Wood flooring should be laid in the direction that provides the most visually appealing look for your specific space. In general, laying the flooring parallel to the longest wall can make a room look larger, while laying it in a perpendicular direction can give the room a cozier feel.
The ONLY time a recommend that wood floors CHANGE DIRECTION is if the wood JOISTS change direction. If the joists are all running in the same direction, there is no need to change the direction. A *real wood flooring professional will try his/her DAMNEDEST to run everything in the same direction (whenever possible).
Vertical. The most common way to install a hardwood floor is to start at the main entrance and go toward the opposite wall. This is the vertical method. Laying your flooring this way makes your home look longer and more clean.
If you're installing your flooring on a main floor, you will want to float the floor in the same direction throughout all of the rooms to create a cohesive feel. If you have a width wise open concept, run the flooring parallel to the longest walls.
The ideal way to lay your flooring: room and light
As a general rule, make sure to lay your floor in the same direction as the main light source in a room and in the same line as the most frequently used entrance. If there are several doors and windows, then opt for the direction that's the easiest to install.
Direction of Floor
Laying long planks lengthwise emphasizes the narrowness of the room and quickly leads the eyes right to the other wall. Laying the flooring at a diagonal can make a room really stand out. It leads the eyes from side-to-side, and around the place rather than directly to the walls.
Normally, luxury vinyl planks should run lengthwise in narrow spaces, such as corridors and hallways.
The new finished floor should run perpendicular to the joists. The blocking helps spread the load across more than a single joist, but can't take the place of a joist. Running the floor parallel will probably result in a floor with more flex and increased squeaking over time.
A good rule of thumb is to stick with two or, at the most, three types of floors for your whole house. For example, you could choose a type of large tile for high-traffic, high-spill areas like the kitchen, foyer and dining room. Then you could use smaller tile in the bathrooms.
Contrast is one of the core rules of any style or decor, so the easiest way to match furniture and floors is to go with dark furniture on light floors or light furniture on dark floors.
Diagonal = big
Most commonly at a 45-degree angle, this will make your room a feast for the eyes. At as little as 10 degrees, diagonal flooring also helps tie a wall visually to one in another room, creating a unifying effect: talk about opening up a room!
DON'T install your hardwood floors in rooms with excess moisture. DON'T install your hardwood below grade, such as in the basement. DON'T install hardwood in homes that are not climate controlled year round. The heat and winter extreme temperatures can be harmful.
You may love the look of your hardwood flooring, but it's really not a good idea to put it in your laundry room. Foyer– All manner of things can be tracked in from outside, and the foyer of your home will bear the brunt of all of them. Sand, dirt, mud, water, snow, and more can all damage hardwood.
If you have a color scheme or style that you love, having the same flooring flow from room to room will allow you to extend that feel throughout your entire home. Using the same flooring material ensures your home will have an elevated and cohesive design.
Choose Subdued Floor Patterns
As a general rule, feng shui suggests the floor patterns should be subdued because they are visually arresting and tend to pull energy towards them. Since down translates to down and out, it's never a good idea to choose this direction for moving your precious energy.
There is absolutely no need to change flooring from room to room. We often work with homeowners who feel the urge to pick a different flooring for every room of their home, but there is absolutely no need to do this. Your home will look best if you create one consistent look that travels from room to room.
Luxury vinyl has become our most popular choice for home flooring, and for many good reasons.As mentioned previously its waterproof, low maintenance, resilient, and is one of the most budget-friendly options, too!
In general, most experts state that one does not need to have absolute uniformity in the home flooring but one should consider strategically mixing the different types of hardwoods so they complement each other for a balanced, and gorgeous, aesthetic.
You may be surprised to learn that dark wood flooring can help to make your room look bigger too. Darker flooring offers an inviting feel and opens up a space. Whether you choose rich colours or softer dark colours, they both have their advantages when it comes to expanding the appearance of a room.
Contrast Dark Floors With Light Walls
If your average-height ceilings aren't capturing the ambiance of the elegant cathedral ceilings you desire, a dark floor—whether hardwood, tile, or carpet—can make a light-colored ceiling seem even higher.
Light wood flooring has a versatile appearance that fits in well with many decors and styles. A light wood floor can really brighten a space, as well, giving it a fresh new look to the interior design.