Chevron vs. Herringbone Flooring: Everything You Need to Know

Chevron and Herringbone patterns in wood flooring have become quite popular in recent years. Like other types of parquet flooring, a Chevron or Herringbone pattern adds a sense of luxury to a room and makes any floor an impressive visual element within an interior design.

When choosing a Chevron vs. Herringbone pattern, many people still mistake one for the other. While the two classic hardwood floors are quite similar, there are distinct and easy-to-spot differences, and each pattern leaves a slightly different visual impression.

The History of Chevron and Herringbone Floors

The Herringbone pattern – which resembles the skeleton of a herring fish – can be found in the jewelry designs of ancient Egypt and the road construction designs of the ancient Romans. Herringbone patterns in floors first appeared in 16th century Europe as wealthy aristocrats sought ways to create luxurious interiors.

The Chevron pattern is found in pottery designs in the Bronze Age and ancient Greece and saw a resurgence in medieval heraldry. The first Chevron floors also appeared in 16th-century Europe.

While the popularity of Herringbone vs. Chevron floors may rise and fall over the years, the sheer longevity of these patterned surfaces suggests they will never go out of style.

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Differences in Chevron vs. Herringbone Patterns

So, what is the difference between a Chevron and Herringbone pattern floor?  Both types of floors use shorter wood planks laid out at angles to form a zigzag pattern that creates a sense of movement and visual beauty.

A Herringbone pattern uses rectangular planks of equal length, with each board abutting the next at a right angle. The effect is a staggered or broken zigzag pattern, which adds add significant visual interest to the design of the floor.

In a Chevron pattern, the ends of each plank are cut at an angle so that when two boards are joined, they form a distinct point. A Chevron pattern looks like a long string of arrows running across the floor and offers a somewhat cleaner appearance than a Herringbone pattern.

Customizing Your Patterned Floor

Within the strict pattern of the Chevron vs. Herringbone floor, there is a great deal of room for personal choices that will let you create a custom floor.

Alternating the type of wood or the color of the planks can highlight the geometry of the pattern. Using wider, shorter planks adds more energy and visual variety to the floor’s appearance, while longer planks provide a greater sense of calm. And adjusting the angle at which the planks in a Chevron pattern are cut can produce a sharper or shallower arrow design.

Installation and Cost of Chevron and Herringbone floors

Installing a patterned floor is considerably more time-consuming than a traditional wood floor. The precision of the cuts is paramount, and the intricacy of the pattern can add a significant amount of time to the installation. When considering a Chevron vs. Herringbone floor, it’s helpful to know that installation of a Chevron floor may be more expensive than Herringbone, as each board involves more cuts and greater precision in getting the angles just right.

Patterns and Engineered Flooring

Many homeowners seeking contemporary hardwood floors opt for an engineered floor, which can easily be installed with a Herringbone or Chevron pattern. Engineered floors are created with planks that feature a top layer of hardwood that’s adhered to multiple layers of backing material to form a floorboard that’s more resistant to changes in temperature, moisture and humidity. Engineered floors are ideal for installation below grade, on concrete, or over radiant heat. At Carlisle, we offer two collections of engineered Herringbone flooring that are equally at home in urban lofts and basement flats, creating a visually stunning backdrop for a cosmopolitan lifestyle.

Designing your Chevron or Herringbone floor

A Carlisle Wide Plank Specialist can help you explore your options for a Chevron vs. Herringbone floor, along with many other parquet patterns. Through conversations in person or over the phone, your personal Carlisle design consultant can walk you through the variations on a Herringbone vs. Chevron pattern and help you understand the differences in personality between Hickory vs. Maple¸ for example or Cherry vs. Oak.

You’ll explore options for the width and length of your floorboards, the color of your stain or finish, and the types of texture that our craftsmen can apply to create a one-of-a-kind floor that will be the perfect reflection of your sense of style and taste.