Parquet vs Plank Flooring: Which Is Right for Your Home
Parquet and plank flooring are both real wood floors, and in many cases both are appropriate options for the same room. The decision between them involves aesthetic preferences, budget, room scale, and how you want the floor to contribute to the overall character of the space. This guide compares the two formats across the factors that matter most.
Appearance and Visual Character
Parquet flooring, particularly in a herringbone or chevron pattern, is inherently more visually active than straight plank flooring. The geometric pattern adds interest without relying on colour or texture, and it works well in spaces that might otherwise feel plain. A herringbone oak floor in a corridor or entrance hall gives the space a sense of quality that a plank floor, however well installed, may not achieve in the same way.
Straight plank flooring suits spaces where visual simplicity is the priority. In a room with complex architecture, bold furniture or strong wall colours, a simple plank floor does not compete for attention. Wide-plank floors in particular, with boards of 180mm or more, have a quiet confidence that works well in large, open spaces and in contemporary minimal interiors.
Installation Complexity and Cost
Parquet installation is more complex and more time-consuming than straight plank installation. The pattern requires precise set-out, the blocks must all be glued down (floating installation is not appropriate), and the work proceeds block by block rather than in long, fast plank runs. Professional herringbone installation typically costs £5 to £10 per square metre more than equivalent plank installation.
Parquet also generates more waste from the cut blocks at room perimeters, particularly in rooms with irregular geometry. The waste allowance for herringbone should be at least 15 per cent, compared to 10 per cent for straight-run planks. This adds to the material cost.
Maintenance
Both parquet and plank floors of the same species and finish have the same maintenance requirements. The practical difference is that parquet has more joints per square metre, which requires a little more care with mopping to avoid excessive moisture at joint lines. Plank floors have longer, fewer joints, which makes mopping slightly less of a concern.
Suitability by Room
Parquet is particularly well suited to hallways, reception rooms, dining rooms and statement spaces where the pattern can be fully appreciated. Straight plank floors are well suited to open-plan living areas, bedrooms, studies and spaces where simplicity is the design intent.
- Parquet: more visual interest, adds prestige to hallways and reception rooms
- Plank: simpler, suits large open-plan spaces and contemporary interiors
- Parquet costs more to install: more complex fitting process
- Parquet needs 15% waste allowance vs 10% for planks
- Both options available in same oak species, grades and finishes
Both formats, done well with quality materials and appropriate finishes, produce excellent floors. The choice between them is primarily a question of what visual statement you want the floor to make in the room. There is no practically wrong choice between a well-fitted herringbone and a well-fitted wide plank floor of comparable quality.
