How to Choose the Right Width and Finish for Your Hardwood Floors in Houston
When it comes to hardwood flooring, the color isn’t the only thing that shapes the look and feel of your home. Plank width, grade, and finish all work together to create the mood, flow, and texture of your space, and these design decisions are just as important as the species of wood you choose.
At Riva Spain by Floors, we specialize in engineered European white oak flooring, including premium collections like La Riva, crafted with performance and beauty in mind. If you’re planning a remodel or new build in Houston, here’s how to approach width and finish selection with confidence.
Start with Plank Width: How Wide Is Too Wide?
One of the first things you’ll notice about the La Riva Collection is the range of available widths: 8″, 10″, 12″, and 14″ wide planks. These are considered wide or ultra-wide compared to traditional 2¼” or 3¼” planks. The width you choose can dramatically impact how large or open your space feels.
Wider planks (10″–14″)
- Great for open floor plans, modern homes, and large rooms
- Fewer seams create a cleaner, more expansive look
- Showcase more of the natural grain and variation in the oak
- Tend to highlight the character of the wood, especially in rustic or character-grade options
Narrower planks (8″)
- Ideal for transitional spaces, hallways, or smaller rooms
- Help maintain proportion in cozy or traditional spaces
- Still provide a luxury feel while offering a slightly more classic aesthetic
If you’re working with open-concept layouts common in Houston homes, ultra-wide planks can help unify the space and make flooring feel custom and intentional.
Understand the Impact of Grade: Character vs. Select
In addition to width, wood grade plays a major role in how your floors look. Riva Spain by Floors offers two grade options in La Riva: Select Grade and Character Grade.
Select Grade
- Fewer knots, smoother grain, and more uniform coloration
- Works well in contemporary or minimalist spaces
- Ideal if you’re going for a clean, refined look
Character Grade
- More visible knots, mineral streaks, and natural movement
- Perfect for rustic, organic, or lived-in styles
- Adds warmth and texture without being overwhelming
Both are high-quality engineered options with a thick top layer, so the difference is purely aesthetic—choose the one that aligns with your personal design vision.
Picking the Right Finish: Matte vs. Satin
Finish affects not only appearance but also maintenance and wear visibility. Riva Spain by Floors offers hardwood finished in the U.S. using professional-grade treatments, ensuring long-term performance with low upkeep.
Matte Finish
- Offers a natural, understated look
- Hides scratches and smudges better
- Popular in modern, Scandinavian, or Japandi-style interiors
- Pairs beautifully with wide planks and light tones like Azure or Veyron
Satin Finish
- Adds a soft sheen for a bit more light reflection
- Feels a touch more formal or polished
- Works well in traditional or transitional homes
- Brings depth to mid-to-dark tones like Enzo or Phantom
The choice depends on the mood you want to create—matte for relaxed and organic, satin for a bit more glow and sophistication.
Ready to Choose with Confidence?
Your hardwood flooring should be more than functional—it should feel like it was made for your home. At Riva Spain by Floors, we help Houston homeowners, designers, and builders find the perfect combination of plank width, grade, and finish to suit their space and style.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment and explore wide-plank engineered European white oak that’s crafted to perform, and designed to impress.