How to Style Herringbone Flooring

Herringbone flooring is sophisticated and stylish but more than that, it has a superpower. Its intricate pattern is great at making spaces appear larger than they really are, which makes this family-proof floor a smart choice for any room.

Whether you plump for dark, warming wood or cooling contemporary colours, herringbone floors can enhance every space. Here are our top styling tips to help you get the most out of this beautiful flooring.

Choosing your colour palette

Whether your herringbone is dark or light, oak or elm, wood is a natural material and as such we recommend pairing the flooring with earth and jewel tone colours. These enhance the warm undertones of the grain, helping to make your space feel cosy and homely.

Supporting walls

Choosing more neutral tones for the walls is the perfect way to ensure that your herringbone remains star of the show. Softer shades on walls also gives you licence to go bolder when picking out furnishings and accessories. Choose paint or wallpaper – both work with herringbone, although we recommend staying away from busy-looking wallpaper that might clash with, or steal attention from the herringbone’s distinctive zig-zag pattern.

A good tip when matching walls to floor is to study the subtle, secondary colours of your wood, then choose a wall covering to match. If your elm herringbone has greys running through it, choose misty-coloured paint or wallpaper. Likewise, subtle mustard hues found in some oak flooring can be repeated in wallcoverings or furnishings to help bring a room together.

Head-turning furniture

When it comes to styling your space, too much of a good thing can be… too much! Lots of wooden furniture on busy herringbone floors can make a room feel claustrophobic, no matter how big it is. We recommend balancing your space by choosing furniture made from other natural materials like leather or woven fabrics. If you love wooden furniture, choosing a beautiful rug to separate the furniture from the floor is an elegant way of having both. Dark rugs against light wood, or light rugs against dark wood work best.

Lighting your space

Choosing the right lighting is just as impactful as picking the correct wall covering. What’s your space used for? Side lights and lamps create cosy living rooms, while overhead lighting provides bright kitchen workspaces. To make the most of your herringbone flooring, consider changing your lightbulb to match. Yellow-toned bulbs will enhance the warmth of your wood, while blue-toned bulbs will best showcase cooler floor colours.

Feeling the textures

Herringbone’s stunning woodgrain gives natural texture to every room, but adding additional materials can be tricky – they can easily pull focus. Smooth, organic materials like leather or fine-woven wools and cottons juxtapose well with the patterned floor, adding style without stealing the limelight. If you want something bolder, choose bigger textures in moderation. Large woven cushions are gorgeous accent features. And herringbone flooring matched with herringbone furniture is a timeless trend when done sparingly.

Want to dive deeper into the colours and trends that keep your home looking flawless? Check out our latest thoughts on interior design and order your three free samples to see how herringbone LVT looks in your home.