Let’s talk about wood. We chose solid oak hardwood for the four bedrooms and upstairs hallway because many rooms downstairs and the stairs already have a medium-toned oak that we like. That tone is similar to the hardwoods we used in our first house — a durable, kid- and dog-friendly finish that wore well over time.
To find the right boards, we first checked local classifieds, then visited Lumber Liquidators. We’ve bought flooring there before — hardwoods for part of our first home and cork for our kitchen — and they consistently carry a wide selection, plus underlayment and tools, which makes them a convenient one-stop shop.
Clara immediately made herself at home on the samples, which was fitting since she seems to love wood floors. We wandered the showroom, examined displays and even checked out the small set of demo stairs — apparently every kid who visits feels compelled to climb them.
We took six solid oak samples home to compare them to the stairs. Since the light in the store was already low, we waited until morning to judge the samples in natural light at the new house. Testing in daylight helped us see true tones and grain patterns.
Before committing, we removed the carpet from the top stair to confirm the wood underneath was in good condition. If the underlayment or stair treads had been damaged, we would have had to refinish the stairs and choosing an exact match would have mattered less. Luckily the wood under the runner was in good shape after we pulled out a hundred staples, and we liked the medium brown tone — not too yellow, not too dark, not too light. It was the Goldilocks match for the house.
Why choose a medium-toned oak? Partly personal taste — some people prefer redder or more golden hues — and partly practical. Very dark floors can show dust and pet hair more easily, while very light floors can highlight wear. We’d used a similar tone in our first house and liked how it complemented our furniture and lived with the family, so that experience influenced our decision.
Of the six samples, one stood out. The sample in the lower-left of our photo matched the stairs almost exactly in color, grain variation and thickness (2 1/4″). Although we liked some wider board options, staying consistent with the existing width and grain kept the house feeling cohesive.
Removing the stair runner completely will be a longer job — the one exposed step took about 20 minutes to free, so we estimate a few hours to strip all the carpet from the stairs. We held off on taking every step apart because we prioritized removing the upstairs carpeting and laying the new hardwood before we move in. Still, the stairs are on our list.
The next morning we returned to Lumber Liquidators to place our order. With accurate square footage and a clear choice, ordering was straightforward. The floor we selected is Lono Oak — a solid oak plank, 3/4″ thick so it can be refinished multiple times, and it carries a 25-year warranty. The list price we saw was very competitive.
Before finalizing the purchase, I asked for the best price and mentioned we were repeat customers. That friendly, direct approach earned us a 10% discount on the entire order, including special underlayment designed for our subfloor. Negotiating politely is often worth the effort — it lowered the per-square-foot cost and reduced the overall project expense.
We plan to install the hardwood ourselves to save on labor. Their installation quote was around four thousand dollars for professional installation, so doing it ourselves will be a meaningful saving if all goes well. With a little over two weeks before we move in, we also want to paint blue/mauve trim and possibly doors while the old carpet is out but before the new floor goes down. There’s a lot to do, and timing will be tight.
We left the store feeling excited and optimistic. The hardwood is ordered, the stair situation is noted, and the trim awaits a fresh coat of paint. We’re considering using a paint sprayer for the trim and will report back on how that goes.
More Flooring Projects
- 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