10 Reasons to Love Parquet Flooring
You don't have to live in a palace to enjoy the charms of a parquet floor
If prizes were given for the most popular material in homes today, timber would have to take a bow. Whether it’s sustainably sourced, recycled, engineered, laminated, richly stained or lime-washed to cool Scandi grey, we are revelling in a reconnection with wood’s authentic beauty.
As designers are predicting our homes will be softer and more tactile spaces in the coming years, parquet flooring is a clear choice for the future because of its natural, subtle warmth. With parquet underfoot, we can truly appreciate the feel as well as the look of timber, so take a walk in the woods and see why parquet may be what your feet are itching for.
As designers are predicting our homes will be softer and more tactile spaces in the coming years, parquet flooring is a clear choice for the future because of its natural, subtle warmth. With parquet underfoot, we can truly appreciate the feel as well as the look of timber, so take a walk in the woods and see why parquet may be what your feet are itching for.
Parquet floors are formed from small timber shapes laid in decorative patterns of varying complexity. These are installed on a sub-floor and are glued, sanded and surfaced with wax, oil or a hard finish.
There are two basic forms of modern parquet:
There are two basic forms of modern parquet:
- Traditional block parquet is laid as individually cut solid timber ‘fingers’ that mean patterns can be customised to produce unique floors.
- Mosaic parquet is laid on pre-assembled tiles or panels in a thinner veneer, which are then placed in different alignments.
1. Parquet is timeless
Whatever its setting, parquet just refuses to look dated. From restored heritage mansions to today’s open-plan light-filled homes and eclectic, vintage and industrial interiors, parquet adapts to any decor. Although traditional herringbone and chevron are the most-used designs, modern laser-cutting techniques have opened a world of parquet possibilities to suit every style of home.
10 ways to mix historical features with modern design
Whatever its setting, parquet just refuses to look dated. From restored heritage mansions to today’s open-plan light-filled homes and eclectic, vintage and industrial interiors, parquet adapts to any decor. Although traditional herringbone and chevron are the most-used designs, modern laser-cutting techniques have opened a world of parquet possibilities to suit every style of home.
10 ways to mix historical features with modern design
2. It adds textural interest
One-colour schemes and minimally furnished spaces can look cool and clinical. Had this bathroom floor been tiled, it would have looked quite uninviting and impersonal. Parquet has ‘humanised’ it on several levels – it introduces a range of shades, adds depth, visual interest and movement in the pattern, and brings in a warm barefoot-friendly surface.
One-colour schemes and minimally furnished spaces can look cool and clinical. Had this bathroom floor been tiled, it would have looked quite uninviting and impersonal. Parquet has ‘humanised’ it on several levels – it introduces a range of shades, adds depth, visual interest and movement in the pattern, and brings in a warm barefoot-friendly surface.
3. It arrives in style
Long hallways are one of the most tricky spaces to dress. Solve the design question with a mellow variegated mosaic of natural timber, which leads the eye down a narrow passage that open out into the rest of the house. Parquet is perfect to bring a touch of formality to an entrance. Having established a ‘sense of arrival’, this is also a fun way to progress to the less formal parts of the house.
Long hallways are one of the most tricky spaces to dress. Solve the design question with a mellow variegated mosaic of natural timber, which leads the eye down a narrow passage that open out into the rest of the house. Parquet is perfect to bring a touch of formality to an entrance. Having established a ‘sense of arrival’, this is also a fun way to progress to the less formal parts of the house.
If you don’t want to go all the way with parquet, a small area in the entrance, rich in detail and defined by an elegant border picked out in a contrasting timber, can make a welcoming statement.
4. The colour chameleon
There’s not a colour on the spectrum that doesn’t love being next to the subtle variations achievable with parquet. With many colours available and as many patterns as your imagination can create, parquet is a great building block to support practically any decorating palette.
There’s not a colour on the spectrum that doesn’t love being next to the subtle variations achievable with parquet. With many colours available and as many patterns as your imagination can create, parquet is a great building block to support practically any decorating palette.
If it’s drama you’re after, parquet steps up stylishly. You don’t have to stick to natural timber tones, as parquet can be custom-stained, painted or dyed. This masculine bathroom wears its black, white and gold palette with distinction.
TIP: Parquet is suitable for bathrooms, with some provisos. A suitable moisture-resistant timber must be well-sealed. The room should be well-ventilated and standing water dried promptly. Choose an alternative floor for splashy, high-use family bathrooms.
TIP: Parquet is suitable for bathrooms, with some provisos. A suitable moisture-resistant timber must be well-sealed. The room should be well-ventilated and standing water dried promptly. Choose an alternative floor for splashy, high-use family bathrooms.
Parquet can do pale too, as in this London house. The rustic timber textures of the white-washed herringbone parquet are a warm counterpoint to this all-white room.
5. Parquet loves rugs
Whatever your taste in rugs, they’ll look good on parquet – intricate woven kilims, rustic tribals, monotone thick pile or on-trend bright geometrics. These fabulous funky natural fibre giant knotted rugs, with their random twists and irregular shapes, look great against the rich gleam and orderly pattern of a refined parquet floor.
Whatever your taste in rugs, they’ll look good on parquet – intricate woven kilims, rustic tribals, monotone thick pile or on-trend bright geometrics. These fabulous funky natural fibre giant knotted rugs, with their random twists and irregular shapes, look great against the rich gleam and orderly pattern of a refined parquet floor.
