Choosing the Right Hardwood: Red Oak vs White Oak for Real Life Homes
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Thinking about installing or refinishing hardwood floors but stuck on red oak vs. white oak? You’re not alone. After living with red oak for several years and recently tackling a full refinish, I can share what most flooring stores won’t: the look, the feel, and what it actually costs to make red oak look like white oak (yes, it’s possible with some effort).
If you’re choosing floors for your renovation or new build, this guide is here to help you figure out what works for your home, not just what’s trending.
How I Made Red Oak Look Like White Oak
Our Problem: We had red oak floors stained dark brown (think Brazilian cherry vibes). After several years and one very energetic 160 lb dog later, they were scratched and dated. We wanted something lighter and more modern.
As you can see below, the red oak hardwoods were stained a very dark, cherry looking stain.
Our Fix: We tested 20+ stains before landing on one which whitewashed the pink/orange out of the red oak and mimicked the look of white oak.
What Worked:
- Water-based polyurethane instead of oil-based (oil brings out orange tones)
- Minimal stain with NordicSeal
- Lots of sanding + prep to remove the old dark finish
Quick Overview: Red Oak vs. White Oak
| Feature | Red Oak | White Oak |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Usually more affordable | Slightly more expensive |
| Grain Pattern | More pronounced, wider | Smoother, tighter |
| Color Tone | Warm, reddish-pink | Neutral to cool, beige-gray tones |
| Stain Flexibility | Can show pink/orange with light stains | Takes stain more evenly |
| Water Resistance | Less resistant (open grain) | More resistant (closed grain) |
| Durability (Janka) | 1290 | 1360 |
Want more details on stains and refinishing floors? Grab my freebie here!
Real-Life Flooring Comparisons
White Oak – Ranch Remodel
In our recent ranch home remodel, we used natural white oak with a clear polyurethane finish and it looked soft, warm, and clean with minimal grain.
You can really see the contrast between this (below) and the whitewashed water-based finish we used on our red oak floors at home.
Red Oak Refinished to Look Like White Oak
In our own home, our floor refinishing project was a 3 week ordeal as we refinished 80% of the homes floors so it was quite the process! Check out the flooring series (the series is at the bottom of the blog post) for all the details!
The red oak in our kitchen has more grain movement and still a hint of pink even after refinishing but it was significantly cheaper than ripping it out.
The floors in our kitchen above look slightly warmer, that’s due to the overhead artificial lighting.
The photo below is lit only by natural light from the window (no direct sun), which makes the tone appear cooler.
Lighting has a big impact on how your floors look throughout the day!
Here is another before picture of our red oak floors before we refinished them to look like white oak.
Here is the after once we sanded them down, removed all the old stain and refinished them with a 2 step process using a whitewash finish.
White Oak – Split Level Remodel
This split level house remodel, featuring white oak flooring got a pale gray stain and a water-based finish.
The white oak here shows how well this wood takes color without fighting back (like red oak does)
White Oak Flooring – Cape House Remodel
The Cape house remodel had existing red oak floors, most of which were in great shape and didn’t need refinishing.
For the areas we did refinish, we used a clear polyurethane that brought out the warmer tones and made the grain more pronounced.
There’s nothing wrong with this look, it actually works well with the home’s old-world charm and character but it is a very warm finish, so keep that in mind when working with oak flooring and polyurethane top coats.
What to Consider Before Choosing
- Are You Installing New or Refinishing Existing Floors?
- Do You Have Pets or Kids?
- How Sensitive Are You to Undertones?
If you’re working with existing red oak, refinishing is the most cost-effective choice.
Starting fresh?
White oak offers better durability, hides scratches, resists moisture, and pairs well with cool-toned stains.
Our staircase above features the existing red oak stair treads and while the grain is definitely more prevalent on some more than others, the whitewashed stain really helped tone down the red and grain variation.
Common Questions
Yes—with the right stain and water-based finishes, you can lighten red oak and minimize pink tones.
It depends. White oak is more durable and stain-friendly. Red oak is more budget-friendly and still beautiful when done right.
White oak works well with light, neutral, or gray stains often used in modern interiors.
We’ve lived with both, and here’s what I’ll say, each has its own personality. White oak feels modern and calm, while red oak brings more grain and warmth. If you’re trying to decide, think about how you want your space to feel and definitely test those stains before you commit. Trust me on that one!
Want my freebie on all things refinishing floor? Grab it here!
Meet Jessica
What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.
