Flooring · Styles

Flooring styles

Three style choices define a floor: plank width, surface texture, and sheen. Wider planks read more expensive and show subfloor unevenness more. Textured finishes like wire-brushed or hand-scraped hide scratches. Matte and satin sheens hide dust and wear far better than gloss. Sheen and texture are usually free choices; width and species are what change the price.

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Sheen is the most underrated decision. Gloss shows every scuff, every dust bunny and every footprint. Matte and satin hide daily life. Since a full refinish costs $3–$8 per square foot, choosing a sheen you can live with is worth more than most upgrades.

Texture works the same way. Wire-brushed and hand-scraped surfaces break up reflections so scratches disappear into the pattern. Perfectly smooth, flat finishes look immaculate for about a month.

Wide planks look good and demand a flatter subfloor. If your substrate needs leveling or repair — repair around $2–$2.50 per square foot, replacement $3.50–$12 — wide planks are the choice most likely to make that necessary rather than optional.

Species is a style choice with a price tag. Materials run about $1.25–$2.10 per square foot for pine, $3–$5.75 for red oak, $6.25–$10 for maple and $8.25–$10.50 for walnut. Pine is soft and dents; walnut is beautiful and expensive. Oak sits in the middle for a reason.

How to choose

Choose matte or satin over gloss: It costs nothing and it's the difference between a floor that looks clean and one that looks used.
Texture is free scratch insurance: Wire-brushed and hand-scraped surfaces hide the wear a smooth finish advertises.
Wide planks need a flat subfloor: Budget for prep before you commit to the look, not after.
Pick species for hardness, not just color: Pine at $1.25–$2.10 per square foot is cheap and soft. In a busy house that's a false economy.
See a full room, not a sample board: Ask for an address or a photo of a completed job in the same product. Scale changes everything.

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All flooring styles

Wide Plank Flooring Look

Herringbone Floor Pattern

Chevron Floor Pattern

Modern Minimal Flooring

Rustic Flooring Style

Coastal Flooring Style

Industrial Concrete Floor Look

FAQ

Flooring styles — common questions

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Is wide plank flooring worth it?

Visually, many people think so. Practically, it demands a flatter subfloor, which can push prep from optional to required — repair runs about $2–$2.50 per square foot and replacement $3.50–$12.

Matte or glossy floor finish?

Matte or satin, in almost every real household. Gloss shows dust, scuffs and footprints, and hiding those is worth more than the shine.

Do textured floors hide scratches?

Yes. Wire-brushed and hand-scraped surfaces break up reflections so wear blends into the texture rather than standing out.

Which wood species should I pick?

Oak is the default for good reason — red oak materials run $3–$5.75 per square foot and it's hard enough for daily life. Pine at $1.25–$2.10 is cheaper but dents easily; walnut at $8.25–$10.50 is a luxury choice.

Sources

Where these figures come from

Fixr — Hardwood Floor Installation Cost (species material pricing) · retrieved 2026-07-26
Fixr — Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26
Fixr — Subfloor Installation and Replacement Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26