What Parquet Wood Floor is Best For You?

Wood flooring in parquet patterns is a popular option for many, many years already. People like the real wood generally for its durability, long-lasting power (wood flooring can last up to a century, if you make sure to maintain it properly and regularly), hard-wearing nature, the fact it is really easy to maintain in perfect condition, the fact it is prone to a number of aggressive environment factors and a lot more benefits. These are not the only reasons to love wood flooring, of course, because it is also very beautiful, naturally elegant and stylish, can work as a perfect backdrop to any interior design and style and even better – today’s market offers hardwood flooring in the greatest variety of colors, textures, patterns.

Speaking of flooring patterns, if you are a fan of the intriguing, unique and really eye-catching appearance, then parquet is right up your alley! The traditional and stylish parquet flooring offers all the benefits and advantages of the conventional solid wood floors, but also includes a more special and entertaining yet classic and luxory look. Offered in an impressive range of patterns and adding to this the opportunity to have all these patterns extra customized with a color, undertone, wood species type and finishing effect of your choice, when we talk about parquet floors, we talk about individuality, character and charm.

It is not hard to tell why people enjoy parquet patterns for so many centuries. There is something really special and stunning in the way the natural wood’s pattern in combined with the man-made one resulting in a design that spices up every space where the floor is installed. Of course, parquet is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea and many people would fine its appearance a bit too overwhelming and intimidating, when you do not match the engaging pattern the right space, meaning that you need a bigger and larger room for so much going on under your feet, a cleaner and simpler interior design too. For all the rest, we want to show our appreciation to this one-of-a-kind wood flooring option.

Another option if you have just moved or renovating is to find a company who can sand the floor and restore the parquet flooring to it’s original glory, removing the dents, stains and damaged boards. This can be a cheaper alternative that relaying floor.

The History of Parquet Wood Flooring

Before sharing our guide to parquet patterns, we want to talk a bit about when and how parquet is established as one of the most favorable wood flooring options out there. The thrilling charm of the patterned wood flooring has its long and interesting history and it goes like this – parquet has been introduced to the world during the late 1600’s in France, which is not a surprise, because France establishes a great number of many sustainable trends and designs. Back in the days concrete floors used to be the common thing, while marble ones were reserved for the wealthy royalties to the day, when people at the Versailles Palace noticed that besides being very beautiful and elegant, marble floors are simply not that functional and lead to a number of issues. A better substitute was quick to come and this is when the ball rooms of the palace was introduced to herringbone wood flooring pattern. Back then parquet was made by hand, piece by piece cut from various colored hardwoods and certainly a luxury that only the wealthiest could afford hence to the fact it was installed mainly in palaces.

Soon the artistic and elegant compositions made out of cut by hand pieces in different shapes and from different wood species started gaining more and more popularity and once people started figuring out how to them on their own, parquet was a part of thousands and thousands of households over Europe. Unfortunately, due to the fact that people still didn’t understand how to care and maintain wood flooring properly, the time-consuming installation couldn’t justify the quick requirements for replacement, so people started opting for another flooring alternatives.

However, parquet remained popular until 1930s, but with the introduction of carpet to the households across the world, wood flooring started lose its positions quickly and felt into oblivion. Only a few decades later, parquet wood flooring was back and after the industrial, design and technical improvement it was more durable, easy to install and hard-wearing than ever. This is the time when the modern parquet solutions are introduced to today’s world.

The Most Popular Parquet Wood Flooring Patterns

With so much of a great choice of parquet wood flooring patterns the today’s market is offering, we understand that it could be a bit too overwhelming and stressful for you to choose and make a decision. Because of that today we want to provide you with a brief glance at what is popular and highly preferred now and how you can incorporate patterns in your interior very successfully and escaping the old-world and nostalgic appearance and feeling.

Herringbone Pattern

Out of all parquet patterns out there, herringbone is for sure the most popular one. The pattern is created by arranging wooden blocks, pieces in different geometric shapes or tiles in alternating, zig-zagging 90-degree angles. The name comes from the shape of the herring fish spinal bone that inspires the pattern. Many people think that herringbone and chevron pattern are the same thing, but this is a popular misconception. We will talk about the main difference between these two below. The classic beauty of herringbone is unbeatable and the pattern offers a lot of elegance and distinctive style to a number of interiors, including modern and contemporary ones to pretty traditional and even rustic ones. In fact, herringbone pattern is often associated with luxury, because it looks expensive, but definitely can come on a very decent price. Thanks to modern technology and industrial improvement, herringbone parquet does not require so much time and specific skills to be installed and this is where the price drops significantly. Additionally, herringbone pattern offers every room with a bit of “movement” and extra dimension, even a bit of sass and fanciness. The way wooden blocks are arranged in a herringbone pattern will make your floor stronger and more solid, less prone to destructive factors like indoor humidity, moisture and high traffic.

Chevron Pattern

Chevron pattern looks a lot like herringbone pattern and even some wood flooring professionals sometimes confuse it, but unlike herringbone, chevron pattern is an arrangement of wooden blocks, planks or tiles with ends that are cut at 30-45 degree angles. Chevron pattern comes with all the visual benefits of herringbone as well as the advantages of solidness and sturdiness. Just like herringbone, chevron looks unique and adds some intriguing “spiciness” and dimension to the room, where it is installed, adding “layers” for more eye-catching design. Chevron can be both installed manually, or you can buy it as an already arranged timber from the factory. The pattern is fitting many styles – from modern and urban interior designs to rustic and interiors inspired by the 70s and 80s. Chevron patterned floors have a lot of versatility, they can be either subtle or commanding, depending to the rest of the room’s style. Chevron pattern stands out and help you make a stylish statement, it offers a strong and sophisticated look. It is a great option for both domestic and business settings.

Basket Weave Pattern

Basket weave parquet patterns is one of those final touches that provides your business or domestic setting with a luxurious, interesting and classic appearance without being too engaging and hard to style around. Simple yet eye-catching and a statement piece of any interior design, basket weave is both modern and traditional in the full sense of the both words. Basket weave pattern contributes to a great number of interiors and styles for both private homes and workplaces. The pattern does its wonder for both small and large rooms as well as it works as a compliment for a great variety of furniture pieces, decorations and art pieces from all decades of style. Basket weave parquet pattern stands for an arrangement of wooden blocks and planks that is inspired by, as the name suggests, a woven basket. This style adds a lot of dimension and layering to the room. Additionally, you can use different colors, grains and textures to add even more to the “layers” and achieve a very unique look that accentuates the pattern in different ways. There are some wood species that work better with this pattern and these are maple and oak as a traditional choice and black walnut and mahogany for a more surprising and dramatic effect.

These are the three parquet wood floor patterns you can commonly see in many houses and rooms in Europe and USA. Of course, there are so many other options you can consider and make work for your style, very distinctive and special styles. If you want to go that extra mile and create a really special and luxurious look for your home or workplace you can always opt for patterns that are based on specific historical precedents, including Monticello, Chalosse, Chantreuse, Gaujacq, Aremberg, Chantilly, Fontainbleu, Soubise and more. These patterns truthfully speaks for luxury. Most of these patterns are classic French examples of the Baroque period. These patterns usually take a lot of time to be installed and require specific skills and a lot of experience, but each one of them worth it.