If you’ve been following us for a while, you know that we love a good herringbone flooring design. We tend to choose herringbone for clients who are looking to modernize the floors in their space, however herringbone technique is actually rooted in masonry practices dating back to the early Roman Empire–making it an ancient design hack! Jokes aside, these floors are a beautiful addition to many designs, but installation can seem overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the technique. So, today, we’re sharing our three tips for herringbone flooring!
1. WHAT FLOORING TO BUY + WHERE TO PUT IT
Whether you’re a first timer or a pro, we love Stuga’s flooring, especially the Sisu style which we’re currently installing at our Three Generation Renovation project. We usually put herringbone on either a primary floor or the main parlor, because it feels really grand (plus, there’s a slight price increase for herringbone so usually we mix it to be cost effective with our clients). We also try to keep it consistently on one floor so we avoid step-ups and unnecessary transitions.
2. LEVEL THE SUBFLOOR
Nothing will ruin a perfect pattern like gapping and bubbling, so make sure you level the subfloor using an underlayment! Once again, Stuga takes the cake with their anti-microbial and water resistant underlayment that makes prep a breeze. Make sure to clean and level your floors before laying down your underlayment carefully.
3. ALTERNATE PLANKS FOR COLOR VARIATION
One thing we love to do in a herringbone design is thoughtfully mix and match the natural variations in planks for a bit of intrigue. We label the pieces by number on the backside according to their pattern for easy planning, and then lay them out accordingly. It makes installation so much more organized and the alternation really elevates the overall design.
