Herringbone at home: direction, light and wood grain

Where the point faces

The direction determines where your gaze goes. If you point it towards the opening, your eye follows it outside. A wider herringbone does the same with longer planks. The rhythm becomes calmer.

In the image above, that opening is a bay window: windows, not garden doors. The line of the herringbone runs towards it. In your own room, you choose where the point faces.

From the sofa

From the sofa, you see the herringbone at an angle. That is the view you have every day. Check whether the rhythm stays calm next to the seat, and whether a point lines up with a furniture leg or the edge of a rug.

Light on the joints

In sunlight, the joints and grain become more visible. A light floor can then look almost uniform. In the shade, the pattern returns. A curtain changes how much light falls on the floor. Judge the floor in the room, in daylight. On a screen, the shade looks flatter.

Close to the grain

Up close, the pattern breaks down into blocks: lines, colour variations and a joint. That is a different impression from the pattern seen from the door. A light herringbone stays light, even if the grain looks busier up close.

Closer to the grain. The same kind of impression, not a project photo.

From threshold to window

Walk in your mind from the threshold, past the sofa, up to the window. You check whether the rhythm still feels right. The image shows the direction, the joints and the grain. You make the final choice in the room.

Frequently asked questions

Further reading

• Light oak planks in daylight
• Dark walnut-effect in daylight
• Concrete-effect with curtains