Wide Plank Wonders: Making Smaller Rooms Feel Expansive

If you walk into a high-end custom home in 2026, you likely won’t see the 2 ¼-inch or 3-inch “strip” flooring of yesteryear. The industry has moved decisively toward Wide Plank Flooring, with 7-inch to 9-inch widths becoming the preferred choice for architects and designers alike.

The Science of “Visual Noise”

Why do wide planks make a room look bigger? It comes down to “visual noise.” Every time two floorboards meet, there is a seam. The human eye subconsciously counts these lines as it scans a room. In a standard 15×15 room, narrow strips create hundreds of lines, making the floor look “busy” and the room feel “tight.” By switching to 9-inch wide planks, you reduce the number of seams by more than half. This creates a “limitless” visual plane, allowing the eye to glide across the floor without interruption, effectively pushing the walls outward.

Open-Concept Integration

Most Pennsylvania homes are moving toward open-concept layouts where the kitchen, dining, and living areas flow into one. Wide planks act as the “connective tissue” of the home. They provide a sense of scale that matches the grandeur of large rooms while providing a clean, uncluttered foundation for smaller nooks.

The A&S Edge: Engineering and Expertise

The technical challenge with wide planks is that “wider” often means “more movement.” Because wood is a natural product, a 9-inch board wants to expand and contract more than a narrow one. This is where A&S Carpet Collection’s professional installation comes in. We don’t just “lay boards.” We perform rigorous moisture testing and subfloor leveling—crucial steps that prevent the “cupping” or “gapping” that plagues amateur installations. Our installers are craftsmen who understand the tension of the wood, ensuring your investment stays flat and beautiful.