I'm about to embark on a total second floor makeover. Replacing all the carpet with hardwood.

My plan is to use all 3/4" hardwood so the transitions from main room to bedrooms can be continuous. However, I don't plan on using the same color/species of wood in every room.

I've thought of three ways to transition from floor to floor:

1. Slide one wood in to the other
2. Use a transition between the woods
3. Use a totally different shade of wood between the two woods

My original thought was to use the same thickness throughout so I could just continue installing the next wood into the previous wood at each doorway. Is this a good practice? What would a professional do?

I would do a flush saddle of the same wood. I prefer not to change heights w/ a t-molding (unless you have to...e.g. if installed at separate time). I would NEVER introduce a 3rd type of wood. That looks sloppy, terrible from design perspective and unprofessional. Always use the same wood/color/species. And, in this case I would prob use the same one you are using in the hallway.

Debbie Gartner, aka The Flooring Girl.

Thanks for the advice, Debbie.

We're putting one color in the living area and hallway and then each of the bedrooms will have their own color. Is that a design no-no?

All the different woods will be 3/4" so I can mate them up at the doorway, I was just wondering what the common practice was when joining dissimilar woods.

In general, I think it's better to use the same wood throughout. It looks better visually and makes space look larger. If you do 2 colors, use one of them as transition color. If it is 2 colors, ideal to at least have same species so that later you (or next owner) can sand and refinish it a consistent color.

Here's a picture of the style of transition I have done. Keep in mind that the flooring from the hallway will be used in place of the carpet in the foreground and it will be run in the same direction as the hallway.