Which Direction To Run Your Wood Flooring?

Hardwood flooring is universally regarded as beautiful. However, not everyone agrees on hardwood floor installation Los Angeles.

With every home improvement project, it is important to take a step back and consider your options.

A number of options are available for how your floor is laid, as well as other factors to consider. In most cases, hardwood flooring is laid parallel to the longest wall.

Each choice you make should consider not only your individual rooms, but also your floor plan as a whole so your flooring looks cohesive as you move from one room to another.

Light Source

Installing new hardwood flooring requires you to consider your light source. When your room has a lot of natural light, you may want to consider running the boards in the direction of the light.

If your planks are run perpendicular to the light source, the light will run across each joint, and any slight variation in the boards' height will be apparent and cast a shadow.

It is best to run your wood planks in the same direction as the light source to avoid this problem.

Straight/Vertical

During hardwood floor installation Los Angeles, these are usually laid in a straight pattern. In order to achieve this look, parallel planks are installed along the length of your room.

This pattern is classic and stylish, and works with virtually any design aesthetic. Straight patterns can also lengthen the look of a room.

Most homes will appear longer if you run a straight path from your front door to the back instead of a horizontal path, which may look like a ladder. 

Horizontal/Side to Side

You can run your flooring horizontally if your room is narrow - making it appear larger than it is. Laying your flooring horizontally will draw the eye from side-to-side, giving the impression of more space.

Diagonal

The diagonal floor adds interest to a room without taking a huge step away from straight flooring. By installing hardwood on a diagonal, you can make the room seem larger and longer.

Pattern

By laying wood planks in repeated geometric patterns, you can create an endless number of flooring designs. You can have a simple offset pattern or you can have a more complicated parquet floor pattern with the appearance of a checkerboard or other design modules. Although patterns require careful planning, they can be a wow-worthy addition to your home. 

Random Width

Despite being a straight-forward parallel design, random pattern hardwood floor installation Los Angeles involve a mixture of boards that are different widths.

With this hardwood flooring pattern, you can choose the ratio of wide to narrow boards, resulting in a unique look. If you are trying to achieve a more rustic look, this pattern will work well for you. 

The way your hardwood is installed can have a profound impact on the look and feel of your home.