Although you’ll be walking all over it, deciding on a hardwood flooring pattern is integral to a room’s overall design. Some patterns range from simple to intricate, and which one is right for you will depend on your budget and tastes. So let’s dive into the six unique hardwood flooring patterns you can choose from and see which one might be right for you.
Horizontal Pattern
The horizontal flooring pattern is probably the most popular, and for a good reason. It can be used to make a room seem larger and won’t distract from other elements in the room. This pattern can be made more interesting with a stunning stain, or it can blend into the background. However, you’ll want to be careful using this pattern in long and skinny rooms, or else you might risk it looking like a bowling alley.
Diagonal Pattern
If you like the horizontal pattern but want something a little more unique, you might like the diagonal pattern. It’s the same as the horizontal pattern, just set at an angle to the room’s walls. This will help with the “bowling alley” effect if you’re worried about that. This pattern can also make a smaller space feel more open, but the angle will require installers to make more cuts. Again, this isn’t a big deal, except it might be more expensive to install than a traditional horizontal pattern.
Mixed Widths Pattern
A mixed-width pattern floor can be done horizontal or at a diagonal; the difference is the planks of wood will be varying widths. This gives the floor a much more intricate look while still being affordable. While horizontal is the most popular pattern, mixed-width planks are becoming the
most popular request in flooring. People love how the different widths create interest and break up the monotony that same-width flooring sometimes suffers from.
Herringbone Pattern
You’ve likely seen the herringbone pattern at a museum or in photos of palaces. This pattern is intricate and elegant and will require a highly-skilled professional to install. These facts alone make it one of the most expensive options on this list. However, its timeless design can’t be beat, except for maybe the next one on this list!
Chevron Parquet Pattern
At first, when you look at chevron, you might be thinking you’re looking at herringbone, but these are two different patterns. The difference is, herringbone is set at a 90-degree angle, and the chevron is 45 degrees. This pattern was originated in the late 15th century and was inspired by a cross stitch pattern known as point de hongrie. To add a bit more posh elegance to your space, you might want to consider this historic hardwood flooring pattern. Unfortunately, it’s also hard to install and takes more time and skill than more common patterns such as horizontal. Because of this, it also will require a bigger budget.
Checkerboard Pattern
This pattern style is most prevalent in New York City apartments and has been a trendy option for a few decades now. Contrasting boards are installed in alternating rows creating a checkerboard appearance. You can change the look with more monochromatic planks or lean into it and go for higher contracting boards to make a statement.
Of course, not only is this flooring pattern hard to achieve, but it’s also very time-consuming, which makes it another expensive option.
It’s important to remember that the pattern in which a floor is installed is not the only factor to consider in its designer. The type of wood used, the pattern, and the stain applied to the wood will all factor into the overall aesthetic of hardwood flooring.