6. Define and conquer
Open-plan homes, with ease of movement and social interaction, present design challenges when it comes to defining functional areas within a large expanse of floor space. Parquet flooring with a border of striking tiles is one way of delineating a ‘room’ within an open-plan floor span. It’s the rug you have when you’re not having a rug – and no trip-ups!
Open-plan homes, with ease of movement and social interaction, present design challenges when it comes to defining functional areas within a large expanse of floor space. Parquet flooring with a border of striking tiles is one way of delineating a ‘room’ within an open-plan floor span. It’s the rug you have when you’re not having a rug – and no trip-ups!
7. Parquet is one tough customer
Modern parquet is as easy to care for as any timber floor. Accumulated dust makes minute scratches, so keep it grit-free. Clean with a compatible non-abrasive product and as little water as possible. Although modern finishes are hard, constant impact from metal-tipped stiletto heels is damaging – this applies generally to timber floors. One of the bonuses of parquet is that small damaged pieces can be replaced without taking up a whole plank. Another is that it can be sanded and resealed or polished to extend its life and beauty.
DID YOU KNOW: The Boston Celtics basketball team has played on parquet at Boston Garden since 1946? The floor was made from scrap timber in the post-WWII lumber shortage and when finally ‘benched’ in 1999, fans bought fragments as memorabilia.
Modern parquet is as easy to care for as any timber floor. Accumulated dust makes minute scratches, so keep it grit-free. Clean with a compatible non-abrasive product and as little water as possible. Although modern finishes are hard, constant impact from metal-tipped stiletto heels is damaging – this applies generally to timber floors. One of the bonuses of parquet is that small damaged pieces can be replaced without taking up a whole plank. Another is that it can be sanded and resealed or polished to extend its life and beauty.
DID YOU KNOW: The Boston Celtics basketball team has played on parquet at Boston Garden since 1946? The floor was made from scrap timber in the post-WWII lumber shortage and when finally ‘benched’ in 1999, fans bought fragments as memorabilia.
In different lights, changing tones and designs spring into focus and this is one of the delights of parquet. But prolonged exposure to bright sunlight may cause fading, so shift furniture occasionally and put solar-blocking window coverings in areas that receive lots of sun. Plantings outside windows filter sun and heat and create pretty light play.
8. Prices are competitive
You don’t need Louis XIV’s budget to put down parquet. Many variables make it impossible to answer the cost question easily, but the main one is whether you choose block or mosaic parquet. Type and origin of timber, area covered and surface treatment all affect price as well.
Some patterns add to the cost because of their intricacy, the size of the fingers and how the timber is cut. Chevrons, where the pieces are cut at an angle and laid point-to-point, as in this salon, usually cost more than herringbone layouts, where the timber is cut straight. Basic patterns with large fingers are more cost-effective.
You don’t need Louis XIV’s budget to put down parquet. Many variables make it impossible to answer the cost question easily, but the main one is whether you choose block or mosaic parquet. Type and origin of timber, area covered and surface treatment all affect price as well.
Some patterns add to the cost because of their intricacy, the size of the fingers and how the timber is cut. Chevrons, where the pieces are cut at an angle and laid point-to-point, as in this salon, usually cost more than herringbone layouts, where the timber is cut straight. Basic patterns with large fingers are more cost-effective.
9. It’s a ‘green’ choice
Parquet timbers, locally sourced from sustainable forests, recycled or re-engineered from demolished floor boards, satisfy current concerns for sustainability, as parquet can be made from waste timber and offcuts. Bamboo is the new kid on the parquet floor block. Hard-wearing, light, stable and moisture-resistant, it’s fast-growing, renewable and kind to the environment too.
Guide to bamboo flooring
Parquet timbers, locally sourced from sustainable forests, recycled or re-engineered from demolished floor boards, satisfy current concerns for sustainability, as parquet can be made from waste timber and offcuts. Bamboo is the new kid on the parquet floor block. Hard-wearing, light, stable and moisture-resistant, it’s fast-growing, renewable and kind to the environment too.
Guide to bamboo flooring
10. Parquet is as creative as you are
Block parquet enables limitless creativity, but the mosaic method also opens doors to your own design expression, through choice of timbers, colours and how the timber tiles are laid. While parquet can have quiet and subtle beauty, it can also be a bold focus in a highly-contrasting jigsaw arrangement like this feature floor in ash and cream.
TELL US
Do you have parquet in your home? Share your parquet experiences and photos with us in the Comments section.
MORE
Successfully Mix Timber Types (and Avoid the Ski Lodge Look)
Floor Art: 16 Patterned Floors That Pack a Punch
Warm Up Your House With Materials Provide by Mother Nature
Block parquet enables limitless creativity, but the mosaic method also opens doors to your own design expression, through choice of timbers, colours and how the timber tiles are laid. While parquet can have quiet and subtle beauty, it can also be a bold focus in a highly-contrasting jigsaw arrangement like this feature floor in ash and cream.
TELL US
Do you have parquet in your home? Share your parquet experiences and photos with us in the Comments section.
MORE
Successfully Mix Timber Types (and Avoid the Ski Lodge Look)
Floor Art: 16 Patterned Floors That Pack a Punch
Warm Up Your House With Materials Provide by Mother Nature
‘Parquet’ means ‘little park’, and refers to the practice of thrones being placed on small raised timber areas, separating the monarch’s domain from that of the hoi polloi. These areas were known as ‘parcs’ and became more ornate, often decorated with timber mosaics.
BONUS FACT: A parquetry is a workshop where parquet is made, and parquetage is the technique of crafting parquet.