Herringbone and chevron patterns are the hottest trend in Los Angeles hardwood flooring right now — and unlike most design trends, this one has staying power. These patterns have graced European homes for centuries, and they’re now showing up everywhere from Beverly Hills estates to renovated Encino ranches and modern Studio City townhomes.
But patterned floors aren’t just a style upgrade. They cost more, take longer to install, and require an experienced crew. Here’s everything you need to know before committing, from a team that’s been installing patterned hardwood across LA for over two decades.
Herringbone vs. Chevron: What’s the Difference?
People use these terms interchangeably, but they’re two distinct patterns:
Herringbone: Rectangular planks are laid at 90-degree angles to each other, creating a staggered zigzag. Each plank end butts against the side of the next plank. The result is a broken zigzag — the classic pattern you see in Parisian apartments.
Chevron: Planks are cut at an angle (usually 45 or 60 degrees) on each end, so they meet in a continuous V-shape — a clean, pointed zigzag. It’s a more modern, streamlined look.
| Feature | Herringbone | Chevron |
|---|---|---|
| Plank cuts | Rectangular — no angled cuts | Both ends cut at 45° or 60° |
| Pattern | Staggered, broken zigzag | Clean, pointed V-shape |
| Visual effect | Traditional, textured, busy | Modern, streamlined, elegant |
| Material waste | 10-15% extra | 15-20% extra (angled cuts) |
| Installation speed | Slower than straight lay | Slowest of the three |
| Labor premium | 20-30% more | 30-40% more |
Real Cost Breakdown for Los Angeles
Let’s talk numbers. The material cost for herringbone and chevron planks is often the same as straight-lay planks (sometimes slightly higher for pre-cut chevron). The real cost difference is in labor and waste.
Herringbone Installation Costs
| Component | Straight Lay | Herringbone | Chevron |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineered hardwood material | $4-$8/sq ft | $5-$10/sq ft | $6-$11/sq ft |
| Installation labor | $3-$5/sq ft | $4-$7/sq ft | $5-$8/sq ft |
| Material waste factor | 7-10% | 10-15% | 15-20% |
| Total installed (standard) | $7-$12/sq ft | $9-$15/sq ft | $11-$18/sq ft |
For a typical 800 sq ft living area in a Calabasas or Woodland Hills home, that means:
- Straight lay engineered hardwood: $5,600-$9,600
- Herringbone engineered hardwood: $7,200-$12,000
- Chevron engineered hardwood: $8,800-$14,400
Best Wood Species for Patterned Floors
Not every species works well in a herringbone or chevron layout. The pattern itself is visually complex, so your species and color choice needs to complement — not compete with — the geometry.
Top Picks for LA Homes
European White Oak (our #1 recommendation): Consistent grain, takes stain beautifully, available in engineered planks specifically sized for herringbone. The subtle cathedral grain adds texture without overwhelming the pattern. This is what we install in about 70% of our patterned floor projects.
French Oak: Similar to European White Oak but with more character — wider grain variation, more knots. Great for rustic or farmhouse-modern interiors popular in Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills.
Walnut: Rich, dark tones with dramatic grain. Beautiful in chevron, but the strong grain pattern can look busy in herringbone. Works best in larger rooms where you can step back and appreciate the overall pattern.
Maple: Fine, subtle grain that lets the pattern be the star. Excellent in lighter finishes for contemporary homes in Studio City and the Hollywood Hills.
Avoid hickory for patterns. Hickory’s wild grain variation and dramatic color shifts fight with geometric patterns. It’s an outstanding straight-lay species, but it makes herringbone look chaotic.
Which Rooms Work Best for Patterned Floors?
Best rooms for herringbone/chevron:
- Entryways and foyers: Makes an immediate visual impact. Even a small 40-60 sq ft entry in herringbone sets the tone for the whole home.
- Living rooms: Large, open spaces let the pattern breathe. This is where the investment really pays off.
- Dining rooms: The formal feel of a patterned floor elevates dining spaces. Many of our Beverly Hills and Encino clients do herringbone exclusively in the dining room.
