Choosing flooring
Herringbone vs Chevron Flooring: Which Pattern Suits Your Sydney Home?
By Design Timber Flooring · Updated · 3 min read
Compare the joints, visual rhythm and layout decisions behind two timber patterns shown in our project gallery.
Herringbone and chevron are different timber flooring patterns. Herringbone uses rectangular pieces arranged in a staggered zigzag. Chevron uses angled ends that meet to form a continuous V. The distinction is easiest to see at the joints, rather than from the overall colour of the room.
Design Timber Flooring installs both patterns. The right choice depends on the look you want, the available product and how the pattern will run through your rooms. Neither is automatically the better choice for every small room, terrace or open-plan home.
The difference at a glance
| Decision | Herringbone | Chevron |
|---|---|---|
| Joint appearance | A staggered meeting of rectangular pieces | Angled ends meeting in a continuous V |
| Visual rhythm | A broken zigzag with an interlocking appearance | A more continuous directional line |
| Layout discussion | Block scale, starting line and balance at the edges | Pattern axis, alignment and balance at the edges |
| Product check | Confirm the actual pattern product and fitting instructions | Confirm the actual angle, product and fitting instructions |
How to read the pattern in your room
Begin at the entrance most people use. Consider where your eye travels, the position of large furniture and which parts of the floor will remain visible. A pattern should work with the whole layout, not just the empty rectangle on a floor plan. A hallway that opens into a wider room deserves particular attention because the pattern is seen from several directions.
Choosing block size and direction
The scale of the blocks affects how many repetitions appear across the room. Compare more than a single sample so you can see the rhythm. Ask Jimmy to discuss the pattern direction against the entrance, sightlines and main living area. There is no rule that a particular pattern always makes a room feel larger; the effect depends on the proportions and surrounding design.
Planning doorways and edges
A layout can look balanced in the centre yet leave awkward cuts at a wall or doorway. Discuss the starting line, perimeter treatment and the point where patterned flooring meets another surface. If you want a feature border, first confirm the available product and the scope rather than assuming it comes with every pattern installation.
What changes during installation?
Both patterns need careful set-out and a suitable prepared substrate. The fixing system follows the chosen product's instructions. Discuss preparation and sequencing before settling on a programme. Prefinished boards and floors finished on-site have different handover requirements, so the pattern alone does not tell you when the room can return to normal use.
See both patterns in our work
Our herringbone gallery and chevron gallery show the different joint patterns. Compare a whole-room view with the detail images: one explains the overall flow, while the other shows the joins. The photographs demonstrate the pattern; they are not a guarantee that the same product or colour is currently available.
Choose the product and layout together
Once you have a preferred pattern, compare the actual timber, finish and sample variation. Our materials page introduces the timbers we work with, and the supply-and-install service explains how selection and installation fit together.
Discuss your flooring project with Jimmy. Bring your floor plan or room dimensions and a reference image, so the conversation covers both the appearance and the layout.
Details from our project gallery
