What is the best direction to install my floor? (2024)

FAQs

What direction should I start my floor? ›

Following the direction of the main light source in a space is always a great starting point. If there are big windows or an entryway contributing streams of natural light, you can install floors in the same direction for traditional appeal.

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. It draws the eye out, giving the illusion of length.

The direction of your floor plays a huge role in its appearance. As a rule of thumb lay your floor in the same direction as the main light source, and in the same line as its main entrances.

According to SFGate Home Guides, running your floorboards lengthwise away from the door towards the opposite wall, will visually elongate the sight lines and cause your home to appear larger and neater. Running the planks perpendicular to the entryway can create intimacy in your space.

We recommend starting in the left corner of the longest wall in the room and to install the planks in the same direction as the main light source (e.g. the main window).

Many flooring installation professionals prefer to start laying the first course of hardwood in the middle of a room instead of against a wall to achieve visual balance and allow the wood to expand equally in both directions, which can reduce the potential for cupping.

Install the First Row

If the door to the room is located on one of the shorter walls, start laying the planks on the door side of the room. This will ensure you have the clean, uncut edge at the threshold. Begin the first row of flooring by placing the planks with the tongue side facing the wall.

You will want to start in the left side of the wall you pick with the tongue on the long side of a plank facing the wall.

Although laminate flooring is great for use in all kinds of areas of your home, its one flaw is that it's not great when it comes to moisture. To avoid warping, discoloration, and bubbling, avoid installing laminate flooring in rooms that regularly see a lot of moisture such as bathrooms, kitchens, or utility rooms.

Diagonal lines work to create the illusion of more space. When entering a room, our eyes are drawn to the widest part of a pattern—the same is true in art. So whether you're installing a lined carpet in a bedroom, or hardwood floors in a kitchen, opt for a diagonal pattern to create the illusion of space.

What is the best direction to install my floor? ›

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.

Vinyl plank floors should run longways along the length of your room. This creates the illusion of more space. And if your room has corners and angled walls, you may want to lay your planks diagonally, creating a unique and eye-catching effect.

Hallways: Prevent a choppy look for hardwood flooring in hallways or narrow rooms by laying the planks outward from the doorway. Sightlines: Positioning hardwood to run from the main entrance of a room toward the opposite wall can help the space look less busy by simplifying the sightline.

Do I have to run all wood floors the same direction? All wood floors don't have to have boards running the same way, but it looks best when adjoining rooms have a uniform direction. You can differ based on layout or partial replacements if transitions stay smooth.

Should Flooring Be Parallel or Perpendicular to the Door? Flooring should typically be laid perpendicular to the door in an entryway, as this provides a visual anchor for the space and minimizes the amount of dirt and debris that will be tracked into the entryway.

According to feng shui, the way you lay boards will dictate the direction of energy flow. In a narrow hallway, the boards should be placed along the length and not along the width.

For rooms transitioning between tile and hardwood, running the two in the same direction creates a smooth transition. Designers often recommend running both tile and wood parallel to the door. This could mean you have one board running in the same direction as the door, and then another pattern after that.