Herringbone Flooring: Why London Homes Love This Timeless Pattern

Walk into almost any beautifully renovated home in Chelsea, Richmond or Notting Hill and you will likely find herringbone flooring underfoot. It has become one of the most requested patterns we fit at Oaknwool — and it is easy to see why. The interlocking V-shaped design adds instant elegance, depth and character to any room, from open-plan kitchen extensions to period reception rooms.

Here is everything you need to know about herringbone flooring — from choosing the right material to what professional fitting involves.

Herringbone is a pattern in which rectangular planks or blocks are laid at 45-degree angles to each other, creating a distinctive zigzag effect that resembles the skeleton of a herring fish — hence the name. It is one of the oldest flooring patterns in existence, used in grand European buildings for centuries, and it remains as popular today as ever.

It is often confused with chevron flooring, which has a similar look but uses planks cut at an angle so the points meet in a clean V shape. Herringbone uses rectangular planks with square ends — the offset creates the characteristic broken zigzag.

London's housing stock is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, Georgian townhouses and period conversions — properties with high ceilings, large rooms and original architectural features. Herringbone flooring complements these spaces perfectly. It has a classic, refined quality that feels at home in period properties while also working beautifully in contemporary open-plan extensions.

It also photographs exceptionally well, which has helped drive its popularity through interior design social media and property listings across areas like Kensington, Fulham and Wimbledon.

Engineered wood is by far the most popular choice for herringbone flooring in London homes. It consists of a real hardwood top layer bonded to a stable plywood core, which means it handles the humidity and temperature fluctuations common in London properties far better than solid wood.

Engineered herringbone is available in a wide range of species — oak is the most popular, but walnut, ash and smoked varieties are also widely chosen. Plank widths typically range from 70mm to 120mm, with narrower planks giving a more traditional look and wider planks a more contemporary feel.

Solid wood herringbone is the premium choice and has a depth and character that engineered wood cannot fully replicate. It is best suited to ground floor rooms with underfloor heating or stable subfloors. Solid herringbone requires more acclimatisation time and more precise fitting, but the result is exceptional.

LVT herringbone has grown significantly in popularity, particularly for kitchens, bathrooms and basement rooms where moisture is a concern. Modern LVT is highly realistic in appearance, completely waterproof and very comfortable underfoot. It is also one of the more affordable herringbone options.

The finish of your herringbone floor has a huge impact on the overall look:

• Natural / matt lacquer — the most popular choice; subtle sheen, shows the natural grain beautifully
• Brushed and oiled — a more rustic, tactile finish that is easy to repair and maintain
• Smoked or fumed — a darker, richer tone achieved by treating the wood with ammonia; very popular in contemporary London interiors
• White or grey oiled — a Scandinavian-influenced look that works well in light, modern spaces
• High gloss — dramatic and reflective; less common but striking in the right setting

One of the most important — and often overlooked — aspects of herringbone fitting is subfloor preparation. Because herringbone is laid at an angle and the pattern is highly visible, any unevenness in the subfloor will show through the finished floor. The subfloor must be level to within 3mm over 2 metres before laying begins.

Our fitting team always carries out a thorough subfloor assessment before any herringbone installation. Where necessary, we apply self-levelling compound to achieve the required flatness. Cutting corners on subfloor preparation is the most common cause of herringbone floors that look uneven or develop problems over time.

Herringbone is more labour-intensive to fit than straight-lay flooring. The fitter must:

1. Find the true centre of the room and establish the starting point
2. Lay out a dry run to check the pattern works with the room dimensions
3. Cut and fit border planks precisely around the perimeter
4. Glue or float the planks in the correct sequence
5. Sand and finish (for solid wood) or clean and inspect (for engineered and LVT)

A skilled fitter can typically lay 15–25 square metres of herringbone per day, depending on the complexity of the room and the number of cuts required. This is why professional fitting is essential — a poorly laid herringbone pattern is immediately obvious and very difficult to correct.

Costs vary depending on the material, plank size and room complexity. As a rough guide for supply and fit in London:

• LVT herringbone — from around £45–£65 per m²
• Engineered wood herringbone — typically £70–£120 per m²
• Solid wood herringbone — from £100 per m² upwards

These figures include fitting but not subfloor preparation, which is priced separately based on the condition of your existing floor. We always provide a detailed, itemised quote before any work begins.

Herringbone floors are no more difficult to maintain than any other wood or LVT floor:

• Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove grit and dust
• Use a damp (not wet) mop with a pH-neutral wood floor cleaner
• Place felt pads under furniture legs to prevent scratching
• Use entrance mats to reduce the amount of dirt and moisture tracked in
• Re-oil oiled floors every 1–2 years depending on traffic

We carry an extensive range of herringbone flooring samples at our showroom at 229B Chiswick High Road, London W4 2DW. Come in and see the patterns, finishes and materials in person — our team will help you choose the right option for your home and provide a free, no-obligation quote.

We supply and fit herringbone flooring across West and Central London including Chiswick, Richmond, Wimbledon, Sheen, Chelsea, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Fulham, Putney, Hammersmith, Notting Hill and Ealing.

Call us on 020 3802 2074 or visit our contact page to arrange a free quote.