Herringbone Flooring

The herringbone pattern

Herringbone lays short rectangular blocks at right angles, so each block meets the next in a zigzag. It has been a favourite in European homes for centuries and still reads as tailored rather than trendy. The pattern pulls the eye along the room, which suits hallways and narrow spaces, and it adds movement to a large open-plan floor.

Two colours in French oak

Both options are engineered French oak, with real oak on top and a stable core underneath, finished in a matt UV lacquer.

• Danish White Herringbone: a light, washed oak that keeps a room bright and sits well with white walls, linen and natural stone.
• Fiano Brown Herringbone: a warmer brown oak with a traditional, apartment-in-Paris feel.

Each block is 888 x 148 mm, a generous size that gives a bold zigzag with fewer joins across the room.

Laying herringbone

Herringbone is glued down, not floated. It needs a flat, dry and sound subfloor, and the layout is set out from a centre line so the pattern sits square to the room. There are more angled cuts at the walls than with straight boards, so allow extra when you order.

Ask your installer to plan the setout before you buy. It shows where the pattern will meet doorways, stair nosings and other floors, and which way the zigzag should run.

Herringbone in timber or tile

The same oak colours come as long planks in our engineered oak flooring, so you can run planks in the bedrooms and herringbone in the living area. For a different species, compare spotted gum or browse all timber flooring.

Timber is not the right choice for wet areas, but the pattern can carry on. Use herringbone tiles in the bathroom, laundry or splashback for a matching look that handles water. Use our quote calculator to estimate quantities, or book a free design consultation to plan timber and tile together.