A wood floor can change the aesthetics of your room with its beautiful and unique grain patterns and characterful look. Although the finish of a wood floor can affect the feel of the room, the width of the planks is also important to consider as this can change the look of a room dramatically. Wooden planks are sold in various widths from narrow 80mm wide strips to ultra wide 220mm boards - your choice can make a room look bigger, busier, cosier or even more relaxed so it's important to know which width to go for to create the look you desire. Here we will discuss the look narrow or wide planks will achieve!
Narrow or Wide PlanksThe following widths is what is generally considered, narrow, regular and wide when it comes to wood flooring.
Narrow planks: 60 – 120mm
Regular planks: 120 – 160mm
Wide planks: 190+mm
Small Room: Narrow or Wide Planks
Narrow wood planks create an elongated, linear look which can make a small room appear longer and more formal. However, it can also make the room look quite busy. Narrow widths mean there will be more boards needed to fill the room and therefore there will be more joins. Your eye draws to these joins making this ‘full’ effect – especially if the boards vary in shade.
Wide planks can make a small room appear to be even smaller. However, wide planks can create a more relaxed, clean and seamless feel. If you do use wide planks in a small room, lay them parallel to the longest wall as this can help to make the room look longer.
Large Room: Narrow or Wide Planks
Wide wood planks are increasingly popular, especially in airy loft areas as they emphasize the size of the room and make the room feel cosier. In a large room, narrow planks can create the illusion that an area is even bigger and can create a more formal look.
Budget: Narrow or Wide Planks
Because wide planks are sourced from older, larger trees, the larger widths are less common. As a result, wide planks are generally more expensive than narrower planks. On top of this wider boards are also less stable than narrow planks due to the size. You will therefore tend to find the widest boards are in engineered wood form. This is because the structure of an engineered board gives the wood veneer added stability. Also, as engineered boards only use a relatively small veneer (around 2-6mm) manufacturers can make more boards out of the limited wood availability.
Style: Narrow or Wide Planks
Besides the size of the room, the style of your room and your taste is an important aspect to look at. If you were looking to achieve a minimalist look then you are more likely to choose a wider board. If your décor is quite simple you may want to add more texture to the room or make a statement with your flooring with narrower planks. You may love the ultra-cosy look and opt for narrow planks and pair it with bold patterns. It could be that you compromise and go for a regular sized plank so you get the best of both. Envision how you’d like your room to look when finished and this will be a big deciding factor.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. The best way to decide is to take the size of the room, the style of the room, your budget and your taste into account and opt for the option that suits you best!
