Why Lighter Floorboards Are Defining Modern Summer Living
As the days lengthen and homes open fully to fresh summer air, lighter flooring is becoming the dominant design choice across Auckland and Northland. Sun-filled interiors, coastal wind flow and brighter décor palettes are all contributing to a move away from dark timber tones and toward soft, airy, natural shades. With ATS Timber and ATS Premium Timber now leading our range, homeowners are embracing lighter wide-plank flooring for both its aesthetic lift and its ability to visually expand living spaces.
Light Flooring and Spatial Impact
Few design tools expand a room as effectively as light flooring. Regardless of ceiling height, architecture style or layout, lighter floorboards reflect more natural light and reduce visual boundaries.
This makes a noticeable difference in:
Open-plan living areas
Narrow hallway layouts
Coastal properties with strong sun exposure
Modern builds favouring minimal detailing
The broader the plank, the more continuous the visual field. This is why the 190mm ATS Timber and the larger 260mm ATS Premium Timber are both ideal solutions for summer renovations.
ATS Timber vs ATS Premium Timber: Both Light, Both Luxury
Light tones do not need to lean cold or washed out. ATS Timber and ATS Premium Timber have been selected for their natural grain depth and warmth, without heavy yellowing or artificial finish.
ATS Timber (190mm wide, $139/sqm supply and install)
Perfect for homes wanting minimal grain pattern with a fresh, contemporary feel.ATS Premium Timber (260mm wide, $190/sqm supply and install)
Ideal for statement interiors, offering fewer board joins and a cleaner, architectural floor surface.
Both ranges align with the shift toward light, natural flooring that complements interior changes over time rather than restricting them.
Summer Design: Neutral Does the Heavy Lifting
The New Zealand summer aesthetic—particularly in Auckland and Northland—is defined by indoor–outdoor movement, salt air, open sliders and light-based colour palettes. Darkened surfaces can make spaces feel heavy or heat-retentive during months when the goal is openness and airflow.
Lighter timber flooring creates a cooler visual temperature and stabilises brightness levels throughout the day. The result is subtle sophistication without design fatigue.
Pairing Light Timber with ATS Tiles
Tiles remain the strongest complementary surface to timber, especially in high-traffic and moisture-prone areas such as kitchens, laundries and entryways.
ATS Tiles are available in neutral, stone-inspired shades that mirror the soft tone of modern timber flooring:
600x600 tiles at $17/sqm supply only
1200x600 tiles at $27/sqm supply only
Lighter tiles create a continuous visual palette, blending seamlessly with ATS Timber without abrupt texture or tone breaks. This is particularly effective in coastal builds, multi-level properties and outdoor-connected living spaces.
Built for Sun, Sea Air and Seasonal Change
Auckland and Northland conditions can be demanding on flooring surfaces. Homes often maintain open ventilation, fluctuating temperatures and extended UV exposure throughout summer.
Lighter engineered timber planks hold both tone and structure more consistently, reducing visible sun fade and moderating expansion movement. Rather than concealing wear through dark finish, light timber minimises the visual impact of seasonal living.
Timeless, Not Trend-Bound
While lighter colours are certainly influencing 2025 design standards, their relevance extends well beyond the current moment. Because light timber supports both warm and cool interior palettes, homeowners retain creative freedom in the years ahead.
This makes wide-plank light flooring an investment that continues to add value without needing to be replaced to stay in style.
Modern New Zealand Interiors Are Brightening
The shift to lighter timber is not accidental. It reflects a broader national lifestyle change—one that prioritises openness, calm architectural lines and long daylight hours. With ATS Timber and ATS Premium Timber, achieving this balance is now more accessible, more durable and more visually cohesive across the entire home.
Light flooring is not just a colour decision. It is a spatial one. And this summer, it is defining how homes feel, function and breathe.
Written by Ollie Duncan