Top 9+ Flooring Choices That Instantly Make Your House Look More Expensive

There are many ways to make your home look its absolute best. For starters, prioritizing a clean, tidy house can go a long way, no matter the size or aesthetic of your space. Other ways to make your home turn heads is with cozy lighting, beautiful paint colors or wallpaper, charming displays of collections, and a landscaped lawn. All of these things require time and money—but not every home design technique has to come with an exorbitant price tag; sometimes it’s about thoughtful implementation. That’s certainly the case with flooring, which is why today, we’re here to discuss flooring choices that make your house look more expensive.

According to BarnesVanze Architects associate Miriam Dillon, flooring choices that make homes look more expensive include hardwood, engineered wood, and natural stone materials. “Natural stone, such as limestone, marble, and slate, are hard materials that provide an aesthetic that other materials can not emulate,” she explains, noting that the natural variations of each stone will add a level of luxe detail to the room.

Dillon says the same is true of wood flooring; it’s all about the specific wood and how it comes together for a unique end look. “Be creative with how the wood flooring is installed—use patterns such as herringbone and chevron to create interest and a level of craftsmanship,” she suggests.

Whether you opt for stone or wood floors, Dillon assures us that there’s always a place for stunning floor coverings and antique rugs. “This will provide warmth, interest, and define a space,” she explains.

Those are just the basics, though. Ahead, explore nine flooring choices that will instantly make your house look more expensive.

Cherry, Walnut, Birch, and Maple Flooring

According to Seth Ballard, principal of Ballard & Mensua Architecture in Washington, D.C., upgrading your typical red or white oak floors to cherry, walnut, birch, or maple is a simple way to elevate the overall look and feel of your home.

“95 percent or more of homes that have hardwood floors in the U.S. built after the 1950s, have oak—either red or white oak 2-1/4” wide flooring,” he explains. “To me, upgrading hardwood floors to something more beautiful—and usually changing the stairs to go with it—is one of the best ways to transform a home. Cherry floors, walnut floors, birch floors, and maple floors with interesting stains are all readily available from specialty vendors and most flooring stores, and can completely transform the feeling of a home.”

If veering away from oak to a slightly pricier hardwood isn’t in your budget, Ballard says not to fret. “If you do stick with oak, even quarter sawn or rift oak, or European oak, can completely change the feeling of a home.”

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Wider Planks

Julia Rose Schweyer, principal designer of Julia Rose Interiors, says that you should always opt for wider planks when selecting hardwood or engineered wood floors for your home. “Wide-plank engineered hardwood instantly makes a home look more expensive,” she reveals. “People often think engineered hardwood is the cheaper alternative to hardwood, but that's not true. Engineered hardwood is the preferred choice for designers these days as it typically appears more uniform than its non-engineered counterparts.”

The trick is to know what to buy. “Opt for select-grade engineered hardwood for a truly luxurious, smooth finish,” Schweyer suggests.

If you want to take the real wood route, however, VERANDA's Design Contributing Editor Joy Moyler, of Joy Moyler Interiors, recommends going with reclaimed planks. “Wide-plank reclaimed wood flooring retrieved from an old barn—preferably oak with deep rich staining—I love these in kitchens, entry foyers, living rooms, and libraries, though, they are equally gorgeous in bedrooms with area rugs,” she shares.

In terms of the actual suggested width, Noz Nozawa, principal designer of Noz Design, recommends opting for wider floorboards, around two to four inches wide. “Narrower boards, like 2-3-inch widths, are often charming and associated with older homes, but even a 4-inch wide board adds an oomph that I think feels more expensive,” she explains, warning that anything wider than that can sometimes feel unintentionally rustic.

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Framed Hardwood Floors

Framed designs aren’t solely for your walls! Nozawa says that framed hardwood floors can make a luxe impact, too. “If you're completely redoing your flooring, I think framing a room or hallway with a contrast wood border is so classic and elevated,” she shares. “For example, if your floors will be white oak, I would add a thin walnut or mahogany inlaid border around the perimeter of a space, about six inches from the walls.”

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Herringbone and Chevron Patterns

Meanwhile, Emily Vaughan, designer and owner of Emily Vaughan Interiors, says that patterned hardwood floors add instant intrigue to any space. “Herringbone wood floors add a touch of luxury to any home, calling to mind a chic Parisian apartment,” she explains. “This centuries-old pattern naturally enhances traditional interiors while also adding warmth and character to more modern, minimalist spaces.”

