The popularity of Brazilian cherry peaked in the 1990s due to its strength, durability, and unique color palette. And while it has since been overtaken by other trendy woods and is seen as outdated in some circles, it remains a staple of home and office decor.
So, is Brazilian cherry out of style? Let’s find out below.
Also read:
Can you stain Brazilian cherry floors?
How long does it take for Brazilian cherry floors to darken?
Is Brazilian cherry out of style
No. While it is no longer as wildly popular as it once was, the Brazilian cherry still has its adherents. The Brazilian cherry has specific properties that still keep it relevant and timeless, including unique color, hardness, value, aesthetics, and flexibility in refinishing.
Brazilian cherry is also known as Jatoba and, as the name suggests, originates from the rainforests of Brazil. The name Brazilian cherry is used to play off the deep red color of the wood. In the 90s Brazilian cherry wood rose in popularity due to its strength, durability, and unique red color. Although this popularity was to decline later, echoes of it are seen in most of the homes from that period that are put up for resale.
However, is this wood out of style? The popularity of the Brazilian cherry in another century has led to it being sometimes considered outdated and a relic from a previous time.
Apart from its unique color, it has several other properties valued for use on floors. And when used correctly and with colors that complement it, this wood can make for stunning floors.
Below are the detailed properties that keep Brazilian Cherry in Style to date.
Hardness
Brazilian cherry is an extremely hard wood with a Janka hardwood rating of 2350. The Janka rating measures the amount of force you need to drive a 0.444-inch steel ball into wood to a depth equal to half its diameter. The higher the rating, the harder the wood. Wood hardness gives an excellent measure of how durable wood will be. In comparison, the white oak has a rating of 1360.
This means that Brazilian cherry will last you for a long while when well-finished.
Aesthetics
Brazilian cherry floors have a rich and deep color palette with red undertones that come in several shades. Even with the same type of cherry wood, the color will vary depending on several factors. First is the part of the tree from which the wood came. Wood from the center (heartwood) is typically darker than sapwood. The second is the age of the wood. Cherry wood tends to change color as it continues to mature and can look different depending on the lighting of a room.
Because of this variety, you can easily pair it with a wide range of wall colors and furniture furnishings at home to create a warm and inviting aesthetic. The article further discusses the best colors to pair with Brazilian cherry.
Value
While this floor may initially be more costly than other options during installation, this is repaid a hundredfold in the value it offers. With proper maintenance, Brazilian cherry floors can last for decades. This will give your home a timeless look and increase the resale value.
You can refinish it severally
Most hardwood floors are known for allowing several refinishes, but Brazilian cherry takes this to a new level. Its incredible hardness means that you can severely sand and refinish this wood in its lifetime without compromising its integrity. This allows you to change the color and finish to accommodate changing tastes.
Hardwood floor colors that never go out of style
It may be tempting to go with passing hardwood trends, but it is not beneficial in the long term. Timeless hardwood floor colors never go out of style, and the home’s resale value is maintained and increased as time goes by. Some of the timeless hardwood floor colors you can choose from include:
Ash
Ash floors offer hues that range from the light golden color of the sapwood to the dark, nutty brown of the heartwood for a warm look to the soft whites that offer a more neutral color. This color range, paired with the right decor, can move the design of a home from contemporary to classic, depending on your taste.
Rustic taupe
Rustic floors are usually misconstrued almost always to be black. This is not always the case. Taupe rustic floors can have an overall cool tone and give a truly timeless look when mixed with gray and brown tones.
Hickory
Hickory is a warm neutral color from the wood of the hickory tree. The heartwood of this tree ranges from a light to a medium brown with a reddish hue, while the sapwood is a paler brown. This color range creates an amazing contrast of dark and light colors. These colors look stunning, whether stained or unstained and stand the test of time.
Brown maple
Brow maple wood is rich with brown shades that include tans, browns, creams, and whites that may have a touch of red and light and dark streaks. One of the features that make this wood stunning is the unique patterns that it sometimes has, such as flame, wavy and curly.
Natural and unfinished
While all the above wood colors look stunning in their ways, it is difficult to beat the simple beauty of natural, unfinished wood. It is arguably the most timeless look for floors. With a clear coat to protect the wood from damage, you can allow the wood’s natural grain and pattern to shine.
What are stain options for Brazilian cherry wood floor
the rich tones in Brazilian cherry resemble domestic cherry, only that Brazilian cherry products are made from the Jatoba tree, which is native to South America. The colors of Brazilian cherry can range from Orange-brown to a deep burgundy red. Proper preparations for staining the wood will enhance its rich tones and fine grain.
