SIGN IN TO YOUR ACCOUNT

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?
CREATE AN ACCOUNT

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

CREATE ACCOUNT

ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT?
  • SIGN IN
    • Wish List
  • Mini Cart Online Flooring Stores
    No products in cart.
1300 702 201
  • SIGN UP

Online Flooring StoreOnline Flooring Store

  • On Sale
  • Vinyl
    • Airlay
      • Airlay Alpine 3 mm
      • Airlay Alpine 5 mm
    • Airstep
      • Airstep Naturale Planks 3.0
      • Airstep Naturale Planks 5.0
      • Airstep Oatlands 2.0
    • Decoline
      • Decoline Oasis
      • Decoline Ocean
      • Decoline Skyline
    • Desire
    • Eco Flooring Systems
    • GAT
      • GAT 2 mm Collection
      • GAT 5 mm Collection
    • Interface
      • Interface Natural Stone
      • Interface Natural Woodgrains
      • Interface Textured Stone
      • Interface Textured Woodgrains
    • NFD
      • NFD Cascade Vinyl Planks
      • NFD Illusions
      • NFD Reaction
      • NFD Reflections
      • NFD Revolution
      • NFD Soundless
    • Polyflor
    • Premium Floors
      • Premium Floors Titan Comfort
      • Premium Floors Titan Glue
    • Signature Floors
    • Terra Mater Floors
    • Ustik
      • Ustik
      • Ustik Ulay
    • Ultra Plank
  • Hybrid
    • Airstep
    • AST
      • Australian Select Timbers Nouvelle
      • Australian Select Timbers Kodiak Hybrid
    • Avala
    • Beau Floor
      • Beau Floor Boston
      • Beau Floor SPC
    • Clever Choice
      • Clever Choice XL
      • Clever Choice Superior
    • Complete Floors
    • Decoline
      • Decoline Natural
      • Decoline Natural European Oak
      • Decoline Wood Stone European Oak
    • Eco Flooring Systems
      • Eco Flooring Systems Ornato
      • Eco Flooring Systems Ornato Elite
      • Eco Flooring Systems Ornato Urban
    • GAT
      • GAT SPC Collection
    • Inspire
    • NFD
    • Online Flooring Store
      • Auroborus Hybrid
      • SToNE-TeK 9.77 mm Commercial Hybrid
    • Premium Floors
      • Premium Floors Quick-Step Pulse
      • Premium Floors Titan
      • Premium Floors Titan XXL
      • Titan Hybrid Home
    • Signature Floors
      • Signature Floors Quattro
    • Storm
      • Storm Luxury
    • Timber-Top Hybrid
      • GAT Bamboo Collection
      • Storm Deluxe Hybrid
    • Terra Mater Floors
      • Terra Mater Floors Resiplank Summit 9.7mm
      • Terra Mater Floors Resiplank Corsica Oak
    • Titanium Hybrid
      • Titanium
      • Titanium XXL
  • Bamboo
    • Clever Choice
    • Eco Flooring Systems
      • Eco Flooring Systems BT
      • Eco Flooring Systems BT Wideboard
    • Endurance
      • Endurance Engineered Bamboo
      • Endurance Solid Bamboo Flooring
    • Premium Floors
    • Terra Mater Floors
  • Timber
    • Engineered Timber Flooring
      • Airstep
        • Airstep Reclaimed Wild Oak
      • AST
        • Bekula Collection
        • Grand Oak Everest Collection
        • Grand Oak Chevron Collection
        • Grand Oak Herringbone Collection
        • Grand Oak Monarch Collection
        • Grand Oak Noble Collection
        • Hickory Impression Classique
        • Hickory Impression Homestead
        • Regency Advanced
        • Regency Hardwood Herringbone Collection
        • Regency Hardwood Hinterland Collection
        • Regency Hardwood Imperial Collection
        • Regency Hardwood Infinite Collection
      • Clever Choice
        • Clever Choice Oak Authentic Collection
        • Clever Choice Oak Elegance
        • Clever Choice Oak Luxury Collection
        • Clever Choice Oak XL Collection
      • Complete Floors
        • Complete Floors Parquet Chevron
        • Complete Floors Parquet Herringbone
      • Eco Flooring Systems
        • Eco Flooring Systems Swish Oak Contemporary
        • Eco Flooring Systems Swish Oak Natura
        • Eco Flooring Systems Swish Oak Natura Herringbone
        • Eco Flooring Systems Swish Oak Wideboard
      • Hurford Flooring
