Advice

Discover the different styles and effects of laminate flooring below

Written by: Yarl Christie

Published on: June 06, 2023

Laminate Plank Effects & Textures Explained

One of the best things about laminate floors is that they come in a wide variety of designs. It’s not just the photographic layer you need to pay attention to or the laminate flooring effects; you will also find there are different textures available too.

A diagram of laminate flooring textures

Laminate flooring come in a range of textures and effects. To help you decide which is right for you, below, we reveal more about the different effects and textures featured in our range.

Laminate Flooring Textures Explained

With multiple different textures of laminate planks available, it can be overwhelming to choose which one you should buy, so we have explained the differences of these effect below.

High Gloss Texture Laminate Flooring

If you want a laminate that will impress, our high gloss finish floors are exactly what you need. These laminates feature a reflective, shiny surface. They have a very smooth appearance, featuring no ridges, texture, or indents. This means they tend to create a modern, sleek feel to the room.

Be advised that this type of finish does require regular maintenance to ensure it remains looking as good and as shiny as new. You can refer to our laminate flooring maintenance guide to learn how to maintain your new floor correctly.

Textured Laminate Flooring

Our textured laminate floors provide a more traditional look. They appear just like solid wood and come in a variety of designs. You’ll be able to see the grains of the wood thanks to the photographic layer. If you run a busy home, this style of laminate tends to work best as it shows less sign of daily wear and tear than some of the other finishes. If you want to really boost durability, learn more about the various laminate dimensions to watch out for.

Smooth Finished Laminate Flooring

Laminate floor planks with a smooth finish do not have any visible wood grains. Instead, they benefit from a more simplistic, plain finish. They look like they have been varnished, though they have a very subtle design. This type of finish goes well in any room, and it’s straightforward to keep clean, thanks to how smooth its surface is.

Laminate Flooring Effects Explained

How a laminate floor is constructed will impact how the room looks once it has been installed. There are several types of plank effects that you can invest in and here we’ll look at some of the most popular options.

Multi-Strip Planks

Our multi-strip plank effects are especially ideal for smaller rooms. The planks appear as though they have several single boards fitted together. This is down to their construction, with numerous layers bonded together. When installed, they provide a more spacious effect, really opening up the room.

Single-Strip Planks

The majority of laminate floors come with a single strip design. This is basically where the planks have been designed to look just like a single piece of real wood. You’ll find this plank effect tends to provide the most natural look. Unlike the multi-strip planks, this plank effect would look best in larger rooms.

Stone and Tile Effects

Finally, you will find a range of stone and tile effect laminates available. Although the least common, they feature rectangular or square shapes to create a look of real stone or tile. One of the great benefits of this plank effect is that you’ll receive a realistic stone look without the added maintenance.

A diagram of laminate flooring plank effects

You can browse our range of laminate flooring by top brands or alternatively call us on 01133200223 to speak with a member of our sales team to help you decide which would be best for you.

About The Author

Yarl Christie

Yarl is the Managing Director of Stories Flooring. started his career in the flooring industry by becoming a floor fitter at the age of 18 (2004). Yarl finally decided to move with the times and set up an online flooring store (Flooring Yorkshire, 2018). He works closely with the business managers and resource team to source new products from wholesalers, which in turn brings down the sale price. This enables Stories Flooring to be one of the leading UK flooring retailers.