Both chevron and herringbone floor patterns have been enjoying a resurgence in popularity over the past decade or so, with no signs of slowing down. Neither, however, is new. Both can be traced to the ancient world, in surviving materials like precious metals and stones. If you’re considering either of these zigzagging patterns, it’s important to know which is which so you get exactly what you want. So who’s the winner for you and your home in the chevron vs herringbone contest? Let’s look at both of them, and the unique advantages presented by each.
What is a Chevron Pattern?
Wood plank flooring in a chevron pattern has planks laid at an angle that alternate orientation and meet along straight lines. The result is a bold, clear pattern that implies movement, especially in the direction of the straight seams formed by the angled plank ends. The pattern is usually laid with these lines parallel to the side walls of the room as seen from the main entrance to it, but the planks may be aligned with the walls as an alternative.
The tighter the angle between planks, the faster the implied movement appears, and the more energetic the room will feel. Wider angles make a room feel more relaxed. Higher contrast between planks will increase the feeling of energy in a space.
What is a Herringbone Pattern?
A herringbone pattern in wood flooring is an angular zig-zag like a chevron pattern, but the planks overlap at the ends, so the only possible angle at which they fit together is 90°.
The most popular orientation for hardwood floor places the planks at a 45° angle to the walls. Trimming of planks is required only where they meet the edges of the patterned space.
What’s the Difference Between Herringbone vs. Chevron?
While chevron is a striking pattern that implies straight, linear movement, the herringbone pattern is more subtle and complex, with more complex implied movement. If a chevron floor implies a walking motion, a herringbone floor implies a dancing motion, in its alternating long and short zigs and zags. Since the angles in a herringbone pattern are set at 90° and 45°, they cannot be adjusted to imply more or less speed, while chevron angles can be. If you’re flooring a part of your home where you want to feel more energised or relaxed, or a business where speed or slowing down is part of the identity, product or service, chevron will convey these ideas.
In order to lay wood planks in a chevron pattern, the ends of each plank must be trimmed off at an angle. Both patterns require a mitred trim around the perimeter of the space, so herringbone is a bit more economical with both materials and labour. Chevron flooring reads as trendy and fashionable, while herringbone reads as more traditional and classic, although both have been around for a very long time.
Advantages of Chevron Flooring
What are the unique qualities of chevron flooring, as compared to herringbone floors? The long, straight lines formed by angled joints are unique to the chevron pattern, and this has several implications for the overall feel of the floor, and the space that it occupies:
- More dramatic, energetic, trendy, and fashionable
- Looks great with highly refined and polished minimalist styles such as Mid-Century Modern and contemporary European.
- Implies linear motion, which can be sped up or slowed down by adjusting mitred angles
- Conveys heightened luxury and status
Advantages of Herringbone Flooring
What makes herringbone vs. chevron patterned floors stand out from one another? For each section of a straight line where plank ends meet on a chevron patterned floor, this pattern has one longer diagonal line and one short diagonal line. There are ways in which this affects the installation process, the overall feel of the floor, and of the whole room:
- Less waste, less labour
- More timeless, pairs well with slightly rustic styles like farmhouse and Industrial.
- Works well with traditional styles and early 20th-century modernism
- More complex and diagonal lines imply motion that’s less straightforward, more complex, and meandering.
How are Herringbone and Chevron Patterns Made?
In wood flooring, a chevron pattern is made by mitering (making an exactly angled cut) the ends of the planks used. The angle used is a matter of choice, but it must be precise and consistent. The length and width of planks must be consistent within one floor, but either or both can vary from one floor to the next.
With herringbone wood flooring, there’s no need to cut angled ends and planks can be left as they come. There is thus both less waste and less work involved. Zelta Floor & Design can install herringbone or chevron patterned floors in laminate flooring, vinyl plank, engineered wood, and solid hardwood planks. You may choose one wood finish or as many as you like for a multi-tonal look.
Related Article: Modern Hardwood Flooring Trends 2024
Let’s Start Your Next Chevron or Herringbone Floor Installation
Does your style lean towards the intriguing elegance of herringbone? Or the slick polish of chevron? What about the style of your home and of the particular space that you’re considering flooring for? Either way, now that you know more about chevron vs. herringbone, you can trust Zelta Floor & Design to install your choice of pattern in your choice of material and colour, flawlessly. Contact us for all of your flooring and stair needs in the Greater Toronto Area.
FAQs
Yes, herringbone flooring is worth the cost, which will, of course, vary according to the material you choose. Any choice of material is elevated by this artful pattern. This pattern is timeless, sophisticated, and engaging.
Comparing the price of chevron flooring to the more usual straight plank flooring patterns, yes, chevron is definitely more expensive. Extra cuts at installation time can also make it likely to cost more than herringbone patterned wood flooring, and that’s a major reason for its association with luxury and status.
There are differences in installation techniques and the amount of materials used, but the most important difference is your personal taste and style, and that of your home. Chevron patterns look more sleek and polished, and have semiotic associations with luxury, status, and linear motion. Herringbone hardwood floor is elegant and classic, but definitely not boring. It works well with classic, traditional, and slightly rustic styles.
Chevron patterns make rooms look larger, with their long straight lines, while herringbone creates a more intimate feel. A given space may need to look larger or smaller depending upon not only its empirical size, but also its intended use, furnishings, colour, tonal value (lightness or darkness), and, of course, the preferences and tastes of its owner(s). Both patterns have been astonishingly enduring because both are beautiful and highly useful.
