Beyond the Basics: A Guide to Patterned Hardwood Floors
With trends like “quiet luxury” and “elevated basics” growing in popularity across fashion, home, and lifestyle aesthetics, it’s not surprising that we are seeing a resurgence in patterned hardwood flooring. Chevron, herringbone, and parquet floors have influenced architecture and design for centuries, and they are re-emerging as an interior design trend because of the subtle sophistication and timeless elegance they can bring to a space. Let’s dive into these versatile pattern powerhouses and the many ways they can elevate your interiors!
While patterned hardwood floors are currently growing in popularity, they will always maintain a timeless feel because of their rich history and inherent beauty. There are many benefits to the use of patterned hardwood floors as a way to elevate your interiors. For one, they will add visual interest and dimension to a space with a sense of movement and flow. They create a statement without overpowering the room, which is the essence of the “quiet luxury” aesthetic. Patterned hardwood floors can also help a room feel larger and grander than a traditional hardwood floor. We’ll dive deeper into this later! Finally, the installation of patterned hardwood floors will immediately give your space a more custom feel.
Chevron Hardwood Floors
Herringbone Hardwood Floors
Parquet Hardwood Floors
Chevron Hardwood Floors
Known for its distinct zig-zag pattern and signature V-shape, chevron flooring has a classic yet modern look. Believe it or not, this striking pattern dates back to Ancient Rome. It saw a resurgence during the 16th Century Renaissance, where it was seen as a symbol of luxury in palaces and cathedrals throughout Europe. Today, chevron floors can be found in both contemporary and traditional settings complementing a variety of design styles like Mid-Century modern, Scandinavian, and more.
Chevron flooring is suitable for both small and large spaces. The sharp lines and distinct V-shape of chevron flooring can elongate a room and make it feel larger. On the other hand, in an already large space, the pattern helps to draw your eyes around the room - giving the room dimension and interest with a modern feel.
Offered in a variety of finishes, species, and widths, chevron hardwood flooring can be tailored to fit a variety of design styles and applications.
Herringbone Hardwood Floors
The herringbone pattern is one of the most popular and versatile patterned floor installations because of its signature interlocked pattern and its timeless elegance. The herringbone pattern is also historically significant, dating back to the Roman Empire where it was used to pave extremely durable roads. It has had several resurgences in popularity throughout the centuries, and today it is often used to add a touch of sophistication and luxury in both traditional and contemporary settings.
Similar to chevron, the herringbone pattern is extremely versatile and can be used to elevate both small and large spaces. With modern technology, herringbone flooring can be prefinished and manufactured for a quicker and easier installation. This means you can create the same custom look for a fraction of what it cost to install the product years ago. With this new accessibility, it is becoming a popular choice for flooring throughout an entire home, rather than just an entryway or accent space.
The herringbone pattern is also extremely versatile in aesthetics. Interior design that incorporates herringbone hardwood flooring can achieve a sophisticated, traditional feel. But, it can also achieve a really modern and contemporary feel by contrasting colors and materials of the hardwood, shown in the installation photo here.
Parquet Hardwood Floors
Although chevron and herringbone patterns are technically a type of parquet flooring, there are a wide variety of patterns that fall under the umbrella of parquet hardwood flooring. Traditional parquet flooring features individual blocks of wood that are fitted together in a geometric pattern, ranging from simple to complex and traditional to modern.
The visual interest and dimension from a parquet hardwood floor is something that cannot be achieved through a traditional plank hardwood floor. Its history dates back to 16th Century France, and it had an increase in popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, it is seeing another resurgence in popularity because of its versatility, uniqueness, and sophisticated charm.
The complex patterns of parquet hardwood flooring are best installed in a large space to truly celebrate the intricacies of the tones and grains in the hardwood.
Patterned hardwood flooring can be an incredible way to elevate your space with character, dimension, and movement. While it is certainly emerging as a popular choice for small spaces in the home, we hope this blog encouraged you to look beyond the foyer or powder room for an impactful and unique hardwood flooring selection. With centuries old history and a wide variety of applications, patterned hardwood flooring will remain a timeless and sophisticated statement choice for decades to come.
If you’re having a hard time visualizing a patterned floor throughout the larger spaces in your home, we are here to help! We would love to schedule a consultation in our showroom and explore our patterned hardwood flooring offerings in person. Our team is happy to share their expertise on the best patterned floor for your project’s scope and function. Book an appointment with us by giving us a call at (425) 301-1599 or fill out our contact form here.
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