It only matters in a design sense. There's no clear cut right or wrong way because wood flooring plank direction depends on many factors. 

You'll want to highlight lighting and where it falls on the planks. You'll also want to call attention to the room's focal points.

Hardwood flooring layouts are currently a trend. We’ll go over some of the most popular ones.

Vertical vs. horizontal layouts

1. Vertical. This is the most common type of arrangement. It's simple, smooth, and enhances the look of the wood floor.

  It refers to when the engineered or solid hardwood flooring planks lie parallel.

2. horizontal layout is ideal if you're installing in a narrow room. It draws the eye from side to side rather than lengthwise.

Diagonal direction: understated elegance

This combines diagonal and vertical layouts. Here, the planks are parallel but placed at 45-degree angles to the wall.

Other wood flooring arrangements include:

1. Herringbone: Planks arranged in a zigzag pattern.
2. Random, mixed-width: Planks of different sizes create unusual layouts.
3. Parquet:  Repeated patterns, with planks placed in checkerboards or geometrics.

Don’t try this at home!

There are far too many things to consider, such as joists. These are part of the flooring system; they lie below the subfloor and provide structural support.

When not angled correctly, wood floors will buckle, separate and sag. Installers also have to consider sightlines and uneven walls.

We can't stress the importance of professional installation from your hardwood flooring company strongly.

Your area’s wood flooring experts

At Total House + Flooring, our priority has always been to fill the design concept and product choice gap. So whether your choice is hardwood flooring or another surface, we'll do that.

Our showroom is in Southern Pines, NC. We carry some of the best names, including Mullican, Harris, etc. We work with homeowners and builders in Pinehurst, Aberdeen, Whispering Pines, Sanford, Fayetteville, Laurinburg, and Rockingham.