Are you undergoing a home renovation project?

If so, consider your wood flooring style options. So, this is the place to be.

Here at Martin Allen, we know a thing or two about wood and are here to answer any wood flooring-related question that comes to mind.

We receive a wide range of questions and inquiries from our clients daily, from the technical specifications of our wood boards to what colour flooring to choose for a nursery.

However, a question we don’t often hear is what wood flooring styles can be laid in.

There’s a reason the traditional straight plank tends to be the default setting for laying wooden flooring—it’s pleasing to the eye, fits every space, and is quick and easy to install. It’s a safe, conventional choice, but why settle for the ordinary when you can put a unique stamp on your property by choosing a less typical laying pattern?

Changing up the pattern of your hardwood planks will breathe new life into the renovated space and make it feel less generic and more – you.

And there are various designs to choose from – from simple and parallel to incredibly detailed and complex.

Whichever you choose, you can rest assured that you will need a highly trained and experienced wood floor installer who will be ready to complete the task.

1. Straight plank

If you’re not ready to make a statement with your hardwood flooring, a straight plank is the way to go. The most popular pattern is laying wood planks at a 90-degree angle to the walls.

But don’t confuse tradition with dullness because a well-laid straight plank is far from it. With different lengths and widths to choose from, there’s room to get pretty creative.

A straight pattern is recommended for small spaces because it removes the focus from the floor. A predictable style means a floorless look, raising the eyeliner and giving the room a sense of airiness.

Straight planks can also help visually enlarge a narrow space. By choosing planks of different widths, you use more planks, creating an optical illusion of a larger space.

2. Herringbone

Gone are the days when herringbone hardwood flooring was reserved only for traditional interiors. Laying planks in a diagonal, zig-zag pattern is becoming increasingly popular in modern and transitional interior design.

Once painstakingly lengthy and costly, installing a herringbone pattern is as quick and easy as any other laying style.

There’s a variety of lengths and widths to choose from, with herringbones as well, giving you the ability to achieve a wide variety of looks.

Create depth and richness in a big space by combining smaller planks with a darker finish. Scared of ramping up a small room and tiring your eyes with a dark, repeating pattern?

Choose wider and longer boards with a light finish – it will give a creative twist to a minimal look that will help any space look roomier.

If we’re lucky enough to work in a large, traditional area, we always recommend that our clients consider adding a double plank border to their herringbone pattern.

Adding an edge border to hardwood floors has very little effect on the overall price of the installation, but it will endow the room with a sense of luxury and elegance.

Choosing to have a border installed gives our designers more space to play with the colours and finishes of the planks – and it almost always leads to a spectacular floor.

3. Chevron

Often confused with herringbone, chevron is a highly underrated and often forgotten wood flooring laying pattern.

Chevron-style planks are laid in a diagonal, zig-zag pattern, like herringbone. However, with Chevron, the tips of the planks are cut at a 45-degree angle and arranged to face each other, forming the letter V.

That makes for a more uniform laying style, making it suitable for commercial and residential spaces. Often the first choice for a high-end retail space, the chevron pattern is now slowly finding its way into residential areas, large and small.

The design is unique because it’s a repetitive pattern that blends seamlessly into any interior. You’ve got to walk. You have at least a few kilometres of chevron flooring without noticing it.

Thanks to its simplicity and elegance, this century-old laying pattern adorns museums and gallery floors.

With many options regarding the length and width of the planks, not to mention the wide variety of finishes that can be achieved, you’re finding a solution that fits your budget and your ideas.

Chevron is a straightforward and forgiving pattern that can be tweaked to suit even the most outrageous design ideas. Thinking of long planks?

How about meter-long planks laid in chevron and finished with French polishing? Whatever you might think, we’ve got you covered.

4. Versailles panels

When it comes to wood flooring styles, Versailles panels are the epitome of tradition and grandeur. Named after the illustrious Château de Versailles, the royal palace commissioned by Louis XIV, these panels encapsulate a level of luxury that other laying patterns cannot match.

One might anticipate that the complexity of Versailles panels, which feature a basket weave surrounded by a square, double plank border, would be overwhelming. However, it’s crucial to understand that these intricate designs, including traditional French parquets, Monticello, Fontainbleu, Marseille, and Canterbury patterns, can be easily managed. Thanks to prefabricated panels, installing Versailles panels is as straightforward as laying straight planks.

Consider these possibilities:

• French Parquets: Timeless elegance with intricate designs.
• Monticello: A nod to classical architecture.
• Fontainbleu: Romantic and sophisticated.
• Marseille: Coastal charm with a touch of history.
• Canterbury: Regal and stately.

With all these design options and the variety of wood species available, the potential for creating a unique and stunning floor is limitless. The detailed Renaissance pattern may initially seem overwhelming, but the prefabricated panels simplify the process, making it accessible to all.

Whether you’re renovating a country estate, a Victorian townhouse, or a luxurious commercial space, Versailles panels provide that elusive je ne sais quoi, elevating your interior to unparalleled sophistication and charm. Join the community of Versailles panel enthusiasts and transform your space into a work of art.

Conclusion

At Martin Allen, we operate under the radical notion that quality and functionality should enhance your style and expression, not squash it. Imagine that! Our clients can opt for the bespoke experience of having their flooring finished directly on-site, so why settle for less?

If you’re into that sort of thing, installing pre-finished planks might be cheaper and more convenient.

But let’s face it: the on-site finishing experience is unparalleled in terms of customisability. Our flooring artisans can tailor the finish to complement even the most unique furniture or joinery you own.

And don’t think your customization options end in colour.

Oh no, we wouldn’t dream of limiting your creative potential like that. Martin Allen boasts a team of interior designers ready to help you navigate your stylistic aspirations. Whether you’re leaning towards:

1. A pristine, Nordic-inspired modern interior,
2. An elegant, traditional Victorian style, or
3. A cosy, rustic country aesthetic,

Remember, it all begins from the floor up. Join us, and let’s turn your home into the masterpiece it was always meant to be.

If anything stands out from the list above, call us at 01162 165 107, and we’ll make it.