Different flooring patterns and designs can significantly impact the look of your room. Whether you’re installing hardwood or vinyl, there are a variety of floor pattern layouts to choose from. Each can influence the room's appearance, not just in terms of aesthetics and mood but also perceived size.

Our guide to the basics of floor patterns will help you choose the best design to enhance the visual appeal of your space.

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Flooring Types Well Suited to Patterns

It’s possible to create patterns with nearly any type of flooring, but some are better suited to it than others. Tile is an obvious choice, lending itself to intricate patterns like mosaics. Vinyl flooring, either luxury vinyl plank or luxury vinyl tile, can also be arranged in various patterns; while vinyl sheets often come preprinted with a pattern.

In addition, wood flooring and laminate can include patterns. Hardwoods can be installed to achieve a pattern or used to create custom inlays. Much like vinyl, laminate flooring comes in many designs that can include patterns or be laid in a pattern formation. Carpeting, such as carpet tiles, stone, and cement, is pattern-friendly, too, but it tends to be a bit more challenging to work with.

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Common Flooring Patterns

Now that you know which materials lend themselves well to patterns, here are a few popular designs.

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Herringbone

Instantly recognizable, the zigzag pattern of herringbone can give your space timeless appeal. It consists of a V-shaped design in which the tiles or planks are angled at 90 degrees to one another. When viewed in total, the V’s or arrow points create a waving pattern across the floor. Different colors or shades can add even more depth and interest to a herringbone design.  

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Chevron

The chevron pattern is similar to herringbone, but instead, the tiles or planks are cut at each end at a 45-degree angle and then joined together. The V shapes create diagonal lines that can feel very directional in a room, pulling the eye or even traffic flow to a certain point. Alternating colors and shades can give your space an even bolder look.

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Woven

There are many types of woven patterns, such as basketweave. The look is greeted with square or rectangular materials arranged in an interlocking pattern. It’s commonly created from tile, although wood and vinyl are possibilities, too. Using a single color or shade in the crosshatch pattern adds subtle texture and interest to a space, while alternating colors or shades can make the pattern stand out.

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Grid

One of the most common floor patterns is the grid. This style consists of stacking planks or tiles one on top of the other to create uniform rows and columns. It’s a timeless look that can blend seamlessly into a space, especially if you want a cohesive, understated design. Subway tiles are perhaps one of the most common materials to be arranged in a grid pattern, often on a wall, while square tiles lend themselves well to a floor grid pattern.

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Parquet

Homeowners who desire a unique, three-dimensional design often opt for parquet. The pattern is decorative and intricate and can be customized. Though usually created with wood, it can be done in tile, vinyl, or laminate. True parquet patterns that are installed and not printed require great craftsmanship and attention to detail.

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Quarter-turn

Quarter-turn is typically created from patterned tile with a linear design, though wood, carpet squares, printed vinyl, or laminate can also work. They are created by arranging square-cut material into a grid pattern and then turning each individual tile 90 degrees from its neighbor’s placement. It’s a great way to add visual interest and texture to a room’s floor without making it the space's focal point.

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Variations of Grid

Working off a stacked grid pattern, various patterns can be created. For example, the soldier pattern features a row of vertically laid tiles topped with a row of horizontally laid tiles. Or the corridor pattern, which consists of a column of stacked horizontal tiles next to a column of stacked vertical tiles. The intervening rows and columns that break up the usual grid pattern are an easy way to add an elegant twist to an otherwise standard pattern.

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Hopefully, you have a better idea of the numerous flooring patterns you can use, and how each can create a distinct look and atmosphere in your space.