Choosing a Wood Floor Stain Colour for Fort Greene and Clinton Hill Brownstones
Posted November 12, 2026
A guide to the stain colours in our refinishing packages, and how to choose one for a Fort Greene or Clinton Hill brownstone.
Call (908) 232-6600 or book a virtual consultation to review samples and specifications for your project.
Fort Greene and Clinton Hill are known for their nineteenth-century brownstones and row houses, and many still have their original wood floors. When one of those floors is sanded back to bare wood, the stain colour is the biggest decision. Our refinishing packages offer a wide range of colours, from neutral to very dark.
This guide walks through the colour families in our store and how to choose one for a brownstone.
How Our Stains Work
Our stain colours are part of the Gold colour package. Each one is applied after the floor is sanded bare, and our pages describe it as a penetrating, semi-transparent stain formulated to seal, colour and protect bare wood. It is a blend of oil and resin that gives a soft, satin sheen, as on Neutre.
The stain can receive a topcoat in two hours, and the Gold package finishes it with three coats of water-based finish imported from Germany and Sweden. Because the stain is semi-transparent, the grain of the original boards still shows through, which suits an old floor with character.
Neutral and White Tones
Lighter colours suit parlor floors with tall windows, where daylight already does a lot of the work. Neutre keeps the wood close to its own colour, and Pays Blanc moves it toward a paler, whiter look, as its name suggests.
In a brownstone, a light floor can make a narrow floor plan feel wider and brighter, and it works well with white walls and plaster mouldings. It also shows the original grain clearly. Our light versus dark guide covers how pale floors look over time and in different light.
Warm Golden Tones
For a warmer floor, Chêne Doré brings a golden oak tone, as its name suggests. Warm colours suit brownstones with original woodwork, such as stair rails, doors and window casings, because they tie the floor to the trim rather than contrasting with it.
The range also includes Provinciale and other mid-tone colours. A mid-tone is a practical choice for a family home, since it hides everyday dust and wear better than a very pale or very dark floor. Seeing a sample on your own boards is the best way to judge how warm it will look.
Not sure which colour suits your brownstone? Send us photos of your rooms and we will suggest two or three to sample.
Rich Brown Tones
Deeper browns give a formal, traditional look that many brownstone owners want in a parlor or dining room. Our range includes Jacobéen and Noyer Spécial, along with other brown colours listed in the store.
A darker stain draws attention to the pattern of the boards and the shape of the room, and it pairs well with darker painted walls and period furniture. Darker floors show dust and scratches more readily than mid-tones, so they suit rooms with lighter traffic. A virtual consultation is a good way to narrow the brown tones down before any work begins.
Grey and Espresso
For a more modern look, Gris Classique offers a grey tone, as its name suggests, and Expresso gives a very dark finish. Its page describes the stain as a rich blend of oil and resin that gives a soft, satiny sheen.
Grey suits a renovated brownstone with a clean, contemporary interior, while espresso works in a dramatic dining room or a library, much like the darker floors in our walnut guide. Both are strong choices, so test them in daylight and at night before you commit. A colour that looks right on a small sample can feel much darker across a whole floor.
Stain or Coloured Oil
Stain is not the only way to colour a floor. Our Platinum package uses coloured zero VOC oils instead, with 40 colours that may be combined or used with pre-treatments. Its pages state that the oil protects and colours wood in one layer.
Choose a stain with a water-based topcoat for a classic finished look, or a coloured oil for a matte, natural feel. Both start with sanding the floor bare. Our refinishing guide compares the Gold, Platinum and Diamond packages in more detail.
Book a virtual consultation to compare stain colours for your floors.
Quick Answers
What kind of stain do you use?
Our Gold package uses a penetrating, semi-transparent stain that seals and colours bare wood, as on Neutre.
How soon can the stain be topcoated?
Our pages state that the stain can receive a topcoat in two hours.
What finish goes over the stain?
The Gold package includes three coats of water-based finish imported from Germany and Sweden.
Is there an option without stain?
Yes. Our Platinum package uses coloured zero VOC oils that protect and colour wood in one layer.
Plan Your Floor
Every colour in this guide is listed in our store, and we can help you choose a stain for your brownstone floors.
Call (908) 232-6600, email joe@hugginsflooring.com, or book a virtual consultation. Browse our collections: Herringbone, Chevron, Wide Plank, Parquet.
About The Author
Joe Avila has worked in wood flooring for 26 years. He is NWFA certified (CSI, CI, CWFI, CFS) and teaches NWFA continuing-education courses for architects, designers and flooring professionals. Luxury Wood NYC, a Huggins Wood Floor Specialist brand.
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