Simple, eye-catching ways to 'in-grain' wood in home decor

(ARA) - From Colonial to Craftsman to contemporary, wood is a fundamental feature in home design for its ability to complement all types of architectural styles. Its beauty, versatility and durability allow homeowners to easily incorporate wood materials throughout a home, bringing warmth, texture and a touch of nature to any room.

Whether you are building a new home or renovating, wood can harmonize with a variety of decor and color schemes to help create a cohesive look from the front door to the back, and throughout the rooms in between. An effective way to create a unified appearance with wood is to focus on prominent features that are common throughout the home, such as doors and flooring.

"Wood has universal appeal for its unique character, charm and natural attractiveness, making it a smart inclusion and investment in home design," says Brad Loveless of Simpson Door Company. "Wood doors are timeless, available in nearly unlimited designs and can be stained or painted for enduring beauty. The wide range of options for wood doors makes them well-suited for a variety of tastes and budgets."

If you are looking for smart, simple and aesthetically pleasing ways to incorporate wood into your home decor, consider focusing on these two dominant wood uses:

From the doors

An average-size American home can easily contain 15 or more doors. With one or more in nearly every room, doors are well spaced and placed to carry on the look of wood throughout the home, evoking a feeling of comfort and luxury while also adding depth and dimension to rooms.

Available in many styles, designs, species and sizes, homeowners can either choose from standard options or create their own custom exterior and interior wood doors. Common standard styles include Craftsman, traditional - one to six panel designs with raised or flat panels - and French styles with decorative glass. Popular wood species include fir, knotty alder, cherry and sapele mahogany. For something a little more dramatic, try walnut, black locust, nootka cypress or bamboo.

"Today's most popular stile and rail wood door designs combine past and present characteristics like curved panels and rails, geometric patterned leaded glass, textured glass designs and even decorative acrylic panels with encapsulated materials for interior doors," says Loveless. Decorative acrylic panels incorporate natural, metal or textile materials such as grass, rice paper, spun wire and patterned fabric, captured within translucent resins, creating a unique one-of-a-kind door.

"There are many possibilities in wood door design; homeowners shouldn't feel they have to choose just one model for their entire home," adds Loveless. "Door designs can be mixed and matched, but some features such as wood species and panel profile should stay consistent to maintain a cohesive appearance." To learn more about Simpson wood door styles, designs and custom options, visit simpsondoor.com or call (800) SIMPSON to speak to a customer service representative.

Down to the floors

As home floor plans have become more open and integrated, wood has branched out to become one of the most desirable flooring options. Real estate agents say homes with wood floors hold their value better, sell faster and often go for higher prices, according to a recent National Wood Flooring Association survey.

To fit a wide range of personal preferences and prices, wood flooring comes in a variety of species, sizes, grades and grain patterns. Current popular species include oak, cherry, maple, and South American woods like Brazilian cherry, mahogany and tigerwood, for their appealing high strength and striking appearance.

In addition to look, durability also differs from one wood species to the next. Before making a final decision, be sure to do some research or speak to a dealer to find out what woods have the hardness ratings that will best suit your lifestyle and look great for years to come.

As prominent features throughout a home, doors and floors provide a good starting point for bringing your home to life with wood. Let the architectural style of your home and your overall design objectives guide you in narrowing down wood species and design options. If you are drawn to dark paint colors for walls, consider light to medium colored wood doors and flooring in either the same or complementary colors for a balanced look. For light colored walls, darker wood doors and flooring can provide an elegant contrast, making exteriors and interiors more visually interesting.

Courtesy of ARAcontent