Deciding on new hardwood floors for your home is a big decision. Not only do you have to pick out the right type and color of wood, but you also have to decide on the installation pattern. There are many different options to choose from, and each has its own pros and cons. Here's what you need to know about some of the most popular installation patterns to make the best decision for your home.

Random Lengths

This is one of the simplest patterns and, therefore, one of the quickest and easiest to install. It's also a very versatile pattern that can be used in a variety of different settings. Random lengths are a common choice of hardwood flooring installation for homeowners today and are preferred by do-it-yourselfers due to the ease of installation.

Mixed-Widths

When early Americans first started installing hardwood floors, they used a collection of lumber of various lengths and widths because they did not have sophisticated sawing equipment. Eventually, as the equipment improved, homeowners valued uniformity. Today, however, mixed-width hardwood flooring is viewed as charming, visually interesting, and natural-looking.

Diagonal

The diagonal pattern is an easy way to add an eye-catching hardwood flooring option. It's also a great way to make a small room look larger or a large room appear more intimate. However, this pattern can be more difficult to install, especially if you're working with odd-shaped rooms or pieces of wood.

Chevron

The herringbone pattern is classic and timeless. It's been used for centuries in some of the world's most beautiful homes and buildings. Herringbone can best be described as a 'W' pattern that repeats over and over across the floor. While it is timeless and quintessentially French, if you're going for a more modern look, you may want to steer clear of this one.

Herringbone

Like chevron, herringbone is a more complex pattern requiring more skill, time, and effort to install. However, it also has a more luxurious and high-end look. Be aware that there is a lot of chop loss due to the number of cuts made installing herringbone hardwood floors, so you will have to order additional material.

Parquet

While parquet floors are sometimes called basketweaves or even checkerboard hardwood floors, parquet is the proper term. Parquet hardwood floors are laid in a geometric pattern of wooden blocks, with multiple variations, including Bordeaux, Chantilly, and Versailles. While parquet floors can be quite expensive, due mostly to the cost of installation labor, they are a work of art that will be valued for the life of your home.

Marquetry

While parquetry and marquetry sound familiar, and both deal with creating intricate patterns in wood flooring, they are different. Marquetry uses inlays of different wood species to create a picture like a compass rose or a family crest. This is a very complicated wood flooring pattern to opt for, as each is one-of-a-kind and must be installed by an experienced craftsman.

There are many factors to consider when choosing hardwood floors for your home, including the installation pattern. With so many options available, it's important to research before making any decisions to narrow down your choices and find the perfect one for your home.

To examine some options, contact a hardwood flooring service in your area such as Matuta Hardwood Flooring LLC.