Herringbone or chevron: what is the difference?

I explain the difference by looking at where the boards meet. In herringbone, the end of one rectangular piece meets the side of the next, creating a staggered zigzag. In chevron, angled ends meet to form a more continuous V. Both can be attractive, but they give a room a different rhythm.

For a home renovation, I first look at the entrance, main sightline and connected rooms. A pattern that works well in a large photograph may look quite different in a narrow hall. Board length and width also change the scale, so I prefer to lay out samples before agreeing on the direction.

The flooring must be intended for the chosen pattern. Some systems use dedicated left and right pieces, particular joints or a specific fixing method. Buying ordinary straight planks and assuming they can be rearranged later is not a reliable plan. The product specification comes before ordering the required quantity.

Patterned work also needs careful planning at walls, doors and other finishes. I include the layout, perimeter cuts and any border in the discussion, together with a suitable cutting allowance. I do not apply one waste percentage to every room because the room shape, block size and design affect it.

If you are deciding between the two, send a simple floor plan and a reference picture showing the pattern you like. We can compare the look, the available material and the work involved. A clear layout agreed before installation is more useful than choosing the name alone.