The following are some of the best options for staining Brazilian Cherry.
Let its natural beauty shine
When it is straight from the mill, the color of Brazilian cherry usually ranges from salmon with brown streaks to a tan color. This color deepens to different shades of burgundy when exposed to direct sunlight for a few days. At this point, woodworkers usually go in either of two ways. You can use a water-based stain to stop the color change or an oil-based stain to improve and richen it.
However, there is a third option. You can leave the wood unstained and finish it with a protective, clear varnish. This will ensure that the wood surface is protected while allowing the rich, natural coloring of the wood to shine through.
Earth tones
Another excellent route for Brazilian cherry is using earth-toned stains to preserve the lighter brown color of the unfinished wood. Use a water-based stain in colors like chestnut, pecan, and oak.
Red tones
As mentioned above, the color of Brazilian Cherry continued to creep towards a deep red when exposed to direct sunlight. Using wood stain with red hues is the best alternative if you want to have burgundy-toned floors without waiting for the wood’s color transformation. Apply oil-based, red-hued wood stains to get opulent, rosy tones.
As you apply this stain color, you must consider that the color will continue to deepen over time. Ensure that the shade you use accounts for the final color grade you would like. Also, ensure that you test the color you want to apply on a piece of scrap wood before you stain your main project so that you can make any necessary alterations.
Dark colors
If you are not particularly thrilled with the idea of red-hued floors, you can go the opposite direction. You can tone down the reds using a darker, water-based stain. The best colors for doing this include ebony, black, and onyx. They will override the red tones in the wood and leave behind a deep, dark finish.
If you want a dark finish but would still like to allow some red hues to shine, you can use an oil-based dark stain instead. The stain colors you use with Brazilian Cherry to achieve different shades depending on the effect you want to create. You can also use shades of rosewood and walnut for a sophisticated look.
Paint colors for Brazilian cherry floors
Brazilian cherry is a wood that is rich, warm, and inviting. The color you choose for the walls should go well and be equally stunning.
Whether you want to make a room feel more modern or are looking to bring out the vibrant color of your Brazilian cherry even more, here are our top color picks.
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Go green
Several green tones would look immensely attractive in a room with Brazilian cherry floors. These colors offer great contrast with the floor, making a room feel more interesting. However, be careful when choosing green colors in a room with Brazilian cherry. Shades of green with a yellow undertone, like olive, can clash with cherry floors and cause chaos in a room.
Shades of green to consider include:
- Forest: This and darker shades of green give a less contrasting but more vibrant feel to a room.
- Sage: Sage and other softer shades of green bring out the beautiful red tones of Brazilian cherry. They let the floors shine and be the focal point of the room.
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Blue
Blue is one of the most popular wall colors in modern homes, and it pairs excellently with Brazilian cherry. Some of the blue shades we recommend include:
- Dark blue: Dark blue paint will accentuate Brazilian cherry floors, and the dark tone will complement the dark red in the floor’s wood.
- Cerulean: Cerulean blue often has green undertones that make it contrast well with Brazilian cherry floors.
- Robin’s egg: This shade of blue provides the best contrasts for Brazilian cherry and draws attention and focus to the red hues of the floor.
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Simple white
You cannot go wrong with white paint. Crisp and cool white colors will provide a timeless look that goes beautifully with Brazilian cherry floors. The decorator’s white will complement your floors even better. Neutral whites, while safe and okay, are uninspired. However, keep away from warm whites with yellow undertones to prevent the walls from clashing with your floors.
To keep the white in your room from looking too stark and lifeless, you can add color with furniture pieces and colorful rugs or bedding.
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Rev it up with red
While it may seem counterintuitive to use red with the red-toned Brazilian cherry, red will coordinate beautifully with the floors. However, it would be best if you were extremely cautious. Ensure that you choose complementary shades of red. Otherwise, you could overwhelm guests with the amount of red in a room.
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Shades of gray
Gray paint will have a similar effect to white paint. If off-white and other white shades are not to your taste, shades of gray are an excellent alternative, as they are also neutral colors. They will draw attention to the beautiful color of Brazilian cherry and allow it to shine.
Most popular wood floor color
Whether solid wood, laminate, or engineered, wood flooring options today include a range of finishes and color variations that will transform your home decor and make a bold statement of style. Some of the most popular wood floor color options include:
White
Simple white floorboards are a choice that can seldom go wrong. Not only do they add texture, but they also seamlessly blend in with white furniture, walls, and ceilings. White floorboards also make a great canvas against which differently colored decor can stand out in the room to achieve a clean and modern look.
