Jenn Todryk's Genius Tip For Matching New Flooring To Impossibly Unique Wood Shades

Antique or one-of-a-kind wood is a precious detail to have in your home. But, odds are you'll eventually have to add in some new wood, especially if you need to update your hardwood floors. If you want your new flooring to look just like your original wood, you might have to go on a treasure hunt to find the perfect match. When it comes to something really distinctive, like vintage wood, the saying "they don't make it like they used to" is quite literal. You truly might not be able to find the same wood on today's market. 

If that's the case, you can follow the example of Jenn Todryk, host of HGTV's "No Demo Reno." In a Season 3 episode, Todryk ensured that some new wood would stay harmonious with a house's original floors by staining the new planks to match the originals. "It doesn't look like it was something that was added," Todryk said (via Realtor.com) about the final results. 

To follow Todryk's strategy, you can have a professional stain your new wood for you, or you can make it a DIY project. Having a professional do it will certainly give you a leg up on quality and color-matching, but staining wood is fairly simple to do. If you want to save the money, you can definitely pull this off on your own. All you'll need is wood stain and a brush to have your new flooring looking just as beautiful as your classic wood.

Staining is the easiest way for your wood shades to match, whether you're trying to make your floors consistent or coordinate furniture. When choosing the right wood stain, your first step is to compare the shade of the original planks that you're trying to match with the new wood. If your new wood is lighter than the original, your job is pretty easy. You'll just need to find a darker stain that matches the original. 

On the other hand, if you're dealing with a dark-stained wood that needs to get lighter to match the original, you'll need to strip away some of the old stain before applying a new coat in the coordinating shade. For an affordable stain that comes in a wide range of shades, check out Varathane interior wood stain, available for $12.98 per quart at Home Depot. For stripping wood stain, you can use a product like Kilz wood stain and finish stripper on Amazon or experiment with a paint remover.

When it's time to apply the stain, test a small section of wood before you stain all of it. The last thing you want is to stain all of your new flooring only to find that the color isn't quite right. Instead, stain a tiny bit of wood, wait for it to dry, and compare it with the original in natural light. Don't be afraid to blend stains to create a custom color, getting as close as possible to the original look. Once you confirm the shade is right, stain all the new wood and enjoy the cohesive look.