Which Direction Do You Lay LVP?

LVP Direction Considerations

You probably can’t wait to get your new floors installed, and we completely understand your excitement! But, prior to picking out the new pattern for your luxury vinyl flooring, you should analyze the space to see if any of the following considerations could dictate the direction of your layout.

Shape of the Room

The room’s shape is definitely something to consider since you’ll want to run the vinyl plank flooring parallel with the longest wall of the room. This will make small rooms feel both bigger and wider. For narrow spaces like hallways or long kitchens, running the LVP the length of the room will elongate the space instead of chopping it up with short plank pieces that will be more difficult to install in a pattern. If there are angled walls, then a diagonal layout may be the best visually interesting pattern option.

Flow of the Light

Flooring is typically installed in the same direction as your leading source of natural light, and the same goes for luxury vinyl. If you have large windows in a living room or an entryway that allows a flood of natural light, then run your planks in the same direction. However, following the light isn’t always best, especially if you have a narrow space or major angles. Remember that your installation isn’t limited to just horizontal and vertical directions. Patterns like diagonal and herringbone will look amazing, too.

Other Features Additional influences in deciding on layout and pattern could also come from other features of the room or your particular flooring. You may want to add emphasis to a feature wall or large piece of furniture by running the floor perpendicular to your favorite feature so that the eye is drawn directly to it. However, you may want to highlight the color or grain of your planks by placing them in a specific direction, such as with the light, to better bring out the beauty in your vinyl floors.