Amongst the huge range of designs, colours and composition available in wood flooring, plank width is yet another consideration when on the hunt for a new floor. Alongside standard plank width, you can go for a narrow plank or wide plank, depending on your preference.
But which should you choose?
The width of your wood flooring’s planks is a major design feature when it comes to your room’s interior. Factors such as cost and room proportions both come into play when making your decision.
Room Size
The size and shape of your room plays a big part in what plank width you should go for. Different room widths can give off different visual effects. Whilst this may sometimes be the illusion of space, choosing a certain plank width could make a room look more confined. Ultimately, however, it comes down to personal preference and the look you’re going for with your interior design.
Small Rooms
In small rooms, wide planks will create the illusion of a larger space. Visually, the wood will draw the eye across each plank, and is less busy to give a feeling of spaciousness. Lighter woods also work best in small rooms, as it makes the room seem more open.
Wide wood planks in small rooms also work when you want your flooring to be the main attraction within your home’s décor. Wider planks accentuate the wood floor’s natural grains and colours. This provides more of a focal point and will certainly have your guests talking.
Larger Rooms
When it comes to larger rooms, you’ll find that you can usually use either wide or narrow boards to good effect. Traditionally, narrow boards were often used in formal settings. Whilst this isn’t necessarily the case nowadays, it’s something worth considering if you’re going for a more authentic, traditional feel.
A popular tactic with larger rooms is to actually mix both wide and narrow boards together on the same floor. This adds more character to a large space, and provides a feeling of depth and texture to the interior design as a whole.
Cost
Generally, wider planks will be more expensive than a narrow wood floor.
This is because the wider the plank, the less flooring can be cut from the wood. This means more wastage, and therefore higher manufacturing costs.
Although wider planks may cost more to purchase, they will take less time to fit. If you’re hiring a professional fitter to do the job for you, then you will likely save on installation costs if you opt for wide wood flooring. This is something you may want to consider as well as just the price of buying your new wood flooring.
Plank Widths Available
In our products, there are different plank width specifications for solid and engineered wood.
Solid Wood
Narrow: 60mm – 120mm
Standard: 121mm – 180mm
Wide: 181mm – 200mm
Engineered Wood
Narrow: 90mm – 125mm
Standard: 126mm – 179mm
Wide: 180mm – 209mm
Extra Wide: 210mm – 260mm
If you’d like more advice on which plank width would work best for you, get in touch to speak to our professionals. Simply call 03308 088 777 or email [email protected].