Parquet flooring is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, and we think it’s about time, too! Once a staple of mid-century design, parquet floors fell out of fashion in favour of other flooring options like vinyl, ceramic tile and engineered wood in recent years but is starting to make a comeback.

From its origins in 17th Century France, in the homes of aristocrats, to a modern-day design choice, it has offered a durable, flexible and stylish solution to flooring that has been enjoyed by design connoisseurs throughout history. Not only is it a durable option for both princes and paupers alike, but it’s also a way of warming up your room using wood to create a cosy feel without losing your design kudos.

If you’re not familiar with it, this style of flooring is steeped in history, yet has all the convenience and great looks that we quite rightly demand today. Not only that, it will stand up to the busy daily life in a modern home without batting an eyelid. If you’ve not thought of using parquet in your home before, perhaps it’s time to reconsider…

Credit: Mckay Flooring

So, what actually is parquet flooring?

Although parquet may still inhabit palaces and mansions, parquetry actually began as a method for using up scraps of wood that would otherwise be too small for flooring. These small pieces of wood are laid into a geometric mosaic, creating an attractive flooring option that’s practical as well as stylish.

Over the years, the technique has been refined and there are now three main ways to get the parquet look in your home: solid wood, engineered wood or parquet wood floor tiles.

What is the difference between parquet and hardwood?

Traditionally, parquet flooring is made from solid wood, and can also now be made from engineered wood. Solid wood parquet flooring, as the name suggests, is parquet flooring made from solid pieces of timber. Engineered parquet flooring, on the other hand, is made from layers of different types of wood, topped by hardwood.

Ted Baker ParqTile

However, installation of parquet flooring is extremely difficult and time-consuming and that is why a faster alternative has been created: parquet wood floor tiles. Parquet-style tiles allow you to get the warmth of a wood floor in your home, with their durability and easy maintenance, for a more reasonable installation time and cost. So when considering the question of ‘how much do parquet floors cost?’, it’s important to first consider which route you want to go down; whilst many will want to stick to solid wood, which can be pricey, parquet tiles can achieve the same look at a lower cost and without as much hassle. 

Parquet tiles are also perfect for areas with high traffic like hallways and kitchens. Unlike wood, the surface of porcelain has low porosity, making it essentially water resistant and therefore suitable for any area of the home, including bathrooms. Not only that but the surface is unaffected by the sun and is easy to clean, so won’t require any special maintenance. Whilst some traditionalists may wish to stick to the real thing, there’s no denying that parquet tiles are more convenient for modern homeowners, without sacrificing any style.

Parquet pattern options for your floors

There are a number of traditional parquet patterns that can fit well in your home. Herringbone parquet flooring is the most popular choice of designs and is one of the most common, so you may have seen it used in a number of different places. The herringbone planks come in rectangles and you lay each block at a 90-degree angle to create a broken zig-zag effect, lending a classic and sophisticated look to your floor.

Feature Floors Parquet

The Basket Weave is a more subtle pattern, so it's ideal for use in a room with heavy decor or statement features that you want to remain the centre of attention. It's also useful for rooms of irregular shape, as it's easily continued into awkward spaces, like hallways and corridors. A basket weave is a perfect choice for creating an antique, timeless feel as it's a very traditional design, and its heritage dates back as far as the Tudor period.

Another very common form of parquet flooring is the strip pattern, which is widely used throughout homes and businesses, due to its flexibility. Depending on the shade and finish you choose, using a strip block pattern will be a timeless feature in your home, and can be used in any modern or traditional room. Given its simplicity, it also works really well if you have furniture or other focal points in your room that you want to be the main feature in your interiors.