Floor style is one of the most important aspects of interior design. Floors are the foundation of any room, and they can make or break an aesthetic. Wood floors in particular are a staple of design. But a wood floor that pulls one room together perfectly might not look as good in another.

That means you could have different types of wood floors from one room to another. If this is the case, then you need to know how to transition between two different wood floors. Keep reading to learn all about this integral design feature.

Should All Rooms in a House Have the Same Wooden Floor?

It's cool if all the rooms in your house share the same flooring. It's just as cool if they don't — maybe even cooler if you pull it off right. The key is to create a smooth transition.

While some people prefer wood floors, others prefer carpeted rooms and some might even go with marble floors. So it's completely all right to have different flooring in each room. Just make sure you consider the tips we're going to share below to ensure a beautiful transition.

Can I Install Two Different Floors Right Next to Each Other?

Yes, you can have two different floors beside one another! Now the question is, how? Imagine there's a cherry-toned wood floor in half of your living room and the other half is ivory. What? Why would anybody do that?

You're right. That's not how it works. Firstly, the transition from one floor to the other is usually made at the doorway. Secondly, it's possible that your floor needs to be repaired. But if you can’t find the same type of wood to replace small patches, you might be scratching your head wondering what to do.

That's where the art of transitioning between different floor materials comes in. 

What Are the Different Types of Floor Transition?

There are multiple types of flooring out there — we're particularly referring to wooden floors today and hardwood floors to be precise. There are a couple of ways you can transition between floorings. These are some of the primary floor transition strips:

How to Transition Between Two Different Wood Floors?

Once you've decided on the type of wood flooring, you must take steps to ensure a smooth transition. While you can just start installing the second floor right after, it will only produce rough edges and an unappealing result. 

Opt for one or more of the following methods to ensure a good-looking joint between different floors.

T-Molding is Probably the Finest Solution

A T-mold is a piece of wood floor that you're installing. It is designed differently than the usual tiles or planks. It has a similar top wide base that looks like a plank but the bottom has a thin strip of the same length, right in the middle. 

You place this t-mold right where the two floors meet. Cut it to size if you have to, use a U-channel of an appropriate size, and fit the T-mold on top of it. If you're clueless about what we're referring to, watch this video tutorial and it'll help you understand our instructions.

Thin Metal Strip Transition for a Contemporary Look

Metal transitions look elegant and are excellent if you're looking for a modern look. You may have noticed brass and aluminum strip floorings that are trendy these days. 

These thin metal strips are super narrow — about 1/8th of an inch. The results, however, are perfect. They create a nice joint between floors. 

So if you have a dark brown hardwood floor in your bedroom, you can use a thin metal strip for a transition from the dark undertones to perhaps an ivory floor. These metal strips are available in multiple colors — gold, chrome, black, and white.

You can also use these strips to create a statement pattern on your floor.

Use a Transition Strip or Wood Flooring Seam: Simplest Transition Method

Using a transition strip is probably the simplest solution to ensure a smooth transition between two floors. How is it done? Well, think of the strip as just the top of a T-mold. All you have is a strip that acts as the wood floor transition. 

You nail it down in the space between two floors — a seam that binds the two areas together. It just doesn't look as good as a T-mold. It looks unnatural, something that you tacked on. But it's still a presentable solution and looks good enough.

Install a Threshold Mold for a Change: Easiest to Install

A threshold piece is a rectangular plank that is just as thick as your hardwood floor. It doesn't have wings like a hardwood plank but it's designed in a way to contain the two floors together. You can install it in any doorway.

Threshold pieces can be made out of metal, stone, or even wood. You can cut it to size or simply purchase a precut length that can fill the area as another flooring transition strip. 

Installing Each Floor in a Different Pattern

Another cool transition method is to install adjacent wood floors. You can pair up the two different floors without having to introduce floor transitions and they will end up looking just as good — perhaps even better. 

If your existing floor has a vertical plank pattern, you can install the second floor beside it horizontally. You can also look into diagonal, herringbone, and parquet hardwood floor layout techniques for a change.

Close a Side of One Floor With a Border

Planning to renovate the flooring in one of your rooms? Don't want to mess with the existing flooring in the rest of your house? No problem. Just install the floor and once you're done, border the doorway. 

What we're saying is, install the floor. Once you've installed the last plank, install another one right on top of it. That's it. It serves as a border and will act as a barrier against dust and water during the rainy season. It'll appear more offset from the existing flooring.

It's easy. It looks good. That's a win-win.

How to Transition Between Floors of Different Heights?

Sometimes, there's a difference in height of the two floors. If the height difference is an inch, or even two, you might be able to make do with a transition strip like a t-mold or reducer, perhaps. 

A square and angled nose can also help bridge the transition easily. Anything more than that — a difference of several inches or more — and you'll have to think about a staircase. Well, not exactly a staircase, but a rounded piece that comes down from the higher floor and is laid against the lower floor as a step. 

