The most common way to lay hardwood flooring is by aligning the planks parallel to the longest wall. Apart from a few exceptions like sagging joists, this is the preferred direction to lay wood floors because it aesthetically provides the best result.
Horizontal flooring direction
If the floor in which you are preparing to fit flooring is particularly narrow, laying the floorboards across the room in a horizontal fashion will help make the room look wider than it is. This is a good trick for narrower rooms and hallways, where space isn't as much of a priority.
When placing wood floors in multiple rooms and a connecting hallway, the boards should all be directed away from the main entrance to the hall, and adjoining rooms should continue in that same direction.
Follow the Light
In traditional design, flooring is usually installed following the direction of the main light source. If there are big windows or an entryway contributing streams of natural light, install floors in the same direction as their source.
Diagonal Dreams
The key to making rooms look bigger with flooring starts with the diagonal rule. Diagonal lines work to create the illusion of more space, because when a person enters a room, their eyes are drawn to the widest part of a pattern—the same is true in art.
Wood floors should always be laid perpendicular to floor joists—across rather that in between them. This will make the floors structurally sound and will help prevent the planks from separating, sagging or buckling. So, there is no right or wrong way to lay your wood flooring.
You should not change the direction of hardwood flooring between rooms—the reason why is that it causes visual disharmony. Placing hardwood flooring in the same direction that follows your space is best.
The direction of your flooring boards has a huge impact on a room's overall appearance and can be a tough nut to crack. 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.
Whenever you are placing wood flooring in a hallway or any long and narrow area, it should run in the direction away from the doorway.
Typically, hardwood flooring should be placed perpendicular to the joists. However, you should avoid changing the direction of the floor in every room, as this creates visual disharmony. Instead, focus on installing floors in a direction that does the following for your space. Make the room appear larger or smaller.
Flooring is typically installed in the same direction of your leading source of natural light, and the same goes for luxury vinyl. If you have large windows in a living room or an entryway that allows a flood of natural light, then run your planks in the same direction.
If you're using vinyl plank flooring on steps, you'll need to run the planks horizontally. You'll want to run the planks in the same direction along the floor next to them to create a seamless look.
Contrary to what some might think or say, wide plank flooring does NOT make your space look smaller. It's interesting, even though the planks are wider, because of the visual tricks wide plank plays on your eyes, the room often appears even larger than it is…not the other way around!
Light color flooring tends to brighten up a space and make it feel larger.
A light-colored flooring such as light oak or a light-colored carpet will make the room appear brighter and more open. The same applies to the ceiling—use a light color or white to "open up" the space above. Increase the appearance of the size of the room by adding wall mirrors.
If you want to make your living room look bigger, stick to lighter colors that reflect more light and make the space feel more open. Neutrals, like off-white, beige, or light grays, are a great way to add a level of sophistication and calm.
Soto follows what she calls the cantaloupe rule: "Decorative accents that are smaller than a cantaloupe cramp a room." Opt for a single, statement-making piece instead. Photo by iStockphoto. Media Platforms Design Team.
It is known that wainscoting makes a room, look smaller rather than larger, but it does depend on the color you use to paint the panels and the height of those panels. Wainscoting is mainly used to protect the lower part of a wall and to make a room look more elegant, instead of using it for sizing purposes.
The addition of a high ceiling can create a larger feeling on its own; however, there are several other decorating techniques that make a room feel visually bigger than its actual measurements indicate.