Gray tones
Gray has seen a great increase in popularity for home decor, especially for those that want to achieve a minimalist or industrialist style. In flooring, you can use gray as a solid color, as a wash, or as a blend with warmer tones to get some interesting contrast.
Black
While this may seem like an extreme color to go with for flooring, when applied strategically, black and other dark-colored floors can elevate the look and feel of a room. Black floors can help a room feel rustic and rich and is a great option for rooms with jewel-toned walls. It is also a great color to create a formal effect and is an excellent option for office spaces. With a satin finish, light from the windows can bounce off the floor and help the room feel lighter and airier.
Wheat-colored
Wheat-colored floors have an ashy blonde look that can blend well with other lightly-colored wood furniture. This color strikes a perfect balance between making a home feel rooted in the past while having a modern look.
Cherry
You can achieve the deep burgundy tones of Brazilian Cherry without using the wood itself. A cherry-toned finish is an excellent idea for home flooring, making the room feel grounded and giving it more of a formal look.
Other red tones are also a perfect choice for introducing color to a room and warming up the colors of dark wood furniture.
Walnut
The pale coloring of walnut-colored wood gives the room a modern feel. It is best used in rooms where you want to add more warmth than what other lighter woods would traditionally offer. It goes well with furniture and wall colors such as black, white, and gray.
Chocolate brown
While light-colored woods may be on trend, deep brown floors remain a timeless classic. Chocolate brown floors can add great warmth to a white or gray room. Adding a shiny finish to the floor will allow light to bounce around and make the room lighter.
Two-toned floors
Having a two-toned floor is a great idea when one color won’t do. When you use lightly contrasting colors, the inconsistent tones of the flooring will add character and texture to the room and compliment other lightly-colored furniture pieces.
Mixed colors
If you have difficulty deciding between the multitude of colors, you don’t have to! You can lay out wood planks of different colors to create a stripe pattern in the room. The darker colors will make the room feel warmer and homier, while the lighter-colored planks keep other furniture and the floor from being too dark.
A multi-colored floor also draws the eye to it and helps the floor stand out independently without the need for a rug or carpet.
Frequently Asked Questions- FAQs
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What compliments cherry wood floors?
Complementary color schemes use colors that, when mixed, cancel each other out. These colors are usually referred to as opposite colors as they are generally opposite each other on the color wheel. When placed next to each other, these colors create the strongest contrast.
Since Brazilian cherry has dark tones of red, the best complementary colors for this flooring are green paints or paints that have green tones. The best part is that you can use several shades of green, including pale, forest, and sage green.
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How do you match Brazilian cherry hardwood floors?
Carelessly decorating a room with a Brazilian cherry floor can cause a space to be overwhelming and chaotic. On the other hand, choosing the right colors will highlight this wood’s natural beauty. Below are some tips on how to match your Brazilian Cherry floors.
Choose colors that have subtle pink undertones
When working with wood elements in the design of a room. We recommend working with the undertones that the wood provides. Paint colors with warm and subtle pink undertones will go extremely well with cherry.
Try some red
Going with red may feel like a mistake since Brazilian cherry has red tones, but the right shade can elevate the look of your floors and room. However, use red carefully to avoid having a visually overwhelming room.
You can never go wrong with white
White and cream are an excellent match for Brazilian cherry. They provide a blank canvas against which the luxurious colors of the cherry can truly shine.
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Does grey go with cherry wood?
Since cherry wood is naturally eye-catching, neutral tones such as gray go well with them. While gray can seem like a conservative choice, shades of gray make a room feel grounded and draw the focus and attention to the stunning Brazilian cherry floors.
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What are stain options for Brazilian cherry wood floor?
Brazilian cherry is a fine-grained hardwood. It has rich tones that resemble domestic cherry, with colors ranging from orange-brown to a deep burgundy. Staining Brazilian cherry is done to enhance its fine grain and rich tones. Some of the stain options for this wood include:
- Red-hued stains to get luxurious, rosy tones.
- Dark colors such as ebony and onyx give a deep, dark finish and override the wood’s natural tones.
- Walnut and rosewood to create a sophisticated and refined blend of colors.
- Earth tones such as chestnut and pecan preserve the wood’s paler tones.
When staining Brazilian cherry, we recommend using water or wax-based stains as they enhance the wood’s color without hiding the beautiful grain.
Here is a video illustrating one of the many ways to stain your Brazilian cherry floor and make it more stylish.
Conclusion
So, is Brazilian cherry out of style?
While trendy hardwood floors may eventually be outdated, timeless pieces stand the test of time and remain classic decades later. With the right decor, complements, and stain options, Brazilian cherry will remain an interior design classic for years to come.