Well first of all, appreciate that most parquet floors are installed as a multi-directional patter, which chops in half, the amount of expansion and contraction in your floor, which is of particular advantage in “high humidity” locations, such as anywhere in the Sydney basin.
So you want parquet floors. Join the club. Half of Sydney seems to be ripping up their old carpet and putting in some kind of zigzag timber pattern right now. But here is where it gets confusing. You start looking at samples and suddenly there are two patterns that look almost identical and you have no idea which one to pick.
Herringbone and Chevron. They get mixed up constantly. Even some salespeople use the names wrong. But they are actually quite different once you know what to look for, and the one you choose changes how the room feels, how much you pay, and how easy the install is.
This is the Herringbone vs Chevron parquet breakdown you need before you commit to anything.
Alright, What Is the Difference?
Stand back and squint and yeah, they both look like zigzags. Get closer and it is a different story.
Herringbone
Each plank is a straight rectangle. Nothing fancy about the shape. They get laid at right angles to each other so one plank butts up against the side of the next one. The result is a staggered zigzag where you can clearly see the end of each board. It has a bit of a woven, textured feel to it.
Chevron
Chevron planks have their ends cut at a 45 degree angle. So when two planks meet in the middle, they form a sharp V that points straight down the room. No staggering. Just clean, symmetrical arrows running in one direction. It is appears tighter and more precise.
Easiest way to remember it? Herringbone is the one where the planks overlap at the ends. Chevron is the one where the tips meet in a perfect point.
How Do They Actually Look in a Real Room?
Photos on Pinterest are one thing. Real life is another.
Herringbone Is the Easygoing One
There is a reason Herringbone has been around since people were laying floors in old European palaces. It just works. Put it in a Californian bungalow in Mosman, and it looks right. Put it in a brand new build out west, and it still looks right. The pattern has enough going on to be interesting, but it is not screaming for attention. It sits in the background and lets everything else in the room breathe.
If you have no idea what style your home is or you just want something that is never going to look dated, Herringbone is the safe bet. Not safe in a boring way. Safe in a “you will still love this in fifteen years” way.
Chevron Is the Show Off
Chevron wants you to look at it. Those sharp V shapes pull your eyes down the room, and the effect is pretty dramatic. It feels more intentional, more designed, like someone really thought about the floor instead of just picking the first nice timber they saw.
It works brilliantly in big open plan living areas and long hallways where those lines can really stretch out. In smaller rooms it can feel like a lot though. A tiny study with Chevron can end up feeling busy rather than beautiful.
What About Hallways and odd-shaped rooms?
Herringbone handles weird room shapes better because the staggered pattern does not draw attention to walls that are not quite straight. Chevron is less forgiving. If your walls are a bit wonky, those perfect V lines will make it obvious. Something to think about in older Sydney homes, where nothing is perfectly square.
Let’s Talk Money
Because this is usually what decides it in the end.
Why Chevron Costs More
It comes down to the cuts. Chevron planks need angled ends which means more manufacturing time and more timber wasted during production. The material alone is usually 10 to 20 percent more than Herringbone for the same species of wood.
Then there is the install. Chevron takes longer to lay because everything has to line up exactly. One row slightly off and the whole pattern looks crooked. Herringbone is way more forgiving. The staggered joints naturally hide tiny imperfections so the installer can move quicker.
While some parquet patterns can cost about 30 to 50 percent more in labour than a standard straight lay timber floor, it is a very pleasant surprise to many, that parquet, installed directly over a level, clean and dry concrete sub-floor, may be more economical that a normal strip timber floor, because it does not require a Structural Plywood sub-base, which the strip floor does require.
With parquet, Chevron sits at the expensive end of that range. Herringbone closer to the cheaper end.
You Also Waste More Timber with Chevron
Those angled cuts create a lot of offcuts that cannot be used anywhere else. You need to order 15 to 20 percent extra material for Chevron. Herringbone waste is lower, usually 10 to 15 percent. On a big job that difference really adds up.
Ballpark Numbers
For engineered European Oak, which is what most people go with in Sydney:
Herringbone runs about $ 220 to $290 per square metre plus GST installed. Chevron is more like $250 to $320 per square metre Plus GST installed. So roughly 15 to 25 percent more for Chevron on the same timber. Over a whole house that gap can easily be a few thousand dollars.
The Herringbone vs Chevron parquet Installation Question
If you are hiring someone to do it, Herringbone is easier and faster. Straight cut ends, a more forgiving pattern, and quicker to lay. Most experienced floor guys can smash through a Herringbone job without too much drama.
Chevron is a different beast. The angles have to be bang on. If the installer is even a degree or two off on the cuts, you will see it on the finished floor. Not every flooring guy has done Chevron before and it shows when someone is winging it. If you go to Chevron, spend the extra time finding someone who has actually laid it plenty of times. Ask to see photos of their previous work. This is not the job to give to someone learning on the fly.
Day-to-Day Living
Once they are down, both floors are basically the same to look after. Sweep them, give them a mop now and then, do not let water pool on them. Standard timber floor stuff. An Electro-Static Dust Control Mop used completely DRY is the preferred method of looking after any quality wood floor.
Chevron’s tight V joints can trap a bit more dust and crumbs than herringbone’s staggered ones. It is a tiny thing but if you have got kids dropping food everywhere, you might notice it.
Both can be sanded and refinished over the years if you have gone with engineered or solid timber. A good floor will last you 25 to 30 years before it needs any major work.
Which One Do Buyers Prefer?
Both add value. No question. Parquet floors make a home look finished and premium, and buyers in Sydney absolutely notice them.
Herringbone appeals to more people because it is classic and fits any style. Chevron reads as more of a luxury or designer choice. If you are doing a reno to sell, Herringbone is probably the smarter call because it does not turn anyone off. If you are building your forever home, pick whichever one makes your heart sing. Seriously. You are the one who has to look at it every day.
Can You Use Both?
Some people do Herringbone in the living areas and Chevron in the hallway, or the other way around. It can look great if you stick with the same timber and colour throughout. Use two different timbers though and it starts to look confused.
The more practical move is parquet in the rooms that matter, your living room, kitchen and hallway, and then a matching straight plank in the bedrooms. Same wood, simpler layout, saves you money where nobody is really paying attention anyway.
Bottom Line
The Herringbone vs Chevron parquet decision really comes down to three things. Your taste, your budget, and how fussy you are about perfect lines.
Herringbone is the one that works everywhere, costs less, installs easier and never looks wrong. It is the crowd favourite for a reason.
Chevron is for people who want that extra sharpness and are willing to pay for it. It looks stunning when it is done well. Just make sure it is done well.
Both patterns have been on floors for hundreds of years. They are not a trend that is going to disappear next year. Whichever one you go with, you are making a solid choice. Go look at them in a showroom, stand on both, and go with the one that makes you smile. That is really all there is to it.
