What Is Herringbone Parquet and Where to Use It

Among parquet patterns, herringbone is one that has recently regained popularity in home and commercial interiors. Its name comes from the shape of a fish's spine or a bird's breastbone — the zigzag pattern created by laying rectangular pieces at an angle to one another.

What Herringbone Parquet Is and Where It Came From

Herringbone parquet has two closely related versions — Herringbone and Chevron — that have been installed on European floors for centuries. In the original Herringbone version, the end of each wood plank sits at a right angle against the next plank, forming a zigzag pattern; in the Chevron version, the plank ends are cut at an angle so they meet and form a more continuous line. Both are made from pieces smaller than standard parquet, and unlike regular plank parquet, which runs in one direction, the wood grain direction alternates with each piece — giving the floor more texture and visual depth.

Where It Works and Where It Doesn't

Herringbone parquet gives the best result in large, open, light-filled spaces — such as living rooms, entrance halls, or long corridors — where side light from windows casts shadows across the angled pattern and makes it stand out. In small rooms or narrow hallways, choosing large pieces makes the pattern look broken and busy; the solution is to choose narrower pieces, or to limit the herringbone pattern to one section of the floor (such as under a dining table) and continue the rest of the space with a simple layout.

• Large living rooms and halls: full herringbone installation with standard-size pieces
• Bedrooms and narrow hallways: smaller pieces, or installation along a single axis only
• Kitchens and bathrooms: usually not a suitable choice because of moisture

Installation and Care Tips for Herringbone Parquet

The pattern's direction should be set relative to the room's main light source; the main herringbone axis is usually aligned perpendicular to the largest window so shadows highlight the pattern rather than flatten it. As with any wood parquet, an expansion gap is needed along the walls, but with herringbone this gap must be maintained in both directions, not just the room's length and width. Care is the same as for standard parquet — dusting, dry mopping, and avoiding wet cleaning — except that dust collects faster at the angled joints, which calls for more careful mopping.

If you're looking for a floor that goes beyond being a neutral surface and becomes part of the interior design itself, herringbone parquet is one of the few options that achieves this without unusual colors or materials.