Admittedly, herringbone and chevron floor lays can be expensive. With that in mind, Vaughan suggests utilizing them to make a big impact in smaller spaces. “Focusing on entryways and hallways can be a cost-effective way to achieve a high-end look if budget is a concern,” she explains. “Additionally, the herringbone pattern introduces a dynamic sense of movement in these pass-through spaces.”

Painted Wood Floors

Over the past 20 years, we’ve watched as carpeted floors have been upended to reveal the natural hardwood underneath. During this design revolution, it might seem like blasphemy to cover up the natural beauty of rich wood stains but Vaughan tells us that embracing a coat of paint can be more impactful than you might think.

“Painted wood floors evoke a sense of effortless sophistication,” she reveals. “Choosing a white tone can create a light, airy effect reminiscent of Scandinavian design, while richer hues can create a striking focal point.”

Painted wood floors are cost-effective, too. “Perhaps the greatest appeal of painted floors lies in their ability to transform a space dramatically and cost-effectively,” Vaughan says. “Whether you're dealing with outdated 2-inch boards or original flooring in less-than-ideal condition, a fresh coat of paint can instantly inject high style into your space without the corresponding price tag.”

If you’re unconvinced that painted wood floors make for an elegant end look, get this. “Painted floors have been seen in the homes of renowned style icons such as Deeda Blair and Sister Parish, underscoring their upscale aesthetic,” Vaughan points out.

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Decorative Finishes

If you can’t quite wrap your head around fully painted wood floors, perhaps a delicate decorative finish is the ideal middle ground. “A wood floor with a decorative finish immediately signals a high-end home,” Vaughan says, noting that common motifs include geometric and trellis patterns in various wood tones.

“This impression is due not only to the costs involved but also to the confident design and meticulous attention to detail its execution requires. The technique generally involves engaging a decorative painter to apply a pattern or texture to a portion of a home's wood flooring.”

To ensure the decorative finish lasts, Vaughan says that it’s applied before the floor’s final layer of polyurethane, “ensuring both beauty and durability.”

While decorative finishes can make any hardwood flooring stand out, Vaughan says that the technique is most often used in foyers. “Setting an impressive tone for the home, foyers are an ideal location for such finishes, as rugs and furnishings may not be needed, letting the floor be a focal point,” she explains.

Laser-Cut Marble Patterns

Beyond hardwood and engineered wood, designers say that marble flooring can instantly up the perceived value of your home. “Current technologies for laser cutting have allowed for the introduction of pre-fabricated beautiful laser cut tile designs such as marble flooring, mosaic and terrazzo tiles, and natural stone tiles,” Ballard says. “These offer ways to put a small pop in a small space like a powder room, or an entire foyer with a beautiful medallion, or just a centerpiece in a kitchen backsplash.”

Just keep in mind, laser-cut marble tile floors aren’t cheap. “I love using marble tile floors,” Nozawa says. “Of course, custom-cut marble mosaics or patterns are literally more expensive while looking more expensive, but there are so many great marble tiles that don't cost too much per square foot, that when used in high-impact spaces smaller in size, like an entry or a powder room, add a lot of gravitas.”

Statement Stones

Marble might be the traditional pick for bathroom flooring, but according to Vaughan, statement stones are the optimal option for a more luxurious finish. “While marble has long been the gold standard for high-end bathroom flooring, designers are increasingly turning to more exotic stones to achieve a high-end look, as your classic white-and-gray Carrara has become so widely used,” Vaughan explains. “Options like dramatically veined Calacatta Viola or a richly hued Onyx offer a unique visual impact, reflecting the evolving tastes towards bolder, more personalized interiors.”

A word to the wise: “While some natural stones are faulted for their porosity, they're generally safer to use in bathrooms rather than kitchens, where food stains are a greater concern,” Vaughan points out.

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Antique Rugs

No matter how stunning your hardwood or statement stone floor may be, there may be a room that requires a soft carpet underfoot. “Antique rugs add a distinct character and sense of history to any interior,” Vaughan says. “Those featuring softer, faded palettes are especially coveted in today’s high-end designs for their seamless integration into modern color schemes, often commanding a price that reflects their scarcity.” For a similar impact with a less-shocking price point, Vaughan suggests outfitting your smaller spaces with antique runners.

Vaughan isn’t the only fan of antique rugs as a rich flooring option. Ellen Hatton, principal of BVA BarnesVanze Architects, is, as well. “Cover your hardwood floor with a subtly textured rug in a deep color that is big enough to almost—but not quite—reach the edges of the room, say 15 to 18 inches away from the perimeter walls,” she instructs. “Filling a room with a gorgeous texture while still showing a clean rich hardwood border can help a room feel more comfortable and luxurious.”