        • Hurford Flooring Australian Native
        • Hurford Flooring Australian Native Herringbone
        • Hurford Flooring Genuine Oak Elegant
        • Hurford Flooring Genuine Oak Premiere
        • Hurford Flooring Genuine Oak Wide
        • Hurford Flooring HM Walk
      • NFD
        • NFD Eternity Timber
      • Online Flooring Store
        • Burra Beach Collection
        • Castle Nuovo Herringbone
        • Grande Provence Timber Planks
        • Veroni Collection
        • Woodland Floating
      • Premium Floors
        • Premium Floors Nature’s Oak
        • Premium Floors Quick-Step Compact Oaks
        • Premium Floors Quick-Step Compact Australian Species
        • Premium Floors Quick-Step Palazzo
        • Premium Floors Quick-Step Readyflor 1 Strip
        • Premium Floors Quick-Step Readyflor XL
      • Signature Floors
        • Signature Floors Maison Rustique Oak
        • Signature Floors Maison St Germain Oak
      • Terra Mater Floors
        • Terra Mater Floors WildOak Lakewood 190 mm
        • Terra Mater Floors WildOak Lakewood Herringbone
        • Terra Mater Floors WildOak Linwood
        • Terra Mater Floors WildOak Origins 190 mm
        • Terra Mater Floors WildOak Origins 220 mm
        • Terra Mater Floors WildOak Origins 240 mm
      • Wonderful Floors
        • Wonderful Floor Project Oak
        • Wonderful Floor Supreme Oak
    • Solid Timber Flooring
      • Pre-Finished Solid Timber
        • Wonderful Floor
  • Laminate
    • Airstep
      • Airstep Eucalyptus Steps
      • Airstep Eucalyptus Steps XL
      • Airstep Masterpieces Laminate
    • AST
      • Australian Select Timbers Reflections Elite Collection
      • Australian Select Timbers Reflections Evoke Collection
      • Australian Select Timbers Reflections Lifestyle Collection
      • Australian Select Timbers Reflections Ultimate Collection
    • Clever Choice
      • Clever Choice Hydro Lifestyle Laminate
      • Clever Choice Hydro XXL
    • Eco Flooring Systems
      • Eco Flooring Systems Swish Aquastop
      • Eco Flooring Systems Swish Longboard
    • Premium Floors
      • Premium Floors Clix
      • Premium Floors Clix Plus
      • Premium Floors Clix XL
      • Premium Floors Quick-Step Classic
      • Premium Floors Quick-Step Impressive 8 mm
      • Premium Floors Quick-Step Impressive Ultra
      • Premium Floors Quick-Step Majestic
      • Premium Floors Quick-Step Perspective Nature
    • Online Flooring Store
      • Prime Contemporary Edition Laminate
      • Prime Deluxe Edition
      • Prime Legend Collection (DYNA CORE+)
      • Prime Luxury Edition Laminate
      • Prime Platinum Edition (DYNA CORE)
      • Prime Traditional Edition
    • Signature Floors
      • Signature Floors AquaPlank Peninsula XXL
      • Signature Floors AquaPlank Whitsundays XL
    • Terra Mater Floors
      • Terra Mater Floors NuCore Excellence
      • Terra Mater Floors NuCore Lamwood Extreme
  • Tiles
    • Antique Tides
    • Beton
    • Brickart
    • Cementa
    • Crayons
    • Fragment Brick
    • Fragment Macro
    • Laser Line
    • Limestone
    • Marmi
    • Meteor
    • Pavement
    • Penny Rounds
    • Pitture
    • Soho
    • Stario
    • Stonalix
    • Tivoli
    • Tech Legno
    • Tundra
  • Carpet Tiles
    • Airlay
      • Airlay Como
      • Airlay Dynamic
      • Airlay Paragon
      • Airlay Sierra
    • NFD
      • NFD Arizona
      • NFD Evolve
  • Artificial Grass
    • Cool Touch Artificial Grass
  • Rugs
    • Bayliss
    • Colorscope by Cadrys
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Why Shop With Us
    • Community
    • Reviews
    • Delivery
    • FAQ
    • Blog
    • Comparison Guide
  • Contact
  • SIGN IN
  • Wish List
  • 1300 702 201Get A Quote
  • DISCOUNTED PRICING

    GET A QUOTE
Avatar
Written by Dean Billett
Monday, 27 January, 2020 / Published in Installation Guides

How to Choose the Right Flooring Pattern for Your Floors

Do you have the perfect flooring picked out for your space and think you are done planning? Not quite.

Depending on the flooring you have selected, including loose lay vinyl, hybrid, laminate, timber and carpet tiles, using a carefully chosen layout technique or pattern can elevate your design, add artistry, increase resale value, and create a polished appearance.

Here, we’ll explain some of the most popular patterns for laying out your flooring to help you decide which option would best showcase your space.

 

What To Do Before You Install Your Floors

We strongly recommend dry-fitting your pattern before actually having your flooring installed. This allows you to get an idea of how the end product will turn out and hopefully avoid any awkward cuts or patterns.

Here are some questions to keep in mind when choosing a pattern:

  • Will items such as furniture or area rugs obscure the pattern?
  • Is your room long and narrow? Is it short and wide? Would you like to make it appear bigger?
  • Do you want your flooring to be a focal point?
  • Do you have a certain design style in mind that you would like your flooring pattern to mesh with?
  • Does your room have angles and obstacles that will be awkward to work around?
  • Which flooring option would best suit your home or business?
  • Are you installing the flooring yourself or hiring a professional installer?

 

7 Fun Flooring Patterns

1. Grid

The grid pattern, also known as stack bond, is one of the most common layouts. This universal pattern is perhaps the easiest to lay and offers a clean, simple, straightforward appearance.

The grid flooring pattern is particularly popular when using tiles

The grid flooring pattern is particularly popular when using tiles.

 

The most important consideration for the grid pattern is to avoid visible “slivers” (thinly cut planks or tiles) as these add an unprofessional, shoddy appearance. This is where the importance of “dry-setting” is emphasised.

Once you lay out your flooring, make sure you do not end up with an entire plank or tile on one end of the room and a thinly cut one on the other. Try offsetting the design so that each end of the room shows an equal amount.

 

2. Offset

Another universal pattern, the offset pattern — or running bond — features planks or tiles that are laid out and then shifted in each row to create an offset pattern. This timeless pattern offers several options:

  • 50/50 Offset – This common running bond pattern creates a strong traditional look. It features flooring offset by half the width of each other (pictured below)
  • Varied Offset – This style (40/60, 30/70) creates a more natural, softer finished look.

 

A 50/50 offset flooring pattern

A 50/50 offset flooring pattern.

 

Planning this layout correctly will lead to minimal cuts; since you can cut a piece from one row and save it to start the next row, rather than throwing it away.

 

3. Stagger

The stagger pattern features planks arranged on alternating sides of a centreline. Staggering the joints eliminates vulnerable seam joints and produces a fluid, uniform look. Staggering the joints in thirds offers the best results.

This layout features both staggering and random patterns

This layout features both staggering and random patterns.

 

4. Diagonal

The layout technique — a slight variation of the offset pattern — features planks set on a 45-degree angle from the walls. A diagonal technique can make a small room appear larger by adding a unique perspective and dimension to a room. It can also hide imperfections in rooms that do not have perfectly square walls.

A diagonal pattern can make a small room appear larger by adding a unique perspective

A diagonal pattern can make a small room appear larger by adding a unique perspective.

 

Any pattern can be turned at an angle to automatically enhance a space with a more dynamic look.

However, because the planks or tiles do not line up with the walls, setting them at a diagonal increases the number of necessary cuts at the perimeter and may not be ideal for novice installers.

 

5. Herringbone

This classic flooring pattern, sometimes known as zig zag, is meant to resemble fish scales and can add a level of sophistication and luxury to a design.

To achieve a herringbone pattern, take a luxury vinyl plank and turn it so it is perpendicular to another plank. Align them alongside one another and repeat until you have your entire pattern laid out.

The herringbone (or zig zag) pattern resembles fish scales

The herringbone (or zig zag) pattern resembles fish scales.

 

Essentially, you are creating an L-shaped design with two planks. Another L will then be laid adjacent to the first and so on to repeat the pattern. Any size rectangle plank will work for herringbone patterns, creating a dynamic finished look that fits perfectly with both traditional or contemporary settings.

 

6. Random

A random pattern is just as the name states, a random arrangement of planks laid out in no particular design. This versatile look can be exciting, unique, and fun to lay out.

For a unique, natural look, try the random flooring pattern

For a unique, natural look, try the random flooring pattern.

 

Again, by laying out your design prior to installation, you can easily see if a random pattern is ideal for your setting without actually committing to it.

 

7. Chevron

We saved the most difficult layout for last — the chevron pattern. Featuring clean lines repeating at an angle, this fun looks creates a zigzag design.

It requires each plank to be cut — ideally with a mitre saw — at a 45-degree angle on both ends. Since these two cuts must be exactly 45 degrees and match up precisely, there is zero room for error.

Once the necessary cuts are completed, a centreline is established. Then, two tiles are placed on the opposite side of the centreline to create the first chevron pattern. Then, the design is repeated in the next row in the opposite direction. Extreme care must be taken to make sure all edges are seams line up correctly and tightly.

The chevron pattern is only recommended for professional floor layers

The chevron pattern is only recommended for professional floor layers.

 

Because of the complexity of this pattern, beginners may wish to enlist the help of a professional installer.

Tip: We have 100s of professional installers in our network Australia wide. Contact us and we can put you in touch with your closest one.

 

How to Determine The Right Flooring Pattern For Your Home

We realise it can be overwhelming to research the different flooring layout patterns and decide which one would be ideal for your space. That’s where our expert team at Online Flooring Store comes in!

By asking questions about your space such as how many square metres is it, what is the layout like, and what look would you like to achieve, we can help you determine the best flooring pattern for showcasing your space. We can also let you know if the design you are looking at is DIY friendly or if it will require the expertise of a professional installer.

Contact our friendly, experienced team today and we would be glad to help you with any and all things flooring!

‹ Previous Bushfire Appeal Next › 9 Reasons Hybrid Flooring Is So Popular

Categories

  • Benefits
  • Cleaning & Care Tips
  • Company News
  • Comparison Guides
  • Design & Décor
  • Installation Guides
  • Trends

Recent Posts

  • Floating Floors – Are They Right for Your Home?

    Floating Floors – Are They Right for Your Home?

    June 7, 2022
    Use this guide to explore the advantages and disadvantages of …
  • What You Need to Know When Buying Interior Shutters

    What You Need to Know When Buying Interior Shutters

    May 23, 2022
    Purchasing window shutters is a significant investment. Make the most …
  • Guide to Buying Artificial Grass

    Guide to Buying Artificial Grass

    April 12, 2022
    As artificial grass is becoming more popular than ever before, …
  • Flooring Locking Systems & Choosing What Works

    Flooring Locking Systems & Choosing What Works

    April 7, 2022
    The Click Flooring system is a straightforward installation method and …
  • Ceramic vs Porcelain Tiles – Same But Not The Same

    Ceramic vs Porcelain Tiles – Same But Not The Same

    March 14, 2022
    Although porcelain and ceramic tiles are indeed very similar, there …
Sign up to our newsletter

Get your $25 off coupon code

Sign up as a VIP to receive $25 off your next order over $500!
Plus, get the best flooring deals, exclusive offers, interior design tips and more.

Online Flooring Store are a family operated business that is wholly Australian owned and operated. We provide industry leading service and the highest quality products.

Email: info@onlineflooringstore.com.au
Phone: 1300 702 201
ABN: 68625139068

Address:
7/41 Township Dr
Burleigh Heads
QLD 4220

Note: Visits to our showroom are by appointment only.

SHOP

  • Vinyl
  • Hybrid
  • Bamboo
  • Timber
  • Laminate
  • Rugs
  • Carpet Tiles
  • On Sale
  • Account
  • Wish List

OUR COMPANY

  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Why Shop With Us
  • Reviews
  • Delivery
  • Layer Registration
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Payment & Refund Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
FCiA logo
We're a Certified Installer (Carpet & Resilient & Timber) with the Floor Covering Institute of Australia.
atfa logo
We're a member of the Australasian Timber Flooring Association (ATFA).
All rights reserved. © 2022 Online Flooring Store. Website by Digital Hitmen.
© 2022 Online Flooring Store. All rights reserved.

HOME

MENU

CART

WISHLIST

PROFILE
x
Payright

Turn too much into too easy.

  • Zero interest
  • Convenient fortnightly or
    monthly installments
  • Terms of up to
    36 months
  • For purchases
    up to $20k

How to shop...

  • Select your purchase online
  • Select Payright as your
    preferred payment option
  • Enter your contact details to sign up
    or sign in to your Payright account
  • Once approved your
    purchase will be dispatched

Right when you need it – Payright

Important Information:

We want to ensure you have a positive payment experience and have made the checkout process simple. We take responsible lending seriously so credit is only extended to approved customers. Please ensure you read the terms and conditionsfor further information and note that PayRight is not available on all purchases.

Tell me more

ENQUIRE ABOUT DISCOUNTED PRICING

  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • Hidden
  • Max. file size: 2 MB.

  • Please prove you are human by selecting the car.