At first glance, the herringbone and chevron patterns look the same, but if you look more closely, you’ll see they are very different. The chevron pattern is sometimes called “French herringbone” or “Hungarian point.”
Both herringbone and chevron are made up of zigzag lines, which they have in common. The chevron pattern is mostly made up of a continuous zigzag pattern that forms a V-shape or sharp point that keeps coming repeatedly.
The herringbone pattern comprises broken or stepped zigzags with no sharp point. Most parquet wood floors have herringbone or chevron patterns.
Patterns like herringbone and straight cut have been around for a long time. They may have been around as early as 1800 BC.
Even though these patterns are most often used for flooring, you can also find them in wainscoting, other wall finishes, and furniture.
| Chevron | Herringbone Flooring |
| Different angles are cut into the ends of the chevron. For instance, a common chevron has an angle of 45 or 60 degrees. | The herringbone is cut at a 90-degree angle. |
| Make a pattern that looks like a zigzag, with a point at the top of each zigzag. | Its zigzag pattern looks like it is more spread out. |
| It makes your house look beautiful and classy. | It gives us a style that is both classy and old-fashioned. |
| It originates in the French from the 14th to the 17th century. | It has been observed in the history of ancient Egypt. |
Both herringbone and straight-cut patterns make a room look more stylish, especially when used on hardwood floors.
Some interior designers think that the herringbone pattern makes a room look bigger, while the chevron pattern makes it look smaller. However, this can also depend on the color of the parquet.
Herringbone patterns are also more common in wider parquet ranges, and they are usually easier and cheaper to put in than chevron patterns.
Installing and Maintaining Chevron Parquet and Herringbone Flooring
Installing chevron and herringbone floors can take a lot of time. Each piece must be set up and fit perfectly, so the design stays in the room.
Most of the time, the planks are glued to a subfloor made of wood or concrete, and then they are carefully placed so that they fit together tightly. Hiring a professional is a sure approach to ensure that the end outcome is correct.
Just like regular hardwood floors, they will look beautiful for decades if you take care of parquet flooring. To keep it looking good, make sure to clean up spills and moisture as soon as they happen and sweep or mop it often.
We recommend using a product that is already finished, cut, and ready to install. If you want to buy flooring, make sure it can be pre-cut into chevron and herringbone pieces for your parquet flooring project.
Is Chevron more expensive than herringbone flooring?
Because of how it is cut, chevron flooring is often more expensive than other patterns.
Herringbone pieces are square and cut at a 90-degree angle, while chevrons are cut at a 45-degree angle at the end and fit together at a point to make a zigzag pattern.
Distinguishing Chevron vs. Herringbone patterns
It’s fairly easy to distinguish a Herringbone vs. Chevron pattern when you know what to look for.
Herringbone Flooring
In this parquet model, the slats are placed at 90 degrees, and their shape is similar to a herring fish.
Its installation is not difficult, but hiring a professional for this process is recommended.
It was used for centuries in castles and palaces, bringing a classic air to the order of the day. The stately air it brings to the house is unique; it also brings great dynamism since the lines are simpler.
In this case, herringbone parquet allows many combinations of tones and sizes. For example, the large ones create a feeling of spaciousness in the room.
Depending on the space where it is placed, it may be more beautiful to age it, as in rustic houses.
It should not be forgotten that this flooring combines perfectly with the furniture, whatever its style.
Chevron flooring
Chevron parquet is very similar to herringbone. As it is, it was used centuries ago, mainly found in houses of French nobles, but we can still see it in the Louvre Museum.
What is the difference with herringbone parquet? Fundamentally, it is the lean angle that makes the difference. In this case, the slats are placed at 45º or 60º angles.
It is also recommended that an expert perform this installation. Another aspect to consider is the light’s direction since you can play with it.
If they are placed in the direction of the light, their appearance will be homogeneous, while if they are placed perpendicularly, a contrast of colors will be created.
Why is this modality a good option? First, it generates movement in the room but has multiple finishes and qualities and is timeless.
Similarities Between Chevron Floors And Herringbone Floors
The obvious similarity between the flooring patterns is that they are both solid hardwood floor types. They are also the ideal substitutes for typical straight hardwood flooring designs.
Chevron and herringbone parquet flooring go well with various colors and wood species. You may be confident that they will make your floors stand out.
It appears to be the same; however, there are variances. Because of their resemblance, the chevron design is sometimes referred to as the herringbone pattern’s sibling.
They are not, however, identical!
Chevron is composed of little strips of identical length, although they form a parallelogram in this case.
The slats’ short sides are arranged opposite each other to form a line. The chevron pattern design appears more sophisticated than the herringbone pattern.
These stunning flooring patterns may be used to create stunning floor designs. Use them in big spaces rather than small ones for the best results.
Which Is Best Between Chevron And Herringbone Floors?
There is no set rule for choosing between chevron and herringbone floors. Your choice should depend on how you like things.
Most people with either of these floor plans chose them because they were the ones they liked best.
If you know the difference between herringbone and chevron flooring, you can choose which one will look best in your home.
Conclusion
People, even professionals, often get the two styles mixed up. They are floors where the installer must have a lot of experience and know-how to do a good job.
They are floors that don’t go out of style and keep getting more valuable over time, which is not true of almost any other material in our homes.
Also, as with any design icon, its high quality makes it a great fit for any decorating style.