Wide Plank Flooring Design Tips

05/22/2023

If you are looking to turn your dream home into reality, you may have many design ideas and flooring is surely an integral part of it. Nowadays, many homeowners as well as designers prefer wide plank wood flooring over standard plank. In addition to incredible visual appeal, this type of flooring offers many more compelling benefits.  

As the name suggests, wide plank flooring makes use of wider planks ranging from 5 inches to 20 inches width, instead of the standard plank width of 0.75 inches. The use of these wider planks provides a distinct look to the flooring, compared to narrow strip floors. Wood floors made using wider planks were common in the 19th century or before, when larger trees were readily available. As the supply of large old growth trees diminished over time, the hardwood floor industry experienced a shift towards using narrower strips. While the market is still dominated by strip hardwood flooring, there has been a renewed interest in using wide plank, particularly amongst individuals that value its old time appeal. 

Benefits of Floors Made from Wider Planks    

Most of the people opt for wide plank floors because of their aesthetic appeal. As the boards used are longer and wider, the woods’ natural textures and distinctive patterns are more clearly visible. Also, a lower number of boards are required to cover any given area, which means that the number of visible joints is less. Moreover, it is possible to make any living space appear more spacious and larger by using wider and longer boards.  

Some Simple Design Tips   

Whether you choose a bold, exotic hardwood species or traditional white oak, use of wider planks will never disappoint you. However, before getting started, it is important to consider the style and function.    

• Before choosing wide plank flooring, the place of installation is the first thing you should consider. The visual impact of a room can be significantly impacted by the flooring’s size and orientation. If you have a larger space, consider a busier pattern such as a herringbone or chevron pattern.  You can make your narrow rooms appear wider by arranging the planks diagonally or in a way that spans the narrow channel.  
• The next important design criteria is the selection of the wood species. From a practical standpoint, it is always better to opt for hardwood species that can withstand general wear and tear, foot traffic, and furniture. If durability and resilience are important to you, oak, hickory, and maple are excellent choices. If you want to make statement using exotic woods, you may opt for Tigerwood or Australian Cypress.    
• Your selection of wood colour should be in accordance with your home’s aesthetic. If you live in a contemporary home and prefer a minimalistic style, you can consider a weathered wood look. On the other hand, a warm and traditional wood colour will work better in a Victorian home.  

If you need help determining the perfect hardwood flooring type for your home or office, we are here to help you. At Enoak, we have created state-of-the-art hardwood flooring for thousands of clients and would love to do the same for you.