Creating Custom Looks with Different Laminate Plank Widths and Lengths

Laminate flooring has long been a favorite for homeowners in the Puget Sound area, celebrated for its incredible durability, affordability, and ability to realistically mimic the look of natural wood. In the past, laminate was often a “one-size-fits-all” product with standard plank sizes. Today, however, manufacturers are offering a vast array of options, giving you the creative freedom to design a truly unique and custom floor. The secret lies in a simple but powerful design principle: creating custom looks with different laminate plank widths and lengths. This choice can profoundly impact the feel of a room, transforming a space from standard to spectacular. At Carpet to Go, we are dedicated to helping you unlock this creative potential and bring your design vision to life.

Understanding Plank Widths and Lengths

The dimensions of a flooring plank are not just technical specifications; they are design tools.

1. Plank Widths: From Narrow to Extra-Wide

Plank widths typically range from traditional narrow sizes to modern extra-wide options.

• Narrow Planks (3″ – 5″): These planks are the classic, traditional look, often found in older homes and formal spaces. They create a more intricate and detailed visual, giving a room a sense of elegance and history. Narrow planks can be an excellent choice for smaller rooms, as their size can be less overwhelming than a wide plank.
• Standard Planks (5″ – 7″): This is the most common and versatile size. It strikes a balance between the classic and the contemporary, fitting well with almost any design style.
• Wide Planks (7″ – 10″): Wide planks are a huge trend in modern design. They create a clean, expansive, and less busy visual, making a room feel more spacious and open. They are perfect for achieving a modern, minimalist, or rustic farmhouse aesthetic. Extra-wide planks can be particularly stunning in large, open-concept spaces.

2. Plank Lengths: Standard to Multi-Length

• Standard Lengths: Most laminate planks come in a standard length, which can create a uniform, classic look.
• Multi-Length Planks: This is a fantastic option for creating custom looks with different laminate plank widths and lengths. Many manufacturers now offer boxes with planks of varying lengths, which, when installed, create a more authentic, random, and less-manufactured appearance, mimicking the look of real hardwood. This is a great choice for achieving a rustic or traditional feel.

Creating Custom Looks with Different Combinations

The real magic happens when you start to combine these different plank dimensions. Here’s how you can use different laminate plank widths and lengths to achieve a specific aesthetic.

The Rustic Farmhouse Look

• Combination: Wide or extra-wide planks with varying lengths.
• Why it Works: This combination perfectly emulates the look of old-world, reclaimed wood floors. The varying lengths create a random, less-structured feel, while the wide planks give the floor a sense of history and scale. A distressed or hand-scraped texture on the laminate will complete this look.

The Modern, Minimalist Look

• Combination: Wide planks of a uniform length.
• Why it Works: Wide, consistent planks create a clean, seamless visual with fewer distracting seams. This simple and uniform aesthetic is a hallmark of modern and minimalist design, making a space feel open, airy, and uncluttered.

The Traditional or Elegant Look

• Combination: Narrow, uniform planks.
• Why it Works: This is a classic and timeless combination. The intricate pattern of narrow planks can make a room feel more formal and elegant. This is a great choice for a study, a formal dining room, or a historic home.

The “Custom Milled” Look (Mixing Widths)

• Combination: Using a mix of different plank widths.
• Why it Works: For a truly custom, high-end feel, some homeowners choose to have their installers lay a pattern that mixes two or three different plank widths. This is an advanced technique that can create a unique, artisanal look, reminiscent of custom-milled hardwood floors. Our professional installers at Carpet to Go can help you execute this challenging but rewarding design.

Practical Considerations for Your Design

While the creative possibilities are endless, it’s important to consider some practical factors when choosing different laminate plank flooring.

• Room Size: As a general rule, wide planks work well in large, open spaces, while narrow planks can be a good choice for smaller rooms where wide planks might look overwhelming.
• Installation: A floor with a random pattern of varying lengths is often easier to install because you don’t have to worry about creating a uniform seam pattern. However, a custom layout with mixed widths will require an experienced professional.
• Waste: Be mindful of the potential for more waste, especially with custom layouts. It’s always best to order a bit extra.

Your Partner in Custom Design

Your floor is a blank canvas, and with the right choice of plank widths and lengths, you have the power to create a truly custom and stunning work of art. The freedom to choose from different laminate plank widths and lengths means you can achieve everything from a modern, minimalist look to a rustic farmhouse feel, all with the incredible durability and affordability of modern laminate.

Carpet To Go, a family-owned business for over thirty years, is dedicated to being the provider of choice for flooring customers across the Puget Sound. Our comprehensive selection includes high-quality carpet, hardwood, vinyl, laminate, and tile. We are proud to serve homeowners, contractors, realtors, businesses, and individuals with a staff of professionals who are not only friendly and knowledgeable but also deeply caring. Contact us or visit our Bellevue, WA showroom, or simply call to schedule an In-Home Consultation with a Design Consultant. We look forward to helping you find the perfect flooring solution!