A guide to different parquet styles and other gorgeous wood flooring ideas

Whilst wood floors are nothing new, parquet floors have seen a recent resurgence as more people are starting to introduce these elegant and sophisticated styles in new build homes or whilst renovating old properties. The patterns are timeless and classic, and always look chic.

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Popular styles include traditional herringbone or chevron, or more complex Parquet de Versailles, Bordeaux and Mansion Weave patterns, whilst more modern styles are marrying traditional parquet patterns with tiles or glamorous brass inlay. Ready for some serious floor porn?

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Parquet

Seriously, who doesn’t love Parquet flooring? It’s striking, traditional and oozes elegance, and can easily be incorporated in modern interiors too.

First used in France in the 17th century, parquet floors are made from wood blocks that are glued to an under layer to create geometric patterns. It can come in two formats; solid or engineered boards. The advantage of a solid floor is that it can be refreshed by sanding back and re-oiling or lacquering, whereas engineered flooring is pre-finished and more durable – ideal for bathrooms or if you are using underfloor heating.

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Originally installed in luxurious Chateaux’s, Parquet found its way through to grand stately homes and estates before eventually seeing popularity rise over here! One of the best things about Parquet flooring is that it comes in so many different styles, the choice is entirely up to you but the most popular ones are Herringbone and Chevron.

Herringbone and Chevron parquet are wooden floorings designed to add interest due to their patterns and angles. Both can be set off against different room styles and the power of symmetry of the flooring brings a sense of balance to living and working spaces.

All parquet styles require a level sub floor to ensure blocks sit absolutely flush.

Herringbone

This style of Parquet is where it all began, this is how Parquet was intended to look and is how recognition from the world was gained.

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It’s no surprise that this style has stood the test of time and it is ideal if like me, you love to make a statement.

Herringbone can be created using either smaller planks of wood or wider ones, it really depends on the look that you’re hoping to achieve.

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Herringbone patterns can be installed at different angles, again this is all down to personal choice but different angles portray different vibes.

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For example, if your herringbone is laid at the traditional 90 degree angle it offers a more subdued and structured feel to the room, aside of this it is also easier to install.

Image via deVol Kitchens

Chevron

Another classic style of Parquet flooring, Chevron may be the one that most people are familiar with due to its infamous ‘V’ shape.

There is a clever trick behind Chevron in which it can make a smaller space seem much wider, which is ideal if you’re wanting to make an area appear slightly bigger. Another great thing about this style is its ability to work well with both light and dark wood tones, lighter woods create a fresher more fashionable look whereas the darker wood creates a lovely warm texture.

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Chevron flooring works incredibly well alongside other trends too, if like some you’re a bit of a minimalist or a lover of the industrial look then chevron flooring is a great accompaniment to your interiors.

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Rustic

‘Lived in’, ‘distressed’, ‘traditional’ – call it what you will, but I absolutely adore the look of rustic flooring. The vintage look has really taken off over the last few years, and there’s no exception when it comes to floors.

Even though it has an older feel, this style is really modern but timeless all at the same time! Whether your flooring is reclaimed or unfinished, this look is what’s in at the moment and it looks to remain like that for some time.

One of the main features of rustic flooring is the knots that come within the boards, these are what really give it the look that is so highly sought after and yet so many people would return their flooring for just having one of these.

Aside of being beautiful, rustic hardwood floors are also really practical for day to day life, so if you’re looking for something easy on the eye but also purse-friendly then this is an ideal option.

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood is becoming a popular choice as it’s practical and easier to maintain than solid hardwood. It’s also a good choice for floors that need durability, for example, for homes with children, pets or high-traffic office areas.

Engineered wooden flooring is composed of a hardwood layer of veneer which sits on top of plywood and is suitable for use with underfloor heating. It’s also less susceptible to warping if it gets wet or is exposed to a damp atmosphere, so is fine for bathrooms.

Engineered wood is made up of layers – this can be anything from 3 and 12 layers of ply. The said layers are then glued and pressed together and as a result a strong bond is formed. It’s this process that makes engineered wood so different from solid wood, because, as the name states; it’s engineered. Although the middle layers are made of ply, the top layer is usually made of real solid wood, which comes in a variety of grades and choices for you to pick from!

So why should you choose engineered wood? Well, if you didn’t know any different you would think that it was real, the appearance is pretty much identical so you could fool anybody! It’s also much more practical than solid wood but at a much lower price. Engineered wood flooring does not expand and contract like solid wood does, or at least not to the same extent. This means that the floor is safe to install in rooms where moisture levels and temperatures fluctuate – such as the bathroom or kitchen. But, in the unlikely event of any damage (scratches, dents etc) you can have peace of mind in knowing that Engineered Wood can be sanded and refinished multiple times to have it looking brand new all over again.

Geometric

Other patterns I absolutely love include the Mansion Weave, Parquet de Versailles, diamond and other geometric patterns, brass inlay, and contrasting the wood against tiles!