The process is similar to creating a staircase on a smaller level, and that can help you create a smooth, beautiful finish.

You can also install a hardwood floor piece as the horizontal piece and use a metal strip to create a slope. But be mindful of the foot traffic and fix the metallic strip with both adhesive and nails so it can take the weight.

Summing Up With Some Tips for Picking Out Hardwood Floors

Sure, installing transition strips does ensure a beautiful, neat finish. But, there are a few things you should keep in mind when you're picking out two different floors for the same house. They're not limited to:

How to Transition Between Two Different Wood Floors?

Once you've decided on the type of wood flooring, you must take steps to ensure a smooth transition. While you can just start installing the second floor right after, it will only produce rough edges and an unappealing result. 

Opt for one or more of the following methods to ensure a good-looking joint between different floors.

T-Molding is Probably the Finest Solution

A T-mold is a piece of wood floor that you're installing. It is designed differently than the usual tiles or planks. It has a similar top wide base that looks like a plank but the bottom has a thin strip of the same length, right in the middle. 

You place this t-mold right where the two floors meet. Cut it to size if you have to, use a U-channel of an appropriate size, and fit the T-mold on top of it. If you're clueless about what we're referring to, watch this video tutorial and it'll help you understand our instructions.

Thin Metal Strip Transition for a Contemporary Look

Metal transitions look elegant and are excellent if you're looking for a modern look. You may have noticed brass and aluminum strip floorings that are trendy these days. 

These thin metal strips are super narrow — about 1/8th of an inch. The results, however, are perfect. They create a nice joint between floors. 

So if you have a dark brown hardwood floor in your bedroom, you can use a thin metal strip for a transition from the dark undertones to perhaps an ivory floor. These metal strips are available in multiple colors — gold, chrome, black, and white.

You can also use these strips to create a statement pattern on your floor.

Use a Transition Strip or Wood Flooring Seam: Simplest Transition Method

Using a transition strip is probably the simplest solution to ensure a smooth transition between two floors. How is it done? Well, think of the strip as just the top of a T-mold. All you have is a strip that acts as the wood floor transition. 

You nail it down in the space between two floors — a seam that binds the two areas together. It just doesn't look as good as a T-mold. It looks unnatural, something that you tacked on. But it's still a presentable solution and looks good enough.

Install a Threshold Mold for a Change: Easiest to Install

A threshold piece is a rectangular plank that is just as thick as your hardwood floor. It doesn't have wings like a hardwood plank but it's designed in a way to contain the two floors together. You can install it in any doorway.

Threshold pieces can be made out of metal, stone, or even wood. You can cut it to size or simply purchase a precut length that can fill the area as another flooring transition strip. 

Installing Each Floor in a Different Pattern

Another cool transition method is to install adjacent wood floors. You can pair up the two different floors without having to introduce floor transitions and they will end up looking just as good — perhaps even better. 

If your existing floor has a vertical plank pattern, you can install the second floor beside it horizontally. You can also look into diagonal, herringbone, and parquet hardwood floor layout techniques for a change.

Close a Side of One Floor With a Border

Planning to renovate the flooring in one of your rooms? Don't want to mess with the existing flooring in the rest of your house? No problem. Just install the floor and once you're done, border the doorway. 

What we're saying is, install the floor. Once you've installed the last plank, install another one right on top of it. That's it. It serves as a border and will act as a barrier against dust and water during the rainy season. It'll appear more offset from the existing flooring.

It's easy. It looks good. That's a win-win.

How to Transition Between Floors of Different Heights?

Sometimes, there's a difference in height of the two floors. If the height difference is an inch, or even two, you might be able to make do with a transition strip like a t-mold or reducer, perhaps. 

A square and angled nose can also help bridge the transition easily. Anything more than that — a difference of several inches or more — and you'll have to think about a staircase. Well, not exactly a staircase, but a rounded piece that comes down from the higher floor and is laid against the lower floor as a step. 

The process is similar to creating a staircase on a smaller level, and that can help you create a smooth, beautiful finish.

You can also install a hardwood floor piece as the horizontal piece and use a metal strip to create a slope. But be mindful of the foot traffic and fix the metallic strip with both adhesive and nails so it can take the weight.

Summing Up With Some Tips for Picking Out Hardwood Floors

Sure, installing transition strips does ensure a beautiful, neat finish. But, there are a few things you should keep in mind when you're picking out two different floors for the same house. They're not limited to:

What's the Takeaway? 

There are a couple of ways you can transition between two different types of wood floors. While you're at it, don't forget to choose contrasting colors for the adjoining floors. Think about your space and room size before zeroing in on the tile or plank sizes.

If you're into woodworking, check out several more interesting guides on our blog.