Are you planning new flooring and wondering how to get the perfect finish? Herringbone flooring is a timeless design that has remained popular for centuries, admired for its elegance, symmetry, and ability to add depth to any room. But before laying down those beautiful patterned planks, there’s an important design decision to make: should you include a border or leave the pattern to flow freely?
This choice might seem small, but it has a big impact on the overall look and feel of your space. A border can frame the floor like a piece of art, creating structure and definition, while a borderless design offers a more seamless and contemporary look. In this post, we’ll explore both options to help you decide which works best for your home.
The Case for Herringbone Flooring with a Border
A. Definition and Aesthetics
A border, sometimes called a feature strip, is a neat perimeter of parallel planks that frames the central herringbone pattern. Think of it as the edge of a rug or the frame around a picture: it provides structure, draws the eye inward, and gives the floor a polished, deliberate finish. The result is a sophisticated look that elevates the herringbone design from striking to truly statement-making.
B. Key Benefits
1. Defines the Space
A border neatly contains the herringbone pattern, ensuring the design doesn’t appear cut-off or unfinished at the edges. This is especially helpful in rooms with irregular shapes or walls that aren’t perfectly straight, as the border provides a clean visual line to follow.
2. Adds a Traditional or Formal Feel
Borders are a hallmark of classic flooring design, often seen in historic homes, period properties, and formal settings. They instantly add a sense of grandeur and tradition, making the space feel more refined.
3. Highlights the Herringbone Pattern
By framing the central area, the border acts as a contrast that draws attention to the intricacy of the herringbone layout. It emphasises the pattern’s symmetry and geometry, allowing it to take centre stage in the room.
4. Practicality
On a practical level, a border can make installation easier by providing a clean starting and ending point. This reduces the need for awkward cuts along the edges of the room and may even help minimise waste during fitting.
C. When to Choose a Border
Borders aren’t suitable for every space, but they can be the perfect finishing touch in the right setting. They work particularly well in:
Formal living rooms or dining rooms where a sense of elegance is desired
Period properties or homes with traditional styling
Large, open-plan spaces where you want to define zones or create a sense of structure
Rooms with fireplaces or central features where the framed effect draws attention to the focal point
The Case for Herringbone Flooring Without a Border
A. Definition and Aesthetics
In this style, the herringbone pattern runs uninterrupted all the way to the edges of the walls. Without a border, the design feels modern, sleek, and pared-back, offering a sense of continuous flow. The effect is clean and minimalist, giving the room a contemporary edge and allowing the flooring to blend effortlessly with the overall design scheme.
B. Key Benefits
1. Creates a Sense of Space
Because the pattern isn’t broken up by a border, it can visually expand the room. This continuous layout is particularly effective in smaller or narrower spaces, making them feel more open and expansive.
2. Modern and Contemporary Look
If you’re drawn to Scandinavian interiors, urban apartments, or sleek modern builds, a borderless herringbone floor fits perfectly. It embodies simplicity and aligns with minimalist design principles.
3. Visual Simplicity
Removing the border reduces visual distractions, keeping the focus on the natural beauty of the wood grain and the geometry of the herringbone itself. The result is an uncluttered, calm aesthetic.
4. Showcases the Full Pattern
Without a border, the herringbone pattern becomes the star of the show. The eye follows the zig-zag design seamlessly across the floor, emphasising the craftsmanship and flow of the layout.
C. When to Choose No Border
A borderless design is best suited to rooms and styles where simplicity and flow are the priority. It works especially well in:
Modern apartments or new builds where clean lines and contemporary finishes are key
Small or narrow rooms where maximising space is important
Open-plan spaces where you want a seamless transition from one area to the next
Minimalist or understated interiors where less is more
Herringbone Border Design Considerations and Pro-Tips
A. Width and Material
Border Width
Borders are not one-size-fits-all. A narrow border offers a subtle frame that simply tidies the edges of the room, while a wider border creates a bold, eye-catching statement that feels more formal. The choice largely depends on how much attention you want the border to draw.
Border Material
You can choose to use the same wood species and finish as the main herringbone for a seamless, elegant frame. Alternatively, a contrasting wood species or stain creates drama and definition. For example, pairing a dark oak border with a light oak herringbone instantly adds depth and contrast, making the flooring look more bespoke.
B. Room Size and Shape
Borders are particularly useful in rooms with awkward angles, alcoves, or irregular wall lines, as they provide a neat visual edge that disguises imperfections. On the other hand, if your room is small or narrow, skipping the border and running the herringbone pattern to the walls can help the space feel more open and expansive.
C. Cost Implications
While a border adds style, it can also add to the installation cost. The process requires extra measuring, precise cutting, and careful fitting, which means more labour. Although the increase isn’t huge, it’s worth factoring into your budget, especially for large spaces.
D. Skirting Boards / Baseboards
For the cleanest finish, the border should be installed close to the wall with a small expansion gap left around the perimeter. This gap is essential to allow the wood to expand and contract naturally. Once fitