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Herringbone and chevron

Herringbone Parquet Riyadh — Herringbone and Chevron, Properly Set Out

A herringbone floor isn’t a colour you pick from a catalogue; it is a design drawn onto your room before a single board goes down. This page takes our parquet flooring in Riyadh guide deeper into zigzag patterns, and our free visit is where we fix the centre line and direction.

Formal lounge with dark brown chevron parquet pointing towards the windows
Herringbone and chevron sample boards in several shades beside a laid floor
Centre lineSet before the first box is opened
Two patternsBroken zigzag or continuous arrow
Left and rightPattern-specific boards
Free visitCentre line planned on site
7 AM – 10 PMOpen every day
Anatomy of the pattern

How short boards become a zigzag

Herringbone and chevron boards are shorter than standard planks and come in two mirror-image types, often labelled A and B, because the click tongue sits on opposite sides. Alternating them creates the zigzag — so you can’t make the pattern by cutting up ordinary straight boards.

Chevron ends are cut at an angle that varies between collections — some close to 45 degrees, others sharper or flatter — and each gives a different arrowhead. Board width and length set the scale: small boards read as a fine, classic texture, while long, wide ones make a bold statement suited to large lounges.

  • Order A and B boards in balanced numbers
  • Chevron angles differ between ranges
  • Board size changes the room’s character
Installer alternating left and right boards to build a chevron from the start line
Side by side

Herringbone vs chevron vs straight plank

General comparison — waste and time depend on room shape and size
HerringboneChevronStraight
Board endsSquareAngle-cutSquare
Overall feelBroken, warm movementSharp, continuous linesCalm and simple
Typical wasteHigher than straightUsually higher than straightLowest
Fitting timeLongerLongerFastest
Sensitivity to subfloor flatnessHighHighModerate
Where it shinesMajlis rooms, libraries, bedroomsEntrances, hallways, formal loungesAlmost anywhere

On a tighter budget? Laminate flooring also comes in zigzag formats.

Setting out: direction, centre line and border

With herringbone, a small error at the start multiplies across the room, leaving the pattern skewed at the far wall or with uneven slivers at the door. So three decisions come before laying.

1. Which way does the pattern point?

The usual rule is to run the pattern’s axis along the length of the room, or towards the main door or largest window, drawing the eye into the space. In a long majlis — the formal reception room of a Saudi home — it typically runs from the entrance to the head of the room.

2. Where does the centre line go?

We snap a reference line through the middle of the room, or through a focal point such as the majlis entrance, then balance the boards either side so the cut pieces match at both walls. Walls in real homes aren’t always parallel, so we measure the width in several places before committing.

3. Do you want a border?

A border is one or two rows of straight boards framing the pattern along the walls. It hides walls that aren’t quite straight, avoids fiddly small cuts and makes the floor look like a framed timber rug, at the cost of extra time and boards.

Doorways and corridors

Where rooms connect, we decide together whether the pattern flows through as one floor or each room starts afresh with a threshold strip. Flowing suits open-plan spaces; separating is more practical when rooms run in different directions.

Where it works

From majlis to boutique: rooms that suit a zigzag

Formal room with honey-tone herringbone and a straight-board border

Majlis and entrances

A large rug on top leaves a timber frame showing — see our majlis rugs.

Bedroom being laid with light oak chevron parquet

Master bedrooms

Pale tones and smaller boards feel calm and never crowd the room.

Office lobby with herringbone parquet and panoramic windows

Lobbies, offices, boutiques

A polished first impression in receptions and small showrooms, in a commercial wear class.

Sheet vinyl printed with a wood herringbone pattern for wet areas

For wet rooms

Kitchens and laundries can carry the same look in water-tolerant sheet vinyl.

Cost drivers

Why herringbone costs more than straight planks

No generic figures here — just the factors that help you compare quotes fairly. More in our parquet price guide.

Waste at the edges

Every row ends in an angled cut at the wall, so you buy more than the room’s floor area.

Labour time

Short boards mean more joints per metre, and every edge piece is measured and cut individually, so each metre takes longer.

Pattern-specific boards

Mirror-image boards with precisely finished ends are often priced above comparable straight planks.

Stricter prep and borders

The pattern exposes any undulation, so more levelling may be needed, and a border adds boards and time.

From idea to floor

Your herringbone floor with us, step by step

  1. Photos and sizes

    Send room photos and rough sizes on WhatsApp for an initial pattern suggestion.

  2. Visit and samples

    We measure the width at several points, check flatness and lay samples in the room’s real light.

  3. Draw the plan

    We agree the axis, centre line, border and doorway transitions, then calculate quantity including waste.

  4. Prep and lay

    Low spots are levelled, then boards go down from the centre line out to both walls with an expansion gap. General steps are on our parquet installation page.

  5. Border and finishing

    Border, skirting and profiles go in, then we clean up and hand over with care advice.

Estimate how much you need

Estimate your herringbone quantity

Enter room dimensions and choose higher waste than usual for zigzag patterns — more for irregular rooms. We check the figure once the plan is drawn.

0Area (m²)
0Suggested order (m²)
Send these sizes and ask for a price

Herringbone and chevron: specialist questions

Can herringbone parquet work in a small room?

Yes, but board size matters. Small boards in a calm tone turn the pattern into a fine texture that doesn’t feel busy, whereas wide boards in a small room leave lots of cut pieces at the walls. A lengthwise axis helps too.

Herringbone or chevron for an Arabic majlis?

Herringbone sits more naturally with classic décor and traditional floor seating, while chevron suits modern majlis rooms with crisp lines and concealed lighting. Either way, the seating area is usually covered by a rug, so the pattern shows as a frame around it — something we factor in when setting the axis.

Can herringbone be laid over old tiles?

Often, yes, if the tiles are solid and very flat. The pattern is more sensitive to undulation than straight planks because its many short joints reveal every difference, so we check flatness with a long straightedge and may level some areas first.

How much waste should I expect with herringbone?

Typically more than with straight planks, because every row ends in an angled cut at the wall. It rises further in rooms with corners, columns or narrow passages, and drops somewhat with a straight border. We calculate the real figure from the plan; keep a spare box.

Can the pattern continue from the lounge into the hallway?

Yes, if the two spaces share a similar axis, so the floor reads as one. If the hallway runs very differently, a threshold strip and a fresh start along the hallway’s axis usually looks better. We show you both options on the plan before work starts.

Which colour shows a herringbone pattern best?

Mid tones with visible grain bring the pattern out most, because light catches each board at a different angle. Very pale shades make it soft and subtle; dark ones look luxurious but show dust. Check samples in daylight and evening light.

How do I care for a herringbone floor with so many joints?

Much like any parquet, but more joints mean more places for water to get in, so use a well-wrung mop and never pour water on the floor. Fit felt pads under sofas and chairs, and put rugs on heavy walkways so one part of the pattern doesn’t fade faster than the rest.

Plan your pattern with us before you buy

Send a simple sketch of the room with door and window positions on WhatsApp, or book a free visit in Riyadh to set the axis, centre line and samples. Villa owners in the north can also see our Hittin flooring page.

Open daily 7 AM – 10 PMServing Riyadh city

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