Real wood flooring comes in three basic styles. The first two, strip and plank are linear, meaning that the wood will all run in the same direction. In other words, the grain of the wood will be parallel throughout the entire room. Linear flooring can often give a room the appearance of being larger than it really is. The other style of flooring, parquet, is non-linear. With a parquet floor, the grain of the wood will go in different direction, allowing for a range of patterns to be created.

Strip. This type of flooring comes in linear strips that are anywhere from 1-1/2” to 3-1/4” wide.

Plank. Similar to strip flooring, plank flooring is wider, commonly ranging from 3” to 6” wide.

Parquet. Unlike the linear strip and plank style, this type of flooring consists of different shapes of wood that are used to create various floor patterns.

Select the style of real wood flooring that will fit your installation. Keep in mind that styles can be combined to create a decorative look.  You might, for example, create a parquet border around a linear installation, or you might use parquet shaped to create a medallion in the center of the room.

Also, linear does not necessarily mean the wood flooring has to run parallel to one wall or the other. Installing a linear floor on an angle will create a very unique and interesting look.  Be aware that this type of installation is considerably more difficult and typically results in more waste material.

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