RenovaStairsTwo patterns, two characters
The difference lies in the ends of the planks: in a herringbone floor the planks are cut square and meet at right angles in a zigzag, while in a chevron floor they are cut at an angle so that a continuous point forms. Herringbone looks lively and classic, chevron sleek and directional. I lay both patterns in PVC, and herringbone in laminate as well.
What is a herringbone floor?
A herringbone floor consists of rectangular planks with square-cut ends. They are laid at right angles to each other, with the end of one plank meeting the side of the next. This creates a zigzag pattern that resembles the bones of a fish. Because the planks overlap, you see a playful stepped edge along the line of the pattern.
Besides classic herringbone there is also wide herringbone. The planks are wider, which makes the pattern look calmer and larger. That works especially well in spacious rooms.
Herringbone is a classic pattern you know from traditional parquet floors. In PVC and laminate you get the same look, with the benefits of a modern floor: easy to maintain and, with PVC, water-resistant.
What is a chevron floor?
In a chevron floor, known in Dutch as the Hungarian point, the ends of the planks are cut at an angle. The planks meet exactly in a point, so a crisp, continuous V-line runs through the room. There is no stepped edge as with herringbone.
That continuous point gives direction. Your eye is drawn through the room, which adds extra depth to a hallway or a long living room.
Because the point is so clearly visible, its position matters even more. A point that lands just off the centre of a door or window catches the eye at once. That is why I always set out a chevron floor precisely before I start.
The difference at a glance
- Plank ends: square-cut for herringbone, angled for chevron
- Pattern: herringbone is a zigzag with a stepped edge, chevron a continuous V
- Look: herringbone is lively and classic, chevron sleek and elegant
- Effect: herringbone adds movement, chevron adds direction and depth
There is no right or wrong. It depends on the shape of your room, your interior style and how busy you want the pattern to be.
Which floors I lay in a pattern
For PVC I work with Douwes Dekker, among others. In rigid click PVC I lay herringbone, wide herringbone and chevron. Thanks to its hard, stable core, rigid click can also go over an existing floor, and it is suitable for underfloor heating.
Glued-down PVC (dryback) can be laid in a pattern too. That requires special left and right-hand strips with adapted dimensions; not every PVC strip is suitable. I also regularly lay herringbone in laminate, as in projects in Austerlitz and Naarden, where a herringbone floor in a light oak colour runs through the living room, hallway and kitchen.
Pattern floors take more time and precision
A pattern floor is not something you lay in passing. Setting out and laying it takes considerably more cutting and precision than a straight plank floor. This is what I pay attention to:
- I position the centre line of the pattern so that it is balanced in the room
- I lay the floor in the direction of the light, so the pattern shows to its best
- With glued-down PVC the subfloor must always be levelled
- I finish the edges neatly with skirting boards from Sfeerplinten
As a cabinetmaker I am used to working to the millimetre. You can see that in the transitions at doors, glazed screens and corners.
Combine the pattern with your stairs
If there is a staircase in the same room, you can carry the colour of your herringbone floor onto the stairs. The staircase gets straight treads in the same decor. At Douwes Dekker, the PVC stair tread in Honey matches both the straight plank and the herringbone. That way floor and stairs form one whole, while the pattern stays on the floor.
Choose together with me in your home
A pattern is best chosen in your own space. I visit you free of charge and without obligation with the collections, assess your subfloor and show you how herringbone and chevron would look in your room.
After that I measure up myself and you receive a clear, made-to-measure quote. Book your free home consultation and discover which pattern suits your home best.