- Master bedrooms: A chevron floor in the bedroom is a luxury touch that many homeowners overlook.
Rooms where straight lay may be better:
- Narrow hallways: The pattern gets compressed and loses visual impact. The angled cuts also create more waste in narrow spaces.
- Small bathrooms or closets: Pattern complexity in small spaces can feel cluttered.
- Kitchens with lots of cabinetry: So much floor is covered by island and cabinets that the pattern barely shows.
Installation Complexity: Why Experience Matters
Herringbone and chevron are not DIY projects, and they’re not jobs for crews that primarily do straight-lay work. Here’s why:
- Layout planning: The pattern needs to be centered on a room’s focal point — usually the main entrance or fireplace. If the room isn’t perfectly square (and most LA rooms aren’t), the installer has to calculate starting points and adjust the border cuts to maintain symmetry.
- Subfloor prep is critical: Any unevenness in the slab shows more with patterned floors because misaligned joints are far more visible. We typically do more extensive floor leveling for herringbone projects.
- Glue-down is standard: On LA’s concrete slab foundations, patterned floors are almost always glued down for stability. This requires the right adhesive, proper trowel notch size, and working in sections before the glue skins over.
- Speed: An experienced crew lays 300-500 sq ft per day on a straight-lay job. For herringbone, that drops to 150-250 sq ft per day. Chevron is even slower because every plank has two angled cuts that must be precise.
Engineered vs. Solid for Patterns in LA
For patterned floors in Los Angeles, engineered hardwood isn’t just recommended — it’s practically required. Here’s why:
- Most LA homes are on concrete slabs. Solid hardwood can’t be glued directly to concrete reliably.
- LA’s dry climate (often 15-30% indoor humidity) causes solid wood to shrink, and the small plank sizes used in herringbone amplify every gap.
- Engineered planks with a 4mm+ wear layer are dimensionally stable across humidity swings, and they’re available in herringbone-specific sizes (typically 4-5″ wide by 18-24″ long).
We use engineered hardwood with a minimum 4mm veneer on every patterned floor project. This gives you a surface thick enough for future refinishing while maintaining the stability that LA’s climate demands. Learn more about the differences in our engineered vs. solid hardwood comparison.
Design Tips from 20+ Years of LA Installations
- Run the pattern toward the main light source. In most LA homes, that means toward the large west- or south-facing windows. This accentuates the V-pattern with shadow and highlight.
- Use a border for extra impact. A 4-6 inch straight-lay border around the room frames the herringbone and gives a finished, intentional look.
- Stick to one color. Two-tone herringbone (alternating light and dark planks) looks great in magazines but feels overwhelming in most real homes. A single species with natural color variation is plenty.
- Matte or satin finish, not high gloss. Matte finishes hide minor imperfections and are more forgiving of the tiny alignment variations that are inevitable in handcrafted patterns.
- Don’t mix patterns between rooms. If the living room is herringbone, transition to straight-lay in the hallway rather than continuing the pattern. It gives each space its own identity.
Is It Worth the Investment?
Patterned hardwood floors consistently add more perceived value than straight-lay floors of the same species. In LA’s competitive real estate market — especially in neighborhoods like Beverly Hills, Encino, and Calabasas — herringbone floors are a standout feature that real estate agents highlight in listings.
The premium is typically 20-40% over straight-lay installation, but the visual impact is disproportionately larger. If you’re choosing between upgrading your species from oak to walnut or keeping oak and going herringbone, we’d recommend herringbone every time. The pattern elevates the room more than the species upgrade does.
Get a Patterned Floor Quote
Herringbone and chevron projects require an in-home measurement and layout consultation — this isn’t something you can accurately price over the phone. At Skyline Flooring, we bring samples, discuss pattern orientation, and provide a detailed written quote. With our 5.0-star Yelp rating across 109+ reviews, you’re working with a team that gets the details right. Schedule your consultation or call (818) 300-2205 today.