The first question you need to answer is which direction to install vinyl plank flooring. The response to that question could alter the room’s overall appearance. Additionally, it will help you decide what cuts you need to make in your vinyl planks.
To determine which direction to lay vinyl plank flooring, you need to:
- Consider Adjoining Rooms
- What About Steps?
- How Is the Shape of the Room?
- Consider the Light
- Where Do Focal Points Fit In?
- Which wall is the longest?
- The Floor Details
- Take Some Measurements
- Do a Dry Run
- Consider Other Patterns
Don’t worry if you’re unsure of which way you want your flooring to run—we can assist! We’ll walk you through the important factors now. Additionally, we’ll go over how to maximize the effectiveness of your installation.
If you’re ready to begin, then let’s do it!
Consider Adjoining Rooms
In all likelihood, a hallway or other direct connection exists between the majority of the rooms in your house. Lay vinyl planks parallel to the hallway and straight into your rooms to create a light, airy effect. By doing so, the transition between the hallway and the bedroom is eliminated, creating a smooth flow from one room to the next.
What About Steps?
Does the room you’ll be flooring have any steps leading up to it? Do you desire the same finish if that is the case? If you do, the remaining portion of the floor will also point in that direction.
If you’re using vinyl plank flooring on steps, you’ll need to run the planks horizontally. To achieve a seamless appearance, you should run the planks along the floor adjacent to them in the same direction.
How is the Room Shaped?
Is the shape of your space a straightforward square? What about a long rectangle, or something more intricate with many nooks and crannies? Your room’s vinyl plank flooring should run the full length of the space. More space appears as a result of this. A distinctive and striking effect can be achieved by laying your planks diagonally if your room has corners and angled walls.
Consider the Light
One of the most popular flooring customs in a home is to install the floors in the same direction as the natural light source (for example, large windows). Although this might seem like a great idea when installing vinyl flooring, the most recent flooring trends indicate that it might not be the best one, particularly if you have a small room with limited space. However, if you try the diagonal pattern, you’ll be blown away by the results. Vinyl plank flooring looks fantastic in both vertical and horizontal patterns. (Check for Is Vinyl Flooring Waterproof? )
What About Focal Points?
Are there any eye-catching pieces of furniture in your space? A fireplace? A sizable desk or eye-catching sofa? Run planks toward your focal point to create a “pointing arrow” effect. Its impact will increase as a result.
Where is the Longest Wall?
It’s common advice to run your planks parallel to the longest wall. Both benefits and drawbacks can be found in doing this.
You’ll have fewer planks to cut, which is a major benefit. Yes, you may need to cut several planks to the correct width along the longer wall. But the shorter wall will be where each row of planks ends. As a result, you will have to trim fewer planks to fit the area.
One more benefit that is frequently mentioned is aesthetic. It is said that making the planks run parallel to the longest wall will make your room appear bigger.
However, that might not always be the case. Running the planks parallel to the longest wall will emphasize the long and thin nature of your room. On the other hand, if they are run widthways, the room may appear larger.
The Floor Details
There is a specific traditional pattern for installing various types of flooring. The installation manual from the manufacturer will typically mention this. Although, the shape, color variation, and grain of the flooring play a big role in determining the direction in which the vinyl flooring should be laid because it directly impacts how appealing the space will be once the installation is complete. Therefore, it is crucial that you pay close attention to your flooring and select the best direction for installing your vinyl flooring.
Take Some Measurements
Measuring your room can be helpful if you’ve thought about all these aspects but aren’t sure which option to go with. You’ll be able to create a layout plan using that, showing where you’ll need to cut your flooring.
Don’t forget to include the necessary expansion gap around the room’s edge when you’re drawing your design. This area is required so that your floor can expand and contract in response to temperature changes. The flooring manufacturer will provide a suggested distance.
A simple way to get an idea of how it will look is to sketch out a plan with your flooring running in both directions. Additionally, it will help you figure out how many cuts you’ll need to make in the plank flooring.
As we’ve seen, cutting will be less necessary if the planks are run along the longest wall. However, you can see how much the choices differ by creating a plan. Strong visual advantages might tip the scales in favor of a different layout if the added work is not too onerous.
Do a Dry Run
Keep in mind that you can test out a layout before committing it to permanent position. This may be the most effective method of choosing if you’re torn between several options.
Maybe you have a room with a fireplace and a main light source that is parallel to it. If that’s the case, do you run the planks in the direction of the window to play with the light and shadows? Or do you direct the planks toward the fireplace to give it more visual impact?
Try laying some planks down in one direction first since you obviously can’t do both. Just enough to give you an idea of the final product is sufficient; the floor need not be completely covered. Before picking the planks back up again, take a picture with your smartphone.
Then, position some planks so that they face the opposite way, and take another picture. Decide which of the two images you prefer by comparing them.
Even better, consider taking pictures of the various layouts throughout the day. You will then be able to see how the changing light has an effect.
Consider Other Patterns
Consider using another pattern if you’re unsure about a vertical or horizontal layout. One of the best known is herringbone – and it can look fantastic with vinyl plank floors. Both traditional and modern interiors will complement it well.
Consider the cost if you plan to hire someone to install your flooring. It will cost more to have it laid out in a pattern than in a regular layout. Of course, you could do it yourself. Simply plan your design carefully and allow more time for it to complete.
However, the outcomes sometimes make the additional work worthwhile.
Conclusion
Even though luxury vinyl plank flooring is simple to install, you should still carefully plan the room before laying it down. Refinishing the floor is more difficult and can result in material waste as well as issues with exact floor matching, such as stain, wood type, age of wood, and so on. Ultimately, it will come down to personal preference. You get to choose how the room looks.
Applying vinyl dry can give you a good idea of the outcome. To get a feel for it, simply spread the vinyl over the unfinished floor without actually installing it. It depends on personal preference and viewpoint. To find the one that works best for you, try out several different patterns. No matter what choice you make, make sure to plan carefully and with plenty of time before installing vinyl plank flooring.
