Parquet hardwood flooring is an ageless option that brings elegance, warmth, and personality to any space. Acclaimed for its dramatic quality and durability, it’s both stylish and practical. Whether it’s a traditional herringbone or elegant chevron, a parquet suits every type of home decor. Its flexibility never falls out of style. In this guide, you will learn about parquet flooring, its benefits, how it is manufactured with trendy designs, and how to install it properly.
What is Parquet Wood Flooring?
Parquet is a wood flooring style made by placing small wooden pieces in a repeating pattern. In the past, each piece was installed individually. However, today most parquet flooring is available in tile form, with the wood slats already attached to the backing layer. These tiles are glued, nailed, or mortared onto the subfloor. A distinct pattern of in parquet flooring gives a classical hardwood strip flooring look and feel.
How is Parquet Wood Flooring Manufactured?
Parquet flooring is made up of thin wooden pieces organised in a particular pattern. The wood is cut by factories into shallow, uniform pieces, allowing them to produce these patterns. The pieces are often fitted into a desired pattern and pressed into tiles. To prevent the pieces from disintegrating, the back is glued onto a mesh material backing like plastic, paper, cloth, or sometimes plywood. Engineered parquet is similar to solid wood but is constructed with thinner hardwood strips. They are stacked and not cut from a single piece of wood.
The Parquet tiles most often come in three standard sizes:
- 9×9 inches
- 12×12 inches and
- 18×18 inches
They are also 5/16 to ¾ inch thick. Installers set them out in predetermined patterns. However, most homeowners prefer more prevalent patterns. Different dimensions offer various benefits depending on the space and design preferences. Small tiles enable detailed patterns and better flexibility in tight spaces, while larger tiles provide a more seamless, modern look with fewer grout lines.
However, parquet flooring can also be made by using individual strips of wood and directly fixing them on floors in different patterns.
Parquet Wood Floor Patterns

Parquet flooring can be made with intricate patterns and textures which give depth and comfort to any room in your home. There are numerous different parquet flooring styles, but these are the most popular and frequently used parquet flooring patterns:
Checkerboard squares
Wooden planks are skillfully arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The squares are positioned with the grains of one piece being perpendicular to the adjacent piece’s grains, giving a dramatic and symmetrical effect.
Brickwork
This is a brick-wall using brick masonry design. Every plank is placed in such a manner that it spans the joints of the two planks below and above and gives a simple yet timeless appearance.
Herringbone
It uses diagonal wood pieces that fit together in a zig-zag pattern. Two different lengths are used to create a layered effect where the pieces meet in the centre.
Chevron
Chevron designs employ slanted strips of wood that are all cut into identical lengths in order to have a similar appearance. They meet a sharp point, forming a smooth, continuous V-shape across the floor.
The Installation Process of Parquet Wood Flooring
1. Subfloor Preparation
Prepare the subfloor prior to laying parquet tiles. The subfloor must be level, dry and free from obstructions and dust. Dips, lumps, or gaps must be sorted out by applying a levelling compound. The subfloor must be level and smooth to ensure the parquet flooring is strong and long-lasting.
2. Choosing the Best Fitting Method
There are some ways to fit parquet flooring, including glue-down and floating fitting. Whatever works for you best will be ascertained by your type of subfloor, the design you are adopting, and what works for your room best. You can present both methods to the professionals in the field so that you can make an informed decision before undertaking the job.
3. Spacing the Tiles in Designs
It is your time to innovate. You may use a simple herringbone pattern or a complicated one, but arranging the tiles properly is very important. Take enough time to lay the tiles appropriately so that the overall look is neat, unifying, and elegant.
4. Getting a Clean, Professional Look
For optimal results, mind the details. Make sure the tiles are snug together and that the spaces between them are uniform, and check your pattern often. A neat and tidy installation will make your floor look better longer.
Benefits of Parquet Wood Flooring
1. Visual Appeal
One of the advantages of parquet flooring is its distinctive appearance, which appeals to most consumers. Complex patterns like the herringbone, chevron or other bespoke designs, add a unique and sophisticated look to any room. The commitment, time and energy spent in creating it can make an ordinary room become a room with an amazing and sophisticated look.
2. Durability
Oak, walnut and other hardwood parquet floorboards are designed to last long. If well-maintained and well-taken care of, these floors will be in perfect condition for generations, making it a clever and long-term investment for your home.
3. Value Addition
Parquet flooring, apart from making your house lovely, enhances its market value. Its beauty and longevity appeal to prospective buyers, and your house will be the preferred choice in a crowd.
4. Versatility
You can have parquet flooring in various wood species, designs, and finishes. This gives you the option of creating the desired appearance for your home, whether classic, modern or a combination of other different styles.
5. Easy Maintenance
Parquet floor care is easy. Sweeping them every day and cleaning them with a damp cloth occasionally will be enough to keep them tidy and fresh. Special cleaning equipment or chemicals are unnecessary.
6. Warmth
Parquet is not like ordinary tiles, as it creates a warmer and softer floor to walk on. Wood generally remains warm despite varying climatic conditions, creating a cosy atmosphere at home.
7. Non-Allergic
Parquet flooring is ideal for individuals with allergies. Unlike carpets, they do not trap dust, pet hair, or pollen. Its shine provides a smooth surface to clean off the allergens.
Applications of Parquet Wood Flooring
Just like other types of tile flooring, a parquet can be used to cover an entire room. It works especially well in large, formal spaces. An intricate parquet design, however, will look stunning in a small area such as a foyer. Some owners use parquet tiles as a border around regular hardwood flooring. This creates the appearance of a large wood floor with a decorative edge that resembles a rug.
You can also install a parquet medallion in the middle of a big room. These medallions are often highly detailed and work best in formal settings, such as libraries or offices. Just be sure the medallion stays visible when placing furniture. In general, parquet flooring is suited for any room that calls for a fashionable, dramatic look.
Conclusion
Parquet flooring not only gives a fine look, but it also adds character and value to an area. It’s a wise long-term investment in your home. With an endless array of design possibilities, low maintenance, and solid wood build, it can add beauty to any room. Whether you’re installing it in one room or your entire home, parquet is versatile and eternally stylish. From design concepts to installation, hire experts like Brick & Bolt to make informed decisions for your floor project.