getting that light natural airy look on red oak floors

We love a light, natural white oak floor but when refinishing, not everyone has white oak. A couple years ago I was working on a design client project and knew I wanted a light natural white oak floor but the existing floors in the 1950s home were red oak. After lots of research we decided to do a custom mix of 2 Bona stains to try to hide as much red as we could. Since then, we have done quite a few floors using this custom mix and love the results. I do want to say, it doesn’t completely hide all the pink, especially if it is a select or #1 wood but if your heart is set on light floors and you don’t want to rip out all of your red oak (which I ALMOST NEVER (I’ve learned to never say never) would recommend ripping out real, solid wood) then this is the best method we have found to achieve that light look.

So what starts out as orange red oak floors…

house #1 before

house #2 before

Can transform into that light, airy, scandi, white oak look.

House #1 before final coat

House #2 before final coat

After sanding we always apply samples on our client’s actual floors. We want them to see the stain across several boards of their own floors, in their own natural and artificial light.

We have tweaked this custom mix a few times, sometimes using a 2:1 ratio and sometimes 3:1.

Photography by Emily Rose Photography

We typically use Bona water based poly when going for this look.  

Photography by Emily Rose Photography

We can’t change red oak into white oak but this method does a pretty good job of achieving that scandi, light, natural look.  

Photography by Emily Rose Photography

Did you know we offer virtual calls to help with your stain choice? If there is one thing we know, it is each home is different and your floors are the star of your show! Book your virtual consultation here. I’m excited to chat stain with you! - Jessica