Engineered Wood Parquet Flooring Guide: Patterns and Choices

Parquet is wood flooring laid in a repeating geometric pattern rather than in straight rows and it is having a real moment in British homes. From the classic zigzag of herringbone to the crisp points of chevron and the grand square panels of Versailles, a parquet floor turns the floor itself into a design feature. Almost all parquet sold today is engineered rather than solid and for good reason: the layered construction gives the dimensional stability that intricate patterns need. This guide explains the main parquet patterns, why engineered is the sensible choice and how to pick the right one for your home.

At Grosvenor Flooring in Altrincham we supply engineered wood parquet in every major pattern and you can see the patterns laid out at full scale in our Wood Room, which is the best way to judge how a pattern will feel across a whole room rather than in a small sample.

Key takeaways

• Parquet is any wood floor laid in a geometric pattern. The main patterns are herringbone, chevron and Versailles panels, plus variations such as basketweave and brick bond.
• Herringbone uses rectangular blocks set at 90 degrees for a broken zigzag with a traditional, heritage feel.
• Chevron uses blocks cut at an angle so they meet in a true point, giving a continuous zigzag with a sharper, more contemporary look.
• Versailles panels are large square lattice tiles for the most ornate, prestigious result.
• Engineered parquet is more stable than solid, works over underfloor heating and concrete and is the standard choice today. Parquet is more labour-intensive to fit, so professional installation matters.

What Is Parquet Flooring?

Parquet simply means wood flooring arranged in a decorative, repeating pattern using individual blocks or panels, as opposed to plank flooring which runs in straight lengths. The technique dates back centuries, most famously to the Palace of Versailles and it has always signalled craftsmanship because laying a pattern takes more skill and time than laying straight boards. Today parquet spans everything from the ubiquitous herringbone in new kitchen extensions to museum-grade Versailles panels in period drawing rooms.

The key modern difference is construction. Traditional parquet was solid wood, but almost all parquet now is engineered: a real oak wear layer bonded to a stable plywood or timber core. That matters more for parquet than for plain planks, because a patterned floor has blocks running in many directions and any seasonal movement shows up more obviously where the pieces meet. Engineered construction keeps everything tight and flat. Our explainer on what engineered wood flooring is covers the construction in full.

The Main Parquet Patterns

Herringbone

Herringbone is the most popular parquet pattern by far. It uses rectangular blocks laid at 90 degrees to each other in a staggered, broken zigzag, so each block starts partway along its neighbour. The effect is a busy, characterful floor with a traditional, timeless feel that works in both period and contemporary homes. Herringbone can be laid straight to the walls or on a 45-degree diagonal and it comes in single and double variations depending on how many blocks form each step of the pattern. Explore our engineered wood herringbone range, including our own GF herringbone in European oak and see our dedicated herringbone flooring guide for a deeper look at that pattern.

Chevron

Chevron is herringbone’s sharper, more modern cousin. Instead of rectangular blocks meeting at right angles, chevron blocks are cut at an angle at each end, usually 45 degrees, so they fit together to form a continuous zigzag of true, unbroken points running up the room. That clean, arrow-straight seam gives chevron a more geometric and contemporary character than herringbone. Because each block has to be precision-cut at an angle, chevron tends to be more expensive to produce and to lay, but the result is striking. Browse our engineered wood chevron range.

Versailles Panels

Versailles is the most ornate and prestigious parquet, named after the Palace of Versailles where it was first installed in 1684. Rather than individual blocks, it comes as large square panels, each an intricate lattice of diagonal and perpendicular pieces framed by a border. A Versailles floor makes a grand statement and suits large, formal rooms in period properties where it has space to breathe. Our engineered wood Versailles range, including GF Versailles panels, brings that heritage look in a stable engineered form.

Other Patterns

Beyond the big three, parquet includes several classic variations. Basketweave arranges blocks to look woven, adding pattern without the strong directional pull of herringbone or chevron, which suits traditional and transitional rooms. Brick bond, or brickwork, offsets blocks like a brick wall for a simpler, calmer geometric look. These patterns are less common but worth knowing if you want something a little different from the mainstream.

Parquet Patterns Compared

Pattern	Look	Character	Best for
Herringbone	Rectangular blocks at 90 degrees, broken zigzag	Traditional, timeless, versatile	Most homes, kitchens, living rooms, hallways
Chevron	Angled blocks meeting in a true point, continuous zigzag	Sharp, geometric, contemporary	Design-led interiors, statement rooms
Versailles	Large square lattice panels with a border	Ornate, grand, prestigious	Large formal rooms, period properties
Basketweave	Woven-look blocks, low directional pull	Classic, understated pattern	Traditional and transitional rooms
Brick bond	Offset blocks like brickwork	Simple, calm geometry	Subtle pattern in modern or period homes

Block Sizes, Borders and Laying Direction

Two floors in the same pattern can look quite different depending on the block size and how the pattern is set out. Smaller blocks create a busier, more intricate floor that reads well in compact rooms and traditional settings, while larger, longer blocks give a calmer, more contemporary result that suits open-plan spaces. It is always worth seeing the actual block size laid out before deciding, because the scale of the pattern changes the whole feel of a room.

Laying direction matters too. A herringbone or chevron run can point up the room to lead the eye towards a focal point such as a window or fireplace, or run across it to widen the space visually. Many parquet floors are finished with a border, a single or double row of straight blocks framing the pattern around the edge of the room, which gives a refined, finished look and neatly resolves the pattern against the walls. Borders are especially effective with Versailles panels and in formal rooms and they are one of the details that separates a considered parquet floor from a merely functional one.

Why Engineered Parquet Rather Than Solid

Parquet asks more of the wood than a straight plank floor does, which is exactly why engineered construction has become the standard. With blocks running in different directions and meeting at precise seams, any seasonal expansion or contraction is far more visible than it would be on a plank floor. Engineered parquet with its stable cross-ply core, holds the pattern tight and flat through the humidity changes of a normal home, where solid parquet is more prone to movement, gaps and lifting at the joints.

That stability also unlocks two big practical advantages. Engineered parquet can be laid over a concrete subfloor, which most modern ground floors have and it is suitable for use over underfloor heating, which solid wood is not. If you are pairing a parquet floor with a heated subfloor, our engineered wood and underfloor heating guide explains how to get it right. The wear layer still governs how many times the floor can be refinished, so it is worth reading our thickness guide alongside this one.

Fitting Parquet: What to Expect

Parquet is more involved to fit than plank flooring and that is the main thing to plan for. Every block has to be set out precisely from a central line so the pattern runs true and stays symmetrical to the room and the smallest error early on multiplies across the floor. Parquet is almost always glued down to a properly prepared, flat and dry subfloor, which gives the solid, silent result the pattern deserves. The extra labour and setting-out time mean parquet costs more to lay than straight planks and chevron and Versailles more still because of the precision involved.

This is not a floor to rush or to hand to a general fitter. It rewards an installer experienced in patterned floors and the payoff is a floor that looks immaculate for decades. Our complete installation guide for engineered wood flooring covers subfloor preparation and fitting methods and if you are local we can point you to fitters who work with parquet regularly.

Choosing Parquet for Your Home

Start with the feel you want. Herringbone is the safe, versatile choice that suits almost any room and both traditional and modern schemes, which is why it is so popular. Chevron is the pick for a sharper, more contemporary and design-led look. Versailles is for large, formal rooms where you want a genuine statement and it comes into its own in period properties. Basketweave and brick bond are there when you want pattern with less directional drama.

Room size matters too. Busy patterns like herringbone and chevron look wonderful in both small and large rooms, but Versailles panels need space to read properly and can overwhelm a small room. Parquet is a natural fit for period properties, where it echoes the craftsmanship of the era, but it works just as well in a modern extension for a touch of character. Finish, grade and colour then set the final mood and our guides to finishes, grades and colours and finishes help you complete the picture, alongside our overview of the best engineered wood flooring in the UK.

See Parquet Patterns at Full Scale in Altrincham

A parquet pattern reads completely differently across a whole floor than it does in a single block, so seeing it laid out matters. Our Smart Showroom and Wood Room at 82 Stamford New Road, Altrincham, WA14 1BS is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no appointment needed. Simply request your free door code and visit when it suits you. Inside you can compare herringbone, chevron and Versailles across our GF Engineered Wood range and premium brands such as V4, Ted Todd and Woodpecker. Whether you are in Altrincham, Hale, Bowdon, Knutsford or anywhere across Cheshire, the showroom is minutes from the M56 and A56.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between parquet and plank flooring?

Parquet is wood flooring laid in a geometric, repeating pattern using blocks or panels, such as herringbone, chevron or Versailles. Plank flooring runs in straight lengths across the room. Parquet is more decorative and more involved to fit, while planks are simpler and quicker to lay.

What is the difference between herringbone and chevron?

Herringbone uses rectangular blocks laid at 90 degrees in a staggered, broken zigzag. Chevron uses blocks cut at an angle, usually 45 degrees, that meet in a true point to form a continuous zigzag. Herringbone has a traditional feel, while chevron looks sharper and more contemporary and tends to cost more because of the angled cuts.

Is engineered parquet good for underfloor heating?

Yes. Engineered parquet is suitable for underfloor heating because its stable cross-ply core copes with the heat cycles, whereas solid parquet is not recommended. This is one of the main reasons engineered has become the standard choice for patterned floors. See our underfloor heating guide for the detail.

Can parquet be laid over concrete?

Engineered parquet can, provided the concrete is flat, dry and properly prepared. Its dimensional stability suits concrete subfloors and it is usually glued down. Solid parquet is far less suited to concrete, which is another reason engineered is preferred.

Is parquet more expensive to fit than planks?

Yes. Parquet takes more skill and time to set out and lay than straight planks, so installation costs more. Chevron and Versailles cost more still because of the precision cutting and setting out involved. The result is a floor with far more visual impact, so many people feel the extra is worthwhile.

Which parquet pattern is most popular?

Herringbone is by far the most popular, because it is versatile, timeless and suits almost any room and interior style. Chevron is growing quickly for its contemporary look, while Versailles remains a specialist choice for grand, formal spaces.

Further reading

• Herringbone Flooring Guide
• What Is Engineered Wood Flooring? A Complete Guide
• Engineered Wood Flooring Thickness Guide
• Engineered Wood Flooring Finish Guide
• Engineered Wood Flooring Grades Explained
• Engineered Wood vs Solid Wood Flooring
• Engineered Wood Flooring Colours and Finishes Explained
• Engineered Wood Flooring and Underfloor Heating
• Complete Installation Guide for Engineered Wood Flooring