Beautiful Hardwood Floor Patterns

When it comes to hardwood floor patterns, there are SO many options to consider!

After I posted yesterday that I’ll be getting new flooring in my kitchen and breakfast room, many of you expressed your disappointment that I won’t be painting my floor.  I should have clarified.  New flooring doesn’t automatically rule out painting the floor.  I’m still really leaning in that direction (I kind of had my heart set on a painted floor), but in true Kristi fashion, I’m looking at and considering all possibilities so that I know that the final decision is truly the one I want.

So in considering all other options, I’ve also been looking at various interesting hardwood floor patterns.  There are a thousand options out there for patterned hardwood floors, but so many of them require actually purchasing specialty parquet flooring that has already been pieced together, similar to the sheets of ready-to-install mosaic tile that create intricate patterns.  But there are quite a few interesting patterns that can be created with regular hardwood flooring.  They may take a bit of math (not my strong suit) and a bit of fancy cutting with a miter saw, but they’re all very attainable.

Great Examples Of Hardwood Floor Patterns

After looking at so many examples in the last 24 hours, I’ve come to realize that this chevron pattern, with the chevrons separated by straight boards, is my absolute favorite design.  (Sorry, herringbone!  You’ve been moved to second place!)  🙂

hardwood floor pattern - chevron 1

Chevron hardwood floor by Francois & Co.

But there’s so much more you can do with a chevron design.  Here’s one with opposing chevron designs meeting in the middle and creating a square design where they meet.

hardwood floor pattern - chevron 2

Chevron hardwood floor from Atelier des Granges

And here’s another example with this idea used in a narrow hallway, and with the design meeting in the middle where the two opposite directions are going away from each other rather than towards to form a square pattern.

hardwood floor pattern - chevron 3

Contemporary Hall by Chicago Interior Designers & Decorators Michael Abrams Limited

And here’s the same concept done with a herringbone pattern rather than a chevron pattern.

hardwood floor pattern - herringbone 1

Contemporary Bathroom by Burnsville Design-Build Firms Highmark Builders

And of course, there’s always the option of using just a plain and simple chevron pattern, like in this kitchen.

hardwood floor pattern - chevron 4

Contemporary Kitchen by Hong Kong Interior Designers & Decorators hoo Interior Design & Styling

Or my longstanding favorite (until yesterday) — a plain and simple herringbone pattern, as seen in this living room and dining room.

hardwood floor pattern - herringbone 2

Modern Dining Room by Other Metro Photographers Elad Gonen

Another great idea is to install the boards so that they form concentric rectangles.

hardwood floor pattern - concentric rectangles

Eclectic Dining Room by Dallas Media & Bloggers Sarah Greenman

Or you can get really creative with this idea and have concentric rectangles, with a center section of offset concentric rectangles that create kind of an area rug look.

hardwood floor pattern - concentric rectangles 2

Hardwood floor with concentric rectangle pattern from Design Dump

Another classic design is the square basketweave.  This would be very easy to create with regular hardwood flooring.

hardwood floor pattern - square basketweave

Contemporary Spaces

There are so many more ideas that you can do with just plain ‘ole hardwood flooring, like adding borders around the room, or even a more intricate (but still totally doable) Greek Key border design. With all of these options that I’ve now opened myself up to by getting new flooring, plus all of the painted wood floor options that I already had, I feel like I have an impossible decision before me.

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32 Comments

  1. hmmmmmmmm…….my vote is for the very first picture with the whitish stain….
    I’ll be watching to see how soon I will be outvoted :^)
    Blessings to you,
    J

    1. I’m with J-love #1 in the entirety. It’s kinda the best of both worlds…the idea of paint but with the natural variation of wood.

  2. So many choices, so little time… sounds like paralysis by analysis.

    I like the herringbone.

    1. Ha! I get that quite frequently, I’m afraid. 🙂

      But I still have to purchase the flooring (which I hope to do today) and then let it acclimate to my house for 72 hours (or possibly longer, I can’t remember), so I’m giving myself that long to make a final decision. But no longer. Once that flooring is acclimated, I’m going to start installing it, so that’s the deadline I’ve given myself. I won’t allow myself to have another living room window treatment situation where my indecision drags on and on. 🙂

  3. The first option is my favorite, but they are all absolutely gorgeous. I am sure that whatever you choose will be perfect! Living vicariously through your renovation makes me excited for the day we are out of the military and buy our first home. The things I can do…

  4. Sometimes I have TOO many choices and I freeze (like my living room redecoration right now). I tend to overthink and doubt myself but I love how you can so easily make the right choice and act on it right away. Your progress is an addiction for me!!

  5. Oh WOW…I WAS a fan of the herringbone, until I seen picture number 1 and 5! In the first picture you can get the best of both worlds, a striped effect and a chevron. That’s my favorite, my new favorite, herringbone is now my second place too! I feel for you, so many options, I would drive myself totally insane and probably my husband too…Cant wait to see you final decision, so exciting!

  6. Oooh, I’m loving the concentric rectangles! Do you think it would require a lot of extra wood to do that? My 2nd choice would be the chevron going in opposite directions that meets to form a square. But, I know that what ever you decide to go with, it will be awesome! I love seeing all the possibilities you share with us. You have definitely broadened my decorating horizons! Love following your adventures!

    1. Hi there! So glad you are making such great progress. I love the concentric rectangles the most and it looks as if you could center the design yet still continue the run along the back cabinets and into the breakfast room. You could even copy that design into that room as well, which I think would be sophisticated. Also, with that design, it would be pretty doing alternating colors of stain or paint which would get your striped look but with more interest. Two colors that don’t contrast too much would be good so you have the beauty of the design, but not something that would keep your eyes trained on the floor taking away from your total kitchen design. By the way, I still want a peek at the sink you got at your habitat store and when your mind can be on something else, what sort of faucet are you considering? Thanks for all your posts. Like everyone else, I’m addicted.

  7. I always look forward to your posts! The design options are so beautiful- and after all of the measuring and cutting and measuring again (in my opinion) it would be so sad to cover up your beautiful wooden design with stripes painted on top!

  8. Kristi,
    You know I am a fan of all that you do. And I am certain that you could rock any of those floor choices. However, I was thinking about the rest of the flooring in the house. I seem to remember that it runs in straight rows. I was wondering how open the kitchen and breakfast room are to the rest of the house? Will the change of pattern be very obvious? Or is a standard doorway going to be between the kitchen and the rest of the house? I think that if it is not going to be wide open to the rest of the house it will look fantastic. Just wondering. And so excited to see what you do. Also I am so excited that your leveling is going to happen tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  9. So many choices 😀 Since it will be in the kitchen and you will not have an island…I think the “area rug” idea would look great. Perhaps you could incorporate a second type of wood to add a color variation…or maybe the “rug” pattern in the main rectangle of the kitchen and then do a second design like #3 for the area that is the walk through from the rooms on both sides of the kitchen –the area in front of the cabinets you took out last. Sort of like a “carpet runner” that would tie the three rooms together. Whatever you do will be wonderful 😀 My son and I installed prefinished hw in our living/dining room area. I rented the floor nailer from HD. It was an invaluable time/effort saver!

  10. I’m with Sheila F, in that I’d want to think about flow. But if you don’t paint (I know, I know), and stain the new floor to match the old, I think laying the boards in a pattern would be a great way to make the space distinct without sacrificing harmony.

    How I miss the hardwood floors in my old house….

  11. We’re house hunting these days and, for what it’s worth, we just saw a house that had a straight-laid hardwood floor with strategically-placed side-by-side concentric rectangles to define certain living areas (like a rug effect). It was such a custom look and totally gorgeous!

  12. You amaze me with all of your ideas! I like the chevron look a lot as well. You could incorporate that into a rug design. Having chevron in the middle, and a straight border around it. I can’t wait to see what you decide and hear all about how you accomplish it. It would seem so daunting to me!

  13. Wow! I super loved the last one…the large scale basket weave design. I think it could look extra nifty with a painted design somehow too. The only ones that I really had a negative reaction to were the two concentric square ones.

  14. Love the first picture, new to me! Can’t wait to see what you decide to do. I’m sure it will look fabulous!

  15. I love the chevron design! I was thinking with all that wood how pretty a white washed wall of old chevron wood would look! What an idea! Now you have triggered some of my artistic juices!

    I know whatever you do will be awesome! Love watching you unwrap the designs and genius you have!

    Mary : )

  16. You’ve asked…. I really do not care for the #1 choice. Here’s why… W hile I completly agree with you that a home does not have to match room to room, you home as it is evolving is giving off a stylized traditional vibe. This floor patter, IMHO, does not blend well with traditional. As designer, I applaud you for thinking out side the box and pushing the envelope. The pattern of the floor is so permanent though, once done, changing it will be a rel pain. Really think about what you want, and keep in mind that chevrons, like subway tiles, are cropping up everywhere. They may not have reached the DIY stages yet, but they will, in a fer short years. Then how will you feel about them? Good luck with your choice, as always, anxiously awaiying the results.

  17. Do love #1 chevron! I also appreciate the graduated rectangles. All would look beautiful with a wash of color!

  18. I would go crazy with all the pattern choices and probably wouldn’t be able to make a choice. I do like a chevron pattern but have always gravitated to a parquet floor. The last photo of the basketweave pattern is my favorite because its a larger version of parquet. Good luck and I know you’ll make the choice that feels right to you.

  19. Kristi, I know I’m late on this but I love your absolute favorite with the Chevron separated by a straight board. May I suggest one thing though….attempting to create that design with a miter saw is going to be a real pain in the butt. I know you are a whiz with your miter saw but those boards need to line up perfectly. The first time you have to change your miter to cut the opposite board will completely throw things off. Your best bet would be to use a table saw with some sort of sled jig. It is the only way to get those angles perfect and exact for every cut.