Herringbone flooring: the best styles for your home renovation

Our Athens Mint Marble Mosaic Herringbone tiles are ideal for contemporary interiors. From the Athens collection, you'll find various colours in this full range so you're bound to find a herringbone design to suit your home

The distinctive zig-zag pattern of herringbone flooring transforms ordinary spaces into rooms of remarkable sophistication. This classic pattern, reminiscent of a herring (fish) skeleton, creates visual depth and movement that can make any room appear larger and more dynamic. From traditional oak boards to contemporary grey finishes, the full range of herringbone flooring styles offers a versatile foundation that suits both period properties and sleek contemporary interiors.

Whether you’re planning a complete home renovation or simply looking to upgrade a single space, understanding your options in herringbone flooring will help you make an informed decision that adds lasting value to your property. This comprehensive guide explores everything from material choices and installation methods to costs and maintenance, ensuring you have all the information needed to achieve the perfect floor for your home.

Our Brecon Vintage Oak Herringbone engineered wood flooring in this master bedroom is ideal for high traffic areas. This durable floor features an Easiloc system so nails, glue and tools are not necessary when the flooring is laid

What is herringbone flooring?

Our Carrara White Herringbone Mosaic tiles come in sheet form and will instantly add a striking finish to your bathroom. This natural stone flooring is ideal for a luxury, bespoke bathroom and here it's showcased in a honed finish with beautiful veining

Herringbone flooring features a distinctive zigzag pattern created by laying rectangular tiles or planks at 90-degree angles so their short ends meet. The smaller herringbone style in terms of tiles tends to come in sheet form. So you simply install the look with a group of tiles on one sheet, rather than having to piece each tile together. Herringbone creates the characteristic interlocking design that has captivated homeowners and designers for generations.

The pattern differs significantly from chevron, which requires planks with mitred ends to create continuous V-shapes. While chevron flooring is also a popular choice, it all depends on the look you want to create. Herringbone uses standard rectangular boards laid in a staggered formation, making it more versatile and often easier to install than its chevron flooring counterpart.

Available in multiple materials including solid wood, engineered wood, porcelain tiles and luxury vinyl tile (LVT), herringbone flooring can suit virtually any budget and application. The pattern’s enduring appeal lies in its versatility - it works equally well in traditional period properties and cutting-edge contemporary designs.

Types of herringbone flooring materials

Solid wood herringbone

Solid wood offers authentic natural beauty with the full depth and texture that only genuine timber can provide. Oak remains the most popular choice for traditional installs, delivering the warm, golden tones that define classic herringbone. This material allows for multiple refinishing cycles over its lifetime, making it a long-term investment that can adapt to changing décor styles.

However, solid wood requires professional installation and careful attention to environmental conditions. The planks must be properly acclimated to prevent warping, and the subfloor needs precise preparation to ensure pattern alignment remains consistent throughout the space.

Engineered wood

Our Goodrich Natural Oak engineered wood flooring is durable and the boards are compatible with underfloor heating (if glued down when laid). This style instantly helps to lift the look in a dark bedroom. Oak makes a great choice for a bedroom because it adds warmth and style

Engineered wood provides stability with real wood veneer on top, making it suitable for areas with temperature fluctuations that might cause solid wood to expand or contract. The multi-layered construction combines authentic hardwood appearance with enhanced dimensional stability, allowing installation of your herringbone flooring over underfloor heating systems.

This option delivers the natural beauty of solid wood at a more accessible price point, with many engineered products offering click-together systems that simplify the fitting process. The real wood surface of this herringbone flooring can typically handle light refinishing, extending the floor’s lifespan while maintaining its authentic appearance.

Luxury vinyl herringbone flooring

Our Ikura F333 Luxury Vinyl Herringbone flooring is perfect for high traffic areas and so versatile, you can have it laid in a hallway, kitchen, living room, bedroom or bathroom. This is a popular choice for those who love the look of wood but these 'oak' boards are vinyl, so this makes them 100% waterproof

Luxury vinyl represents the ultimate in practical sophistication, offering 100% waterproof construction suitable for any room including wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms. This versatility makes the herringbone design perfect for creating design continuity throughout the home without material restrictions.

Available in rigid core and flexible formats with different install methods, luxury vinyl accommodates various subfloor conditions and install preferences. Features like wear layers provide enhanced scratch and stain resistance, while advanced embossing technology creates authentic wood textures in this case, in a herringbone style.

Leading brands offer premium options with sophisticated finishes that rival natural materials. The click-together system makes installation accessible to DIY enthusiasts, while the waterproof construction eliminates concerns about spills or moisture damage as water can not filter through.

Our Burley Minerale Herringbone flooring is click LVT which makes the install easy. You simply click each tile into place to create your herringbone pattern. This flooring is designed to be 100% waterproof which makes it ideal for the bathroom or any room with high humidity levels

Installation methods and techniques

Traditional approaches

Traditional herringbone requires cutting individual planks at precise angles and carefully maintaining pattern alignment throughout. Professional installers typically start from the centre of the room, working outward to ensure pattern symmetry and avoid awkward cuts at the perimeters.

The complexity of achieving perfect 90-degree angles where planks meet demands experience and precision. Each joint for the herringbone design must interlock properly to maintain the integrity of the overall design, making pattern layout crucial for a successful install.

Modern systems

Modern herringbone planks come pre-cut in matched sets that click together for easier install, significantly reducing the complexity compared to traditional methods. These engineered systems include left and right-oriented pieces that ensure perfect pattern alignment while streamlining the fitting process.

Many contemporary products feature groove and tongue or click-lock mechanisms that eliminate the need for adhesives while providing secure connections. This innovation makes herringbone installaccessible to confident DIY enthusiasts following manufacturer guidelines.

Fitting service vs DIY installation

This herringbone flooring comes from the Cotto range, which offers various colours and sizes. In a modern, rustic brick design and a striking tumbled finish, these tiles are made from composite stone and will add a rustic finish to any room. Our Reform Composite Stone Tumbled Cotto offers a tactile surface, which gradually matures over time

DIY install becomes possible with click-together herringbone laminate and LVT systems using detailed manufacturer instructions and proper preparation. The key to success lies in careful planning, precise measurement, and maintaining pattern consistency throughout the space.

Professional install remains recommended for solid wood and complex room layouts where experience with pattern alignment and environmental factors becomes crucial. Specialists understand how to handle irregularities in room shape and can achieve seamless transitions between different areas.

Proper subfloor preparation proves essential for some herringbone, requiring level, clean, and dry surfaces to prevent future movement or pattern distortion. Installation typically requires 10% additional material to account for cuts and pattern matching, particularly around room perimeters and obstacles.

Popular colours and finishes

Contemporary grey tones

This dark 'parquet flooring' has been designed in a herringbone pattern for a striking finish in this kitchen. In a beautiful grey shade, this natural slate can be used to create herringbone as showcased here, wood block or herringbone patterns. Check out our Metropolitan Slate Parquet Riven Finish here

Grey herringbone has become a popular finish for contemporary homes, aligning perfectly with modern minimalist and industrial design trends. These sophisticated tones range from light silver-grey to deeper charcoal, offering versatility that complements both warm and cool colour schemes.

Natural oak excellence

Our Burnham Golden Oak Herringbone flooring is made from luxury vinyl and will suit rooms with high levels of moisture, such as a kitchen or bathroom. In a beautiful oak finish, the 'boards' combine brown tones for natural charm

Natural oak tones remain classic choices for traditional and transitional décor, providing warm, golden-brown hues that showcase the natural grain patterns and character marks of each board.

Light and whitewashed finishes

Our Neranjo Limestone Brick Velvet finish tiles create a Scandi look in this lean-to conservatory space. With a subtle texture in pale cream and beige natural colours, this herringbone flooring style is ideal for classic homes

White-washed and bleached finishes create Scandinavian-inspired looks that bring lightness and airiness to any space. This style works well in natural stone form in a herringbone pattern. These pale tones suit smaller rooms where maximising the sense of space is important.

Room applications and suitability

Living areas and social spaces

Living rooms and dining areas showcase herringbone patterns beautifully, with the geometric design adding visual interest without competing with furniture arrangements. The herringbone pattern’s movement naturally draws the eye through the space while maintaining a sophisticated atmosphere.

Kitchen installations

For use in a kitchen, these require waterproof materials like luxury vinyl for spill protection, making LVT herringbone an excellent choice for busy cooking spaces. The 100% waterproof construction eliminates concerns about damage from cooking spills or cleaning activities.

Bedroom applications

Bedrooms benefit from the visual interest herringbone provides while maintaining the comfort and warmth essential for restful spaces. Engineered wood works well in bedrooms, providing authentic wood appearance with the stability needed for consistent indoor conditions.

Hallway and entrance areas

Entryways and hallways can handle high traffic when proper thickness and material are selected, making durable options like luxury vinyl ideal choices. These areas benefit from the pattern’s directional quality, which naturally guides movement through the space.

Maintenance and care

Our Little Greene Livid Herringbone tiles are encaustic and are showcased here in green. These have been laid in this distinctive style to create an elegant, contemporary flooring design in a dark colour in this classic-style home

Daily maintenance routines

Regular sweeping and vacuuming prevent dirt accumulation in pattern grooves, which can otherwise cause premature wear and dull the floor’s appearance over time. Pay particular attention to the pattern joints where debris can collect, using vacuum attachments or soft-bristled brushes.

Material-specific care

Damp mopping with manufacturer-approved cleaners maintains appearance across all herringbone types, but specific requirements vary by material. Laminate and luxury vinyl should be cleaned with products designed for synthetic surfaces, avoiding excessive water that could cause edge swelling in laminate products.

Natural and engineered wood floors may require specialised wood cleaners and occasional conditioning to maintain their lustre and protection. Avoid excessive water exposure on all materials, wiping spills promptly.

Long-term protection

Use furniture pads and area rugs in high-traffic zones to minimise wear and extend the floor’s service life. Consider reapplying protective finishes on natural wood surfaces according to manufacturer recommendations to preserve appearance and durability.

Making your herringbone choice

For fans of herringbone flooring, you'll love our Weltzner Limestone Parquet Satino Finish brick-shaped tiles. In stunning steel grey to putty colours, this natural flooring offers an elegant finish to any hallway

Selecting the right herringbone flooring involves balancing aesthetic preferences with practical requirements and budget considerations. Consider the specific demands of each room, from moisture exposure in kitchens to traffic levels in hallways, when choosing materials.

The variety of colours, textures, and finishes available ensures there’s a herringbone solution for virtually any design vision and budget. Professional consultation and fitting services can help ensure optimal results and protect your investment.

The enduring appeal of herringbone flooring lies in its unique ability to transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary ones, providing a foundation of elegance that enhances your home’s beauty and value for years to come.