How to make a room look bigger with flooring

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Want to visually enlarge a room without knocking down walls? Here are some tips to create the illusion of a more spacious area simply by playing with your flooring.

Wood: A Material to Favor

Wood is ideal for creating a sense of spaciousness. Opt for wood flooring with minimal patterns, avoiding knots and color variations. Choose wide planks installed lengthwise to elongate and widen the room. A herringbone pattern, classic and elegant, also visually expands spaces. If you have an open-concept area, maintain the same installation direction for a cohesive effect.

Diagonal installation may be divisive, but it creates a sense of space by drawing the eye toward the widest parts of the pattern.

It’s All About Proportion

Larger floor coverings can easily make a room feel more spacious. By limiting the breaks between wooden boards or ceramic tiles, you create a more open and less cluttered pattern. Smaller tiles, with their numerous lines and grout spaces, can make an already small room feel even narrower. Opt for tiles between 12 and 24 inches, using grout in the same color to minimize the visual impact of the lines. For wood, larger planks draw the eye further, enhancing the perception of space.

Light Shades, an Obvious Choice

To visually enlarge a space, choose light-colored flooring that doesn’t absorb light. White oak planks are very trendy, as are white or cream ceramic tiles. If you prefer carpeting, opt for a short-pile version in a light color with a subtle texture.

Your Ally: Glossy Finish

A glossy finish, whether wood or ceramic, reflects light and contributes to the enlarging effect. If you prefer a matte or satin finish, choose solid materials with minimal patterns to maximize the desired effect.

Size, color, pattern, or finish: every aspect of your flooring plays a key role in creating the illusion of a larger room.