Does Herringbone Flooring Make Your Room Look Bigger or Smaller?

Pattern, Light, and Perception

Timeless, sophisticated, and undeniably elegant, herringbone flooring has long been a hallmark of luxury interiors. But how does herringbone flooring impact room perception? Does it make a room look bigger or smaller? From grand Parisian apartments to modern penthouses, the answer lies in how this pattern interacts with light, proportion, and scale.

Herringbone Flooring Affects Spatial Perception

Luxury interior design is not only about selecting high-end materials but also about understanding how to manipulate space through thoughtful design choices. Flooring plays a pivotal role in defining a room’s proportions, and herringbone flooring - thanks to its dynamic and timeless pattern - has a unique ability to influence how we perceive a space.

Unlike standard plank flooring, which follows a linear path, herringbone flooring creates movement and depth. This interplay of directionality can either enhance the sense of expansiveness or, make a space feel more enclosed and cozy. The key to achieving the desired effect lies in considering plank size, orientation, colour, and overall room dimensions.

Melbourne Penthouse featuring Havwoods HW16002 Pallido Herringbone wood flooring

How Herringbone Flooring Can Make a Room Feel Larger

1. Creating Movement and Flow

Herringbone’s V-shaped pattern naturally guides the eye along its interwoven lines, creating a sense of movement that elongates a space. When installed in a direction that leads the gaze towards the longest part of the room, the flooring can visually extend the dimensions of the space.

2. Enhancing Light Reflection

Lighter-toned herringbone flooring, especially in finishes such as bleached oak or soft natural hues, enhances the reflection of natural and artificial light. This can make a room feel more open and airy, ideal for luxury apartments or high-end residences where a sense of grandeur is desired.

Havwoods platinum toned timber flooring products

3. Using Larger-Format Planks

While traditional herringbone is often associated with smaller planks, modern adaptations using wider and longer boards can create a more expansive feel. Larger-format planks reduce the number of seams, resulting in a cleaner, less visually cluttered aesthetic that enhances spatial perception.

4. Consistency Across Spaces

Continuity plays a key role in making interiors feel seamless. Extending herringbone flooring across multiple rooms or into adjoining spaces creates a fluid transition, preventing visual fragmentation that might make individual areas feel smaller.

When Herringbone Flooring Can Make a Room Feel Smaller and Cozy

1. High-Contrast Darker Tones

While deep, rich timbers exude warmth and luxury, darker herringbone flooring can absorb light rather than reflect it. In smaller spaces, this may create a cocooning effect, which—while cozy—can also visually reduce the sense of openness.

Havwoods HW696 Burnish Herringbone | Ascot Residence

2. Overly Small Planks in Large Rooms

In grand spaces, using excessively small herringbone planks can create a busy, intricate pattern that disrupts the sense of expansiveness. A well-proportioned plank size appropriate for the space ensures that the pattern enhances rather than overwhelms the scale of the room.

3. Installation Orientation Matters

If herringbone is installed perpendicular to the longest walls, it can visually compress the space rather than elongate it. The orientation should always complement the room’s architecture to enhance its proportions rather than counteract them.

Havwoods HW2042 Bandol Herringbone | McGregor St Home, VIC

4. Heavy Borders and Framing

Utilising bordered detailing can add a refined finish to herringbone flooring. A subtle perimeter border can provide a polished touch without restricting the sense of openness. Exaggerated or bold framing can visually “box in” the space, making it feel more confined and cozy.

Approximate Room Size vs Herringbone Plank Size Guide

This table is intended as a guide only. Please consult with an expert prior to purchasing your herringbone timber flooring.

Havwoods HW3575 Newport Herringbone | Iron Chef House, SA

The Verdict: Yes, Herringbone Flooring Can Make A Room Bigger or Smaller

For homeowners, interior designers, and architects alike, herringbone flooring offers both a statement of refinement and a strategic design tool for manipulating spatial perception. When thoughtfully applied - considering plank size, orientation, and colour - herringbone has the power to make a room feel more expansive and architecturally cohesive.

Whether incorporated into a heritage restoration or a cutting-edge contemporary residence, herringbone remains a sophisticated choice that transcends trends. By balancing scale, light, and materiality, this classic flooring pattern can elevate interiors, enhancing both their aesthetic allure and their perceived spaciousness.

For those designing high-end spaces, the key is not just in selecting herringbone, but in tailoring its application to the unique proportions and character of each project. When done right, herringbone flooring does more than just cover a surface - it transforms the way a space is experienced.

In summary, whether herringbone flooring makes a room look bigger or smaller depends on thoughtful application of design principles like plank size, orientation, and colour choice.

Transform Your Space with Havwoods Herringbone Flooring

Ready to enhance your home’s elegance and sense of space with herringbone timber flooring?

Explore our curated collection of premium herringbone flooring, available in a range of sizes, colours, and finishes to perfectly suit your vision.

• Browse our Herringbone Collections to find the perfect plank, colour, and finish for your project and order up to 5 free samples online of your shortlist.
• Book a free product consultation with one of our knowledeable and experienced experts, or visit a showroom near you to experience the beauty and craftsmanship firsthand.

Discover the timeless appeal of herringbone and make your feel spacious, grandiose, and truly extraordinary.