Choosing Hardwood Floor Patterns

Cortney Lindquist

The pattern you pick for your hardwood or wood-look flooring is fundamental because it determines how your finished floors will look.

Some of the most popular patterns are:

  • Random
  • Parquet
  • Diagonal
  • Chevron
  • Herringbone.

Random

The random pattern is the most common hardwood floor pattern. You can randomize the board width and/or length to mix things up.

Random plank characteristics waste little wood compared with other patterns, which can lower installation costs. They also provide visual interest that’s particularly appealing in rectangular rooms and open spaces.

Parquet

The parquet pattern consists of individual “compartments” that are made by putting small pieces of wood together. Think of them as tiles. The installer lays out these tiles to create the desired pattern. The pattern can be geometric or random. It is a dramatic pattern with unique visual appeal. 

Diagonal

Wood flooring planks don’t have to be parallel to the walls. In fact, when they are placed at an angle, they can open a room up even more. Small spaces may appear bigger when the flooring is laid at a diagonal, even if you choose darker finishes. This pattern works especially well in non-rectangular rooms.

Chevron

Chevron creates an inverted V pattern, with each side meeting at one point without interruption. The result is a seamless zigzag pattern that is also popular for bathroom tiling, backsplashes, and bedding.

Installing a chevron hardwood floor has been popular in recent years, making it a contemporary and fashionable choice. It gives your space a vintage European or Parisian feel. It includes boards that meet at mitered angles to create the diagonal zigzag pattern in parallel, long stripes.

Herringbone

The herringbone hardwood floor is similar to the chevron pattern, but the herringbone’s unmitered edges create a more zigzag “broken” design. It’s appropriate for homeowners who want a traditional, classic look in their spaces, but with a high-level of visual interest.

A Few Tips

Hardwood floors are a long-lasting investment for your home, so pick your floors' installation pattern carefully. Keep the following in mind:

  1. Keep the line of sight in mind when choosing a pattern for open floor plans
  2. Laying floors parallel to the longest wall makes a room look larger
  3. Diagonal floors don't have to be at 45° angles
  4. Always read the manufacturer installation guide.

Would you like to talk with us about hardwood floors? We’re here to help. Contact us at 920-984-3383, 800-354-9902 or info@ralphshardwood.com. Showroom appointments are available.

Image: Shutterstock

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