wood floors can be absolutely beatutiful they can tend to be formal so if the rest of your house is more of a country cottage try something a little more rustic.