14 Ways to Use Patterned Wood in Your Home

By
Ashley Knierim
Photo of Ashley Knierim
Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim is a home decor expert and product reviewer of home products for The Spruce. Her design education began at a young age. She has over 10 years of writing and editing experience, formerly holding editorial positions at Time and AOL.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 10/19/21
Fact checked by
Jillian Dara
Jillian Dara
Fact checked by Jillian Dara
Jillian is a freelance journalist with 10 years of editorial experience in the lifestyle genre. She is a writer and fact checker for TripSavvy, as well as a fact-checker for The Spruce.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
entryway with wide patterned flooring

Trista Hill / Pinterest

Herringbone wood floors are a fun twist on a classic wood floor that’s everything we love about home decor. It's stylish and trendy, yet shows a lot of personality while adding texture and interest to a room.

If you want to take it a step further, there are endless ways to add interesting, intricate woodworking elements to your home. From beautiful wooden art pieces to stunning inlaid flooring, we've rounded up the most fun and versatile ideas we've seen this year. This entryway was spotted on Trista Hill's Pinterest page, and it's giving us some serious home envy. The diamond pattern expands the space, making it feel even more open and light-filled than it already is. Scroll through for even more ideas we love. 

  • 01 of 14

    A Beautiful Headboard

    wood herringbone headboard
    I Spy DIY

    If laying new floors is too much work for you, this herringbone headboard from I Spy DIY will give you the same look for a lot less effort. There's just something about a wooden headboard that makes a bedroom feel adult and rustic at the same time. We love how this herringbone look uses different pieces of colored wood to make it pop—and still tie into the rest of the room's decor. You can even pair it with some stunning wood-hewn artwork to round out the whole look. 

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  • 02 of 14

    Herringbone Wood in the Kitchen

    kitchen with wood herringbone floor

    decoristofficial / Instagram

    Wood flooring isn't just for your living space. Check out this updated kitchen from decoristofficial that incorporates a herringbone-style wooden floor to give it a modern appearance. If you're scared to try wood flooring in your kitchen, don't be. As long as you prep and seal the wood correctly, they can work beautifully in a kitchen and stand up well over time. Because this kitchen has so much tile work on the walls and backsplash, adding a wood floor helps to break up the look. 

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  • 03 of 14

    Try Stencils

    gray designed wood floors

    codordesign / Instagram

    Though this look isn't truly a woodworking design, it provides the same effect with slightly less effort. Seen on codordesign, this wood flooring uses stencils and stain to give an inlaid appearance at a much lower cost. We love this idea during a renovation if you need to spruce up old floors but aren't ready to update the whole house just yet.

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  • 04 of 14

    Start Small

    wood and white side table

    seanessabidin / Instagram

    This side table from seanessabidin is a great way to introduce the wood herringbone look into your living room without installing entirely new floors. This is a great weekend project and a smart way to use up old wood pallets. Pair with the perfect modern reading lamp, and voilà: a wood piece that will stand out in any living space.

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  • 05 of 14

    Look Up

    chevron planked ceiling

    jenn_atxrealtor / Instagram

    Patterned floors not your style? This amazing chevron ceiling from jenn_atxrealtor is the perfect way to incorporate wooden patterns into your home in an unexpected manner. Adding a wooden, planked ceiling to a sunroom, den or living space is an easy way to add architectural detail without bringing in a contractor. Your "fifth wall" is often a neglected surface in your home, but it's a great place to start when considering patterned woodworking. 

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  • 06 of 14

    White-Washed Wood

    herringbone wood floor

    rumordesigns / Instagram

    This herringbone floor from rumordesigns is actually made of tile, not wood, but provides a similar look and feel as the real thing. If you want to stick with solid wood, you can recreate this white-and-gray washed look by adding stains to your wood flooring. We love this idea in an enclosed porch or laid in a sunny, open kitchen.

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  • 07 of 14

    Try a Little Paint

    painted wood floors
    Nordic Bliss

    This checker-patterned floor is another way to add texture and visual interest to your flooring without ripping out the whole works. Spotted on Nordic Bliss, we love the white checkered pattern that's not only beautifully unique, but also hides unsightly discoloration and blemishes in an older wood floor. Never be afraid to break the rules when experimenting with patterned woodworking. 

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  • 08 of 14

    Update Your Coffee Table

    patterned wood coffee table
    Joseph Ryan Designs

    This stunning piece from Joseph Ryan Designs is another great way to add herringbone to your home with little effort. This multi-colored wooden coffee table is the perfect accompaniment to a simple, white living​ space. It adds a bit of rustic charm without feeling overly farmhouse-like.

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  • 09 of 14

    Stunning Bathroom Flooring

    Bathroom with herringbone wood floor
    Glitter Inc

    We may have found our dream bathroom on Glitter Inc. This French-inspired look has a stunning clawfoot tub, beautiful subway tile and—best of all—a gorgeous herringbone wood floor. Similar to using wood in your kitchen, be sure to treat and seal the wood flooring in ​your bathroom to avoid moisture issues. Though it's a little extra work, it's so worth it for this stunning look.

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  • 10 of 14

    Outfit an Entire Wall

    wood wall design
    Little Piece of Me

    Sure, bright paint or textured wallpaper is a great way to add depth to a wall, but this woodworking idea (as spotted on Little Piece of Me) is all about taking it to the next level. We adore the crisscrossed wood pattern and the multiple shades that give this room a rustic southwestern feel. By framing the wooden wall with white baseboard, the style doesn't overpower the room's look but rather complements the rest of the decor.

    What Is Southwestern Style?
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  • 11 of 14

    Add Pops of Color

    herringbone wood floor blue and brown

    Wraptillion / Pinterest

    If herringbone wood floors are too simple for you, we've found the perfect look to kick it up a notch. This stunning blue and white wood flooring from Wraptillion on Pinterest is sure to catch your guests' attention as soon as they walk in the door. We love how the pattern starts heavy and slowly tapers off as it moves away from the bold blue door. Though we think adding colored floor pieces works best in a small space like an entryway, we think this could also add an interesting visual touch to a nursery or kids' room. 

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  • 12 of 14

    Vintage Woodworking

    patterned wood floors
    Cote de Texas

    This twist on parquet flooring from Cote de Texas adds intrigue and lends rooms a vintage feel. This interlocking wood design looks stately and totally classy, and we can imagine it helping complete a formal dining room or a sitting room. 

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  • 13 of 14

    A Textured Wood Barn Door

    hallway with barn door
    Remodelaholic

    It's no secret that we love barn doors, and this patterned wooden version from Remodelaholic is the perfect way to marry these two trendy design elements. By laying the wooden pieces in a V-shape, this otherwise simple entryway looks finished and purposefully decorated. Try a textured barn door in your primary bedroom instead of a standard closet door. 

    About This Term: Primary Bedroom

    Many real estate associations, including the National Association of Home Builders, have classified the term "Master Bedroom" as discriminatory. "Primary Bedroom" is the name now widely used among the real estate community and better reflects the purpose of the room.


    Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge to make The Spruce a site where all feel welcome.

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  • 14 of 14

    Chevron Wood in Your Kitchen

    kitchen with wood wall
    Designer Trapped

    Here's another patterned wooden wall idea that's perfect for an eat-in kitchen. Spotted on Kaleidoscope Living, this easy DIY is fun and adds a diner-like element to the space. A patterned wooden pantry barn door is another great way to bring this look into the kitchen. 

Tips for Mixing Wood Finishes in Your Home Decor