Flooring by Pattern

Which pattern should you choose?

Pattern is the decision that changes how a room feels, and unlike material it is almost entirely about taste. The practical differences come down to three things: how much you waste in cuts, whether you can fit it yourself, and how much floor the pattern needs before it reads properly.

A patterned floor costs more than the headline price suggests. You buy 15% extra rather than 10%, and fitting takes longer. Budget for both before you fall for the photograph.

Plank flooring

101 floors, and our largest range by a distance. Long straight boards laid in staggered rows, which is the layout most people picture when they picture a wooden floor. It lets the grain do the talking rather than the pattern.

The only pattern available in all four materials: 59 in engineered oak, 7 in solid oak, 18 in laminate and 17 in SPC and LVT vinyl. It also wastes the least, because an offcut from the end of one row usually starts the next.

Choose it if you want the floor to sit quietly behind the room, or you are fitting it yourself.

Herringbone flooring

67 floors. Short blocks cut square at both ends and laid at ninety degrees, so the end of one meets the side of the next in a staggered zigzag. The pattern that has defined British interiors for the past few years.

Our largest patterned range, and the only pattern we stock in every material, from engineered oak and solid oak through laminate to fully waterproof vinyl. That last one matters, since it is the only route to a herringbone bathroom.

Choose it if you want a decorative floor that works at any scale, in any room.

Tile effect flooring

14 floors in laminate and vinyl, printed and embossed to look like stone, marble, granite or Victorian encaustic tile, with a bevelled edge standing in for the grout line.

The appeal is practical as much as visual. It is warm underfoot where real tile is cold, it clicks together rather than needing adhesive and grout, and dropped crockery usually survives. The four vinyl designs are fully waterproof and rated for bathrooms; the ten laminate ones are not.

Choose it if you want the look of a tiled kitchen or hallway without the cold or the grout.

Chevron flooring

8 floors, evenly split between engineered oak and laminate. Blocks cut at an angle at both ends, meeting flush so they form a continuous V running the length of the room.

Where herringbone steps and staggers, chevron flows, and the eye follows it. That directional pull is the whole point, which is why it earns its keep in a long room or an open-plan space and has less to work with in a small square one. It is also the most demanding pattern we sell to lay, since there is no stagger to hide a small error.

Choose it if the room has length to run down and you want something more contemporary than herringbone.

Versailles flooring

8 floors, 6 in engineered oak and 2 in laminate. Large square panels, each carrying an interwoven diagonal pattern inside a bordered frame, laid in a grid across the floor.

The most decorative floor we sell, and the one most dependent on the room. A Versailles panel is far larger than a herringbone block, and the pattern only reads once several panels are visible at once. In a generous living room or hallway it is magnificent. In a small bedroom you see two panels and a lot of cut edges.

Choose it if the room is large enough to show it off and you want a floor with genuine presence.

Pattern or material first?

Whichever matters more to you. If the room decides it, start with material: underfloor heating rules out solid oak, a bathroom rules out everything except vinyl, and a busy family kitchen points at laminate or vinyl. Browse by flooring type in that case.

If the look decides it, start here, then narrow by material within the pattern. Plank and herringbone are available in all four materials, so you are unlikely to be forced into a compromise. Chevron, Versailles and tile effect are more limited, and worth checking early.

Flooring patterns: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between herringbone and chevron?

Herringbone blocks are cut square and meet end to side, producing a staggered zigzag. Chevron blocks are cut at an angle and meet flush, forming a continuous point that runs down the room.

Which flooring pattern is easiest to fit?

Plank, followed by tile effect. Both are laid in straightforward rows and both come in click systems. Herringbone, chevron and Versailles all need setting out from a centre line and are usually work for a fitter.

How much extra should I order for a patterned floor?

15% for herringbone, chevron and Versailles, against 10% for plank and tile effect. Angled cuts at the perimeter waste considerably more material and the offcuts rarely find a second use.

Which pattern suits a small room?

Plank, herringbone or tile effect. All three read properly at any scale. Chevron needs length to run down and Versailles needs enough floor to show several complete panels, so both lose their effect in a small space.

Does a patterned floor cost more?

Usually, though less than people expect per square metre. The bigger costs are the higher waste allowance and the longer fitting time, so budget for both rather than just the pack price.

Can I get a patterned floor for a bathroom?

Herringbone and tile effect, yes, provided you choose an SPC or LVT vinyl design, which is fully waterproof. Chevron and Versailles are not currently stocked in vinyl.

Which patterns work with underfloor heating?

All five, provided the material suits. Engineered oak, laminate and vinyl are generally fine; solid oak generally is not. Suitability is stated in the specification on every product page.

Which direction should a patterned floor run?

Usually with the point of the pattern leading towards the main door or window, so it draws you into the room. Your fitter will set it out from a true centre line to keep it running square.