What Direction Should Wood Floors Run

Directional changes should be avoided to give the flooring a more continuous flow.

What direction should wood floors run.

Run it from the front door straight to the back of the house perpendicular to the front. If the room is wider than it is long laying the flooring on the vertical will help create the illusion of length in the room and balance it out. While personal preference is a factor the direction in which you run hardwood flooring boards is governed by visual and structural guidelines. This gives visitors a sense of openness flowing into your home.

Some rooms benefit from a diagonal installation which adds interest and drama. Laying the hardwood flooring so that it runs from the main entrance of the room to the opposite wall is the best for sight line. As a general rule laying the boards so that they run away from the main entrance to the room makes the room appear larger than it is and gives a much cleaner appeal. When placing wood floors in multiple rooms and a connecting hallway the boards should all be directed away from the main entrance to the hall and adjoining rooms should continue in that same direction.

Vertical flooring is the most common orientation for wood floors. Hallways should aim to have planks running in the same direction. It gives the room a clean open feel and is preferable to running the wood the other direction. Visual congruity usually requires the boards to run.

You want those boards to look like they are laid they way they are in a bowling alley all the way into the home through to the back. If the room is not overly small floorboards that are placed vertically will work just fine.