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Flooring Design Dilemma Bedrooms

What directions to lay engineered wood floor boards?

2 years ago

Hi There, We are replacing carpet with engineered wood on the 2nd floor of our house. We have a small house. The second floor has 2 bedrooms, and a bathroom, all connected with a landing from the stairs. We are keeping the tiles in the bathroom. So the engineered wood will go in the landing space, and in the two bedrooms. The landing space from the stairs is small. Both bedrooms are long and skinny.

Laying the floor boards aligning the planks parellel to the longest wall of the bedrooms. But that means from the stairs to the landing, the planks will be perpendicular against the stairs.

Laying the floor boards opposite from the above, which is aligning the planks so that it leads from bedroom to bedroom. However, the planks will then be perpendicular to the longest wall of the bedrooms.

I also read light source should determine the direction of the planks. The windows are only on one side of the bedroom as we have a townhouse/terrace house.

If anyone can please shed some light on this matter, that would be great. I feel like either way, there are pros and cons, but just wanted to see if I can get some tips/advice.

FYI, our house is under 5 years, quite new. We don't have sagging joists. For the stairs, we are keeping the carpet as it for now. With every choice I want to consider not only each individual room but also my entire floor plan of the 2nd floor. I want the flooring to look cohesive as I move from landing space to the bedrooms.

Here's a quick video of the second floor space. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uBmW7duM3dA

I also uploaded some photos.

Any advice/tips would be much appreciated, thank you.

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Comments (4)

PRO
Londonfatcat
2 years ago
Hello⁶ Euni,

This is not an uncommon question. For such projects, I recommend to have a threshold in the room's doorway (bronze is always lovely). This will allow you to separate the zones (landing and bedrooms) and have different orientations of laying out planks in either areas.

I was browsing through my portfolio for examples. I've screengrabbed a project photo from my account of where I've used this approach but unfortunately do not have a wider shot to show the threshold.

In any case, all the best with your refurb.

Faten

Londonfatcat.com/services
Euni O thanked Londonfatcat
hedgehog99
2 years ago
I would lay them the second way you describe so that the plank runs across the top of the stairs then a stair nose can butt up against it. I think it’s actually preferable that the planks will therefore be laid parallel to the short side of the bedrooms if they are long and thin, as it will help them feel wider. The other way would just emphasise the length.
Euni O thanked hedgehog99
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minnie101
2 years ago
I think it depends on the size of the planks. Choosing a wide plank can work like in the 2nd pic whereas the narrow plank in the first feels a bit ladder like and busy
Euni O thanked minnie101
PRO
Woodfloors4u
2 years ago
A question we getting asked nigh on everyday, the short answer is personal preference matters the most.

That said the most commonly seen way to lay engineered wood flooring is by aligning the flooring planks parallel to the longest wall.

There can be some exceptions like sagging joists, but this is the preferred direction to lay wood floors because it aesthetically provides the best result generally speaking.

But there are alternative/other options and as mentioned in other comments you can also use thresholds to breakup rooms.

Take your time before making a final decision discuss with your fitter, interior designer or architect if your using those services.

With every choice you will want to consider not only each individual room but also your entire floor plan so that your flooring looks cohesive as you move from room to room.

At woodflors4u we not only stock a huge variety of engineered floors but provide a large selection of accessories such as solid oak thresholds, T-bars, ramps and more, find links below.

https://www.woodfloors4u.co.uk/

https://www.woodfloors4u.co.uk/product-category/flooring_accessories/

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