The Pattern You Choose is Just as Important As the Wood
A lot of homeowners focus mainly on the color and finishes of the wood for flooring, as well as the types of wood available. Most don’t give little thought to the layout. This is unfortunate because the layout provides a lot of additional value to a room in terms of both aesthetics and function. The same wood can appear really bold and messy, or simple and calm, depending on the layout that is used. If you’re considering a hardwood floor for your London home, you should take the time to consider this choice before making others.
A Straight Lay, the Classic and Practical Selection
A straight lay floor is the most common floor pattern and rightfully so, as it works best in almost all room sizes and shapes. It will also make a room seem longer and draw a room together. Because it tends to be easier and less costly to install, a straight lay most often is the preferred layout for hallways and bedrooms, as it will best accent the room in a quiet manner.
Herringbone: A Beautiful and Elegant Choice.
The herringbone layout, where multiple short boards are installed at right angles to create a zig zag layout, is commonly found in both period and contemporary London homes. With its eye catching layout, it can act as a focal point of any room and can be utilized in hallways, living rooms or even dining rooms.
Herringbone takes more time to fit than straight lay because of the intricacy of the pattern and the length of the boards. To avoid an unpleasant surprise, make sure you know how long your fitter thinks it will take before you decide on doing herringbone.
Chevron: A Bolder Take On The Same Idea
Chevron boards can be confused for herringbone boards, but the boards are cut at an angle. A zigzag chevron offers a sharper and more graphic pattern and is a great choice for modern and more contemporary homes. Due to the complexity of the pattern, it requires pre-measurement and careful planning so it also helps to work with a fitter who can do a survey.
Getting The Sub-floor Right, Whatever The Pattern
Every pattern is only as good as the subfloor. An uneven subfloor will eventually show through all wood floors, but is particularly evident in herringbone and chevron. Considering herringbone and chevrons patterns show many joints closely spaced, it is vital to do all of the preparation in order to achieve a flat and even subfloor, so that the flooring stays flat and even once and for all.
Matching The Layout To The Room
The room’s function should be considered prior to design as that informs pattern choice.
Family kitchen-diners usually get a lot of action which means you’re better off going with a subtle straight lay. On the other hand, a hallway or living room that gets less use but has an interesting flow could benefit from a herringbone or chevron pattern. Patterns that incorporate more joints have a unique way of catching the winter sun, so it is best to test out samples at different times of the day in the space you’re thinking of designing to see which one actually captures your interest.
Before committing to anything, it is best to layout different options and walk through the different elements a room has to offer, including the light, and how the space gets used. Not to mention, it is always smart to discuss the design before seeing a space in person. Telling a fitter what the room looks like, the space you have to work with and how you see yourself using the room will greatly increase the fitter’s ability to direct you towards a specific pattern as opposed to just trying to sell you the most intricate one.
Wood flooring is a long-term investment and in a room with a nice even flow a subtle straight lay can be a nice compliment. Herringbone and chevron patterns both have a nice classic, yet contemporary feel and add a bit of character.