How to Choose the Right Plank Width for Your Room

When most people shop for wood flooring, they focus on colour, finish, and species. Plank width barely gets a second thought and yet it's one of the decisions that will have the biggest impact on how your finished room actually looks and feels.

 

Get it right and your floor will make the space feel larger, more balanced, and beautifully considered. Get it wrong and even a beautiful floor can feel out of proportion with the room around it.

 

The Wooden Floor Store is here to tell you everything you need to know.

 

What Are the Different Plank Widths?

 

Most plank flooring falls into three general categories: narrow, standard, and wide. Each creates a different visual effect and works best in certain room sizes and architectural styles.

 

In practical terms, here's how that breaks down:

 

• Narrow: 60–90mm (roughly 2-3 inches)
• Standard/Mid: 120–150mm (roughly 4-6 inches)
• Wide: 180mm+ (7 inches and above)

 

It's worth noting that wide plank flooring has well and truly taken center stage with homeowners in recent years. Standard boards today are generally four to five inches but wide boards from seven to even wider have become commonplace.

 

How Room Size Should Influence Your Choice

 

Small Rooms

 

 

In a small room, narrow planks can create an elongated linear look which can make the space feel longer and more formal. Wide planks, on the other hand, can make a small room feel cramped, as they tend to have more grain and knots which can compete with the proportions of the room.

 

That said, you're not completely ruled out of wider planks in a smaller space. If you want a wider plank to create a dramatic look in a smaller area, it's best to select a lighter shade and stick with one no wider than eight inches.

 

Medium Rooms

 

 

This is where you have the most freedom. Both narrow and wide planks work well here, it really comes down to the style you're going for. A mid-width plank of around 120-150mm is the safest choice if you're unsure, giving you the character of real wood without overpowering the space.

 

Large & Open Plan Rooms

 

 

Wide planks create a more open, seamless appearance by reducing the number of visible seams across the floor. This allows the eye to move freely through the space, which can make rooms feel larger and more connected.

 

If your goal is to increase the visual size of the room, install the planks parallel to the longest wall. This draws the eye down the length of the room and makes the whole space feel more expansive.

 

Narrow Hallways

 

 

Wide plank flooring can be particularly effective in a long or narrow hallway if you lay the planks across the space, perpendicular to the wall. The planks help open up the space and give the illusion that the walls are farther apart than they actually are.

 

How Interior Style Should Influence Your Choice

 

Plank width isn't just a sizing decision, it's a style one too.

 

A refined, elegant look often works best with slender narrow widths. For a rustic feel, wider boards of at least 5 inches will look the most natural and are most appropriate if you're also going for a weathered, oiled, or distressed finish.

 

Here's a quick style guide:

 

Traditional and Classic - Narrower planks with clean, consistent grain. Think elegant Georgian or Victorian interiors with detailed architraves and cornicing.

 

Contemporary and Scandi - Wide planks in lighter shades and cleaner grades are a strong match for modern and contemporary-styled homes.

 

Rustic and Farmhouse - Wide plank flooring works well in rustic or farmhouse settings as it evokes warmth and cosiness while showcasing natural wood grain and knots.

 

Herringbone and Chevron Patterns - Use narrower plank widths for intricate patterns like herringbone or chevron. They give you the most flexibility to line up corners correctly and let the pattern do the talking.

 

Wide Planks and Engineered Wood: A Natural Pairing

 

If you love the look of wide planks, engineered wood is the smart choice and here's why.

Engineered hardwood supports wider planks more effectively due to its layered construction, which improves stability. In homes with varying humidity levels, engineered hardwood in wider widths often provides a more predictable long-term result while still delivering the look of natural wood.

Solid wood naturally expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. The wider the plank, the more movement you get, which can cause gaps or cupping over time. Engineered wood's cross-ply core dramatically reduces this, making it the go-to choice for anyone going wide.

 

A Quick Reference Guide

 

Room Type	Recommended Width	Why
Small bedroom / study	60–120mm	Creates length, avoids crowding
Medium living room	120–150mm	Balanced, versatile
Large open plan	150–220mm+	Seamless flow, statement look
Narrow hallway	150mm+ laid across	Opens up the width visually
Herringbone / chevron	60–90mm	Pattern needs tighter boards

 

The Bottom Line

 

We believe at The Wooden Floor Store, that your choice of flooring plank width can have a huge impact on how your room feels, making it appear smaller, bigger, busy, or calm simply through your selection of width and laying direction. It's worth taking as much time over this decision as you do over colour or finish.

 

Not sure what will work best in your space? Order samples in a couple of different widths and lay them in the room before committing. It makes a bigger difference than you'd expect. Or visit one of our showrooms where our team can help you visualise exactly what will work for your home.