There is no doubt that parquet flooring has made a successful come back in recent years. Its look is perfect for living rooms and has the advantage that, even though it is a hardwood floor, it is as easy to install as a tile. Parquet flooring originates from France first appearing in the 17th century, but it only became popular in UK in the early 1900s. Since the 80s, it has become a constant in UK houses and it is now experiencing a period of rejuvenation.
Even though parquet flooring was originally designed using solid wood, you can now find it in engineered wood too. Engineered parquet flooring is made the same as another other engineered wood. Layers of plywood are stuck together and finished with a top layer of real wood to give it a natural aesthetic. Because of this, engineered parquet can even be used with underfloor heating, so is ideal for modern properties. There are a couple of different styles to a parquet flooring, so lets jump right in!
Herringbone
Herringbone is usually the most popular pattern when installing a parquet floor at home. The planks form a staggered zigzag pattern which is where this floor earns its name. Fun fact, the pattern of this floor is inspired by the herring fish, as the pattern is pretty similar to the structure of their spines. Long planks are installed on top of one another, which gives that staggered look. This classic and timeless design adds a lot of value to your home. This floor was once popular in the 70’s, but don’t worry about this giving your floor a dated look. As we mentioned previously, this floor is hugely popular right now offering a slightly vintage look so is ideal for modern and trendy properties.
Chevron
Chevron uses a zigzag pattern that comes to a sharp point. As opposed to the staggered look of a herringbone, chevron floors fit together concisely to form a notable “V” look. The planks for this pattern are cut at angles to interlock perfectly to form a right and consistent design. The pattern creates the illusion of great dimension and this is emphasised by the flow of direction. For this reason, this design is perfect when you are looking to make a room look larger.
Britt Pattern
This pattern replicates traditional brickwork and is there for pretty simple. Britt parquets are contemporary and very versatile, you can even use it to crate a border around the room where you are installing the floor. One of the ways you can use it is by using different shades of wood to make this pattern really stand out.
No matter which design jumps out at you the most, all parquet floors are available in a range of species including oak, merbau and walnut to name a few. Parquet flooring can also be sanded and refinished multiple times which means you can give you floor a new lease of life if you think it could do with a little TLC.
As you can see, parquet flooring hasn’t lost its charm over the years and is now more popular than ever. No matter which design you go for, parquet floors are effortlessly stylish and will immediately transform and add value to your home.
