The coastal design aesthetic—whether it’s relaxed, nautical, or sophisticated beach-house chic—is all about light, openness, and natural materials.
When selecting laminate flooring for this style, color is critical, but laminate floor width is the subtle yet essential element that defines the spacious, unpretentious feel of a seaside home.
The right plank width can instantly transform a basic room into an expansive, breezy coastal sanctuary.
The Coastal Preference: Wide Planks
In coastal design, the preference is overwhelmingly for wide planks.
This look is inspired by traditional beach cottage architecture, which often featured wide, painted floorboards, or reclaimed, rustic planks that ran the length of a room.
The Goal: Wide planks minimize the number of seams across the floor. This reduction in visual interruptions creates a more expansive, continuous surface that makes rooms feel larger, mirroring the openness of the ocean view.
The Measurement: For a successful coastal look, aim for a laminate plank width between 7 inches and 9 inches. Anything narrower than 6 inches will look too busy and traditional, undermining the relaxed, contemporary feel of the coastal aesthetic.
Planks and Your Space
The width you choose should also be scaled to the size of your room:
Small Rooms/Narrow Hallways: You can use a wider plank (up to 8 inches), but the overall length of the room is key. The goal is to lay the planks parallel to the longest wall to maximize the feeling of depth.
Large, Open-Concept Spaces: This is where the widest planks (8.5 inches to 9 inches) shine. They look less like individual floorboards and more like a continuous, single expanse, which is the ultimate goal in modern coastal design.
Color and Finish Synergy
The plank width must work in harmony with the color and finish to achieve the desired effect:
Bleached and Limed Looks: Wide planks in a pale, limed, or bleached oak color are the quintessential coastal choice. The wide format showcases the subtle, light color variation without making the floor look overwhelming.
Matte Finish: A matte or ultra-low gloss finish is crucial. A glossy finish is reflective and can look cheap; a matte finish mimics the look of raw, wire-brushed, or oiled wood, which feels more organic and authentic to a beach environment.
Light Graining: Avoid overly rustic or highly distressed patterns. The best coastal laminates feature a subtle, linear grain that is present but not visually dominant, again contributing to a clean, serene background.
By combining the widest possible plank with a matte, light-colored finish, you can create the perfect effortless, airy foundation for your coastal-inspired home.
Achieve the Breezy Look with Capitol Carpet & Tile and Window Fashions® to Explore Our Laminate Collection
The right laminate plank width is essential for achieving an authentic, spacious coastal design.
Our design team can guide you to the widest, most aesthetically perfect waterproof laminate for your seaside home.
Call or visit Capitol Carpet & Tile and Window Fashions® in Boca Raton, FL, Boynton Beach, FL, Wellington, FL, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and Delray Beach, FL. We are Florida's Best Source For Flooring & Design.
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