4 Common Hardwood Floor Patterns (Straight, Diagonal , Parquet and Random Width)

When you hear the word pattern associated with flooring, tiles are usually the first thing to come to mind. That format alone allows you to use a variety of interesting patterns whether the materials are made from vinyl, porcelain, or stone. If you prefer hardwood flooring to tile, there are still some patterns you may not be aware of that can bring an entirely new look to any room in your home, however.

Straight Hardwood Flooring Patterns

If you’ve been in a home or building with hardwood flooring installed, you will be familiar with this pattern. Straight pattern hardwood flooring is considered traditional, and it’s the pattern people have been using to install hardwood flooring for hundreds of years.

As the name implies, straight hardwood flooring is installed where the boards are laid in a normal fashion – straight to the wall. In most cases, the hardwood is installed along the longest wall in the room, which can make the area appear significantly larger.

This pattern is incredibly quick and easy to install, and something any homeowner can handle without extra measurements or tricky cuts. It is suitable for almost any style of décor as well from contemporary to traditional.

Diagonal Hardwood Flooring

While straight run hardwood flooring is the most popular style, the easiest way to dramatically impact a room is to run the flooring at an angle or diagonally. It’s something many homeowners aren’t familiar with, but a technique that will make an impact in any room.

Diagonal pattern hardwood is run from corner to corner instead of wall to wall. The pattern can make a room appear wider and longer but is also useful if you want to draw attention to the corner of a room. This allows designers to create focal points with ease, although it’s not quite as easy to install.

The same tools and basic techniques are used to install hardwood flooring diagonally, but the cuts used can be challenging. Unless you have some experience with hard flooring installation, this pattern or style may be better suited for a professional installation.

Random Width Hardwood Flooring

Whereas diagonal hardwood installation can require a few tricky cuts and plenty of precise measurements, there’s only one thing to keep in mind with random width hardwood flooring. That would be the colors and pattern itself, which dictates how this flooring will look in your home.

While all hardwood flooring should be staggered with random ends, the widths are generally the same. That gives hardwood a uniform look despite the grade or species. Installing random width hardwood flooring has the opposite effect, and allows your imagination to run wild by mixing colors, widths, or even species.

We feel that random width hardwood is just as easy to install as straight pattern flooring, but does require more time. You’ll want to lay out patterns beforehand to get a better idea of how the flooring will look; especially with multi-tonal species like Hickory.

Parquet Hardwood Flooring Patterns

The term parquet hardwood flooring can actually refer to more than a half-dozen patterns. This style is completely different from traditional hardwood flooring that runs straight or diagonally. That’s not only due to the format, however, but also through the use of unique geometric patterns.

Parquet flooring has long been associated with elegance. This French style of flooring uses pieces or squares of wood, each of which can contain a unique pattern. They provide better dimensional stability than plank hardwood flooring and can be found on basketball courts and businesses along with residential settings.

One of the more popular patterns is called basketweave. This parquet flooring style resembles the weave of a wicker basket, and there can be a combination of both light and dark woods. It’s one of the older patterns, but still very popular today with modern design. The parquet brick pattern is vintage style, although it can be installed in several different ways.

Brick parquet patterns can work across an entire floor but are often used in conjunction with other parquet styles. It’s also ideal for small areas like entrances and exits that transition into carpet. The Chevron pattern is a bit more modern, and a great fit for larger rooms. It can make small areas appear too “busy” however, just like the Herringbone pattern.

Herringbone parquet is also amazing when used in large rooms. It can be installed horizontally or vertically depending on your preference but will make small rooms or hallways appear even smaller. All of these parquet hardwood flooring styles can be used with one another which makes for some interesting patterns in the hands of a skilled designer.

Final Thoughts

The pattern of the hardwood installed in a home is something many consumers overlook. As you can see, there is more than one option, and some styles can actually have a negative impact on certain spaces. Our installation guide can help with the pricing and process if you’re considering installing any of these patterns in your home.

Hardwood Flooring Pattern FAQ

Q: Are parquet wood floors hard to install?

A: That depends on the pattern, room, and your experience with flooring. It can be easier than traditional straight hardwood flooring patterns, but harder to work with in some areas.

Q: Are special tools required to install floors in different patterns?

A: While you may have to take more measurements and make more cuts, the tools required for the job remain the same.

Q: Can you install engineered flooring diagonally?

A: Yes. Just like solid hardwood, engineered flooring can be installed using the same patterns found in this guide.

Q: Which hardwood flooring pattern is the easiest to clean?

A: All hardwood flooring is relatively easy to clean due to its construction. The exception is flooring with a lot of surface texture and rustic hardwood which can be a little more challenging to sweep.

Q: Is it possible to use multiple hardwood patterns in one room?

A: Yes, but it can also be a mistake. If you plan to use multiple species or patterns in one area, it’s important to use a visualizer tool or lay the flooring out beforehand to get an idea of how it will look in the room.