Parquet Patterns Explained: Herringbone, Chevron & More

The main parquet patterns

Herringbone is the most recognised parquet pattern — rectangular blocks laid at 90° angles, end-to-side, forming a broken zig-zag. It's the most versatile pattern, working across traditional, modern, and transitional interiors.

Chevron uses blocks cut at an angle (typically 45°) that meet point-to-point in a continuous, unbroken V — a more formal, directional look than herringbone, requiring more precise cutting and installation.

Basketweave interlaces square or rectangular blocks to resemble a woven basket — a classic pattern with less directional movement than herringbone or chevron, suited to traditional and colonial-style interiors.

Brick (running bond) lays rectangular blocks in staggered rows like a brick wall — the simplest and lowest-waste pattern to install. Versailles is the most elaborate: large square panels with an intricate diagonal-and-perpendicular arrangement, historically associated with grand European interiors.

Patterns, side by side

What pattern means for repair and refinishing

• More angled cuts mean more seams. Chevron and Versailles patterns concentrate more joints per square foot than brick or herringbone, which can mean more points where gaps or movement show up over time.
• Matching a repair piece is harder with complex patterns. Replacing a single block in a Versailles panel requires precise angle-matching that a simple brick pattern doesn't.
• Sanding direction matters more with directional patterns. Herringbone and chevron's alternating grain direction require careful sanding technique to avoid an uneven finish across the pattern.
• Engineered construction is often preferred for complex patterns in humid climates, since more seams mean more opportunity for seasonal movement to show.