Walk into a renovated home in Sydney right now and there’s a decent chance the floors are doing something interesting. Not just straight planks end to end — but a pattern. Something diagonal. Something with a bit of energy to it.
Nine times out of ten, it’s either herringbone vs chevron.
Both patterns are having a serious moment in Sydney homes right now — from Paddington terraces to brand new builds out west. They look similar at first glance, and a lot of people use the names interchangeably. But they’re actually quite different, and picking the wrong one for your space is an expensive mistake.
Here’s a proper breakdown of herringbone vs chevron flooring — what makes them different, where each one works best, and how to figure out which one is right for your home.
They Look Similar. They’re Not.
Both patterns use rectangular planks. Both create a zigzag effect across the floor. That’s where the similarities end.
Herringbone planks are cut at 90 degrees. The end of one plank meets the side of the next, creating a broken, staggered zigzag. Up close, you’ll see it’s made of L-shapes stacked together rather than a continuous V. It’s a pattern that’s been around for centuries — you’ll find it in old European buildings, heritage floors, and plenty of Sydney’s period homes.
Chevron planks are cut at an angle — usually 45 or 60 degrees. The ends of two planks meet in a perfect point, forming a clean, unbroken V shape that runs continuously up the floor. It’s sharper. More geometric. More obviously modern.
Simple version: herringbone is staggered, chevron is pointed. Both look great — they just say something different about a room.
What Each Pattern Does to a Room
This part matters more than most people realise. The pattern you choose doesn’t just change how the floor looks — it changes how the room feels.
Herringbone
Herringbone creates visual interest in all directions. The eye doesn’t get pulled to one end of the room — it just settles into the warmth of the pattern.
That makes it a great choice for open-plan living areas, bedrooms, and any room where you want character without a strong directional statement.
It also suits older homes brilliantly. Federation, Victorian, Edwardian — herringbone feels like it belongs in those spaces. It doesn’t fight the architecture, it works with it.
Chevron
Chevron pulls the eye forward. The V shape points in one direction, and that creates a sense of movement and length.
Lay it down a hallway and the space looks longer. Use it in a living room and it gives the whole room a focal point.
Chevron suits contemporary and minimalist interiors well. Clean lines, neutral tones, modern finishes — it fits right in. Just keep in mind that in a very small room, the continuous V can feel a bit intense. It rewards larger spaces.
Installation — What You Actually Need to Know
Both patterns are more complex to install than straight-lay flooring. That’s not a reason to avoid them — just something to factor into your budget and your choice of installer.
Herringbone is the more forgiving of the two. The 90-degree cuts don’t require the same level of precision at the join, and a good installer can move through it efficiently. Minor subfloor imperfections are less likely to show up in the finished result.
Chevron is less forgiving. Every plank needs to be cut at a precise angle, and every point needs to meet cleanly. If anything is slightly off — the angle, the subfloor, the plank itself — it shows.
Chevron really does need someone who’s done it many times before. Not someone doing their second patterned floor. Someone who does this regularly.
Both patterns also produce more waste than straight-lay — budget for around 10 to 15 percent extra material. And if the budget is tight, herringbone will generally cost less in labour.
Timber, LVT or Engineered — What Works Best?
Both patterns can be done in solid timber, engineered timber, or LVT. Each has its place.
Engineered timber is the most popular choice for patterned floors in Sydney right now. It’s dimensionally stable, handles humidity and temperature changes better than solid timber, and works well over concrete slabs — which is a common situation in Sydney homes.
Solid timber looks incredible and can be sanded and refinished multiple times over the decades. It’s a long-term investment. The downside is that it’s more sensitive to moisture and needs proper acclimatisation time before it goes down.
LVT has improved enormously in quality over the past few years. If you’re working with a tight budget or a tricky subfloor situation, a good-quality LVT can still give you a convincing herringbone or chevron result.
On plank width: narrower planks around 60–90mm give herringbone a traditional, intricate look. Wider planks at 120mm or above feel bolder and more contemporary. For chevron, wider planks tend to let the V shape breathe and show the timber grain more clearly.
One more thing — always get samples home before you commit. A timber that looks one way in a showroom can look completely different in your actual space under your actual light.
Which Rooms Suit Which Pattern?
No hard rules here, but some combinations just tend to work better.
Herringbone works well in:
- Open-plan living and dining areas — adds warmth without pulling the eye in any one direction
- Bedrooms, especially master bedrooms where a layered, cosy feel is the goal
- Period and heritage homes across Sydney’s inner suburbs
- Kitchens — adds texture to a space that can otherwise feel quite flat
Chevron works well in:
- Hallways — the directional V exaggerates length and makes narrow spaces feel more dramatic
- Large modern living rooms with high ceilings and good natural light
- Contemporary new builds in areas like the Hills District, Campbelltown, or Western Sydney
- Spaces where a bold geometric statement is the intention
A Few Sydney-Specific Things to Keep in Mind
Sydney’s housing stock is genuinely varied. Federation bungalows in the inner west, modern apartments on the lower north shore, knockdown-rebuilds out in the outer suburbs. The right pattern depends a lot on what kind of home you’re working with.
Climate matters too. Sydney’s coastal humidity means timber floors need to be chosen carefully. Engineered timber or quality LVT tends to hold up better than solid hardwood in areas near the water or in homes without year-round climate control.
If you’re renovating rather than building new, watch the floor height. Patterned floors add thickness, which can cause problems at doorways or transitions to adjoining rooms. Worth flagging with your installer early.
On resale value — both patterns are seen as premium finishes in the Sydney property market. Done well, they add real appeal. Done poorly, they do the opposite. The quality of installation matters enormously.
Quick Comparison at a Glance
- Pattern shape: Herringbone = staggered L-shapes | Chevron = continuous V-points
- Visual feel: Herringbone = warm and classic | Chevron = sharp and modern
- Room effect: Herringbone grounds a room | Chevron creates direction and movement
- Home style: Herringbone suits heritage homes | Chevron suits contemporary builds
- Installation difficulty: Both are complex — chevron requires more precision
- Budget: Herringbone is generally the more cost-effective option of the two
The Bottom Line For Herringbone vs Chevron Flooring
When it comes to herringbone vs chevron flooring, there really isn’t a wrong answer. Just the right one for your home.
Older Sydney home? Heritage feel? Herringbone. Almost every time.
New build? Contemporary renovation? A hallway you want to make something of? Chevron is worth a serious look.
Whichever way you go, get samples into your actual space. Look at them in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night. The difference between a floor that looks right and one that looks slightly off often comes down to how the light hits it in your specific room.
And use someone who actually knows patterned floors. It’s not the place to cut corners on installation. A great floor installed badly is still a bad floor.
Take your time, ask the right questions, and you’ll end up with something that makes an impression every single time someone walks through the door.
