From the grand halls of stately mansions to the cozy confines of country cottages, hardwood flooring has been an intrinsic element of home design for centuries. Not only does it provide warmth and natural beauty to any room, but hardwood flooring also offers durability and timeless appeal.
Over the years, the design preferences for hardwood flooring have evolved significantly, especially when it comes to plank widths. Let’s take a deep dive into the modern design trends of the different widths of hardwood flooring.
The Traditional: Strip Hardwood Flooring
Traditionally, most hardwood floors were made using narrow strips measuring 2 ¼ to 3 inches wide. This classic style, known as strip flooring, offers an elongating and unifying aesthetic. The thin planks create an illusion of space, making rooms seem larger than they are.
Strip flooring remains popular today, especially for homeowners seeking a traditional, seamless style. Despite its enduring popularity, this trend has seen a slow but steady decline, making way for wider planks that showcase the grain and beauty of the wood more clearly.
Narrow width flooring does provide some additional stability since narrow boards are less likely to cup compared to wider boards. If you are installing in an area that could see more moisture, humidity or temperature swings then narrow widths flooring would be the better choice.
Check out our 2.25 inch Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring or our 3 inch Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Flooring which are both great options for narrow width flooring.
The Transition: Wide Plank Flooring
In recent years, there has been a notable shift towards wider plank hardwood floors. These typically measure between 5 and 10 inches in width. The beauty of wide plank flooring lies in its ability to emphasize the intrinsic beauty of the wood’s grain and texture, offering a rustic, earthy, and robust appearance.
Moreover, the fewer seams result in a cleaner, less busy aesthetic that draws focus to individual furniture pieces and room decor.
Wide plank flooring provides a vintage appeal that is ideal for those looking to evoke a sense of nostalgia or recreate an authentic farmhouse or cottage-style interior. In contemporary home design, wide planks are often used in open-plan spaces to accentuate the vastness of the area and offer a feeling of luxury.
Wide plank flooring is typically not used in smaller rooms instead it is more commonly used in large rooms with open floor plans. Typically you can use 5 inch wide hardwood flooring in most rooms without it looking out of place.
The Pioneering: Mixed Width Flooring
The latest trend in hardwood flooring design is a unique one — mixed width flooring. Here, planks of varying widths are used to create a diverse and dynamic aesthetic. Mixing plank widths can result in a more casual, authentic, and organic feel. This trend offers homeowners the ability to create a customized look that speaks to their individual taste and design preferences.
Mixed width flooring, while mostly associated with rustic and vintage design schemes, can also be tailored to fit contemporary styles. For a modern look, consider using a combination of narrow, medium, and wide planks with a consistent color or finish.
If you are going for this look check with the flooring manufacturer to make sure the flooring widths you are trying to mix will lock together. Some flooring is milled with slight variations in the tongue and groove and might not lock together evenly if you are mixing a 3 inch wide and 5 inch wide.
The Future: Extra Wide Plank Flooring
Extra wide plank flooring, with planks exceeding 10 inches in width, is gaining popularity in modern home design. These floors provide a dramatic aesthetic, showcasing the natural beauty and uniqueness of each wood piece.
The expansiveness of the planks allows for larger, uninterrupted grain patterns, which can offer a minimalist, elegant, and high-end appeal. While installation can be more challenging and the price point is often higher, the stunning visual impact is often worth the investment.
Final Thoughts
The width of your hardwood flooring can significantly influence the aesthetic and feel of your space. As the trends evolve, homeowners have a growing array of options to customize their homes to reflect their personal style and the architectural character of their living spaces.
Whether you opt for the traditional strip flooring, wide planks, mixed widths, or extra wide planks, it’s important to remember that hardwood flooring is a long-term investment that can greatly enhance the look and value of your home. So, choose wisely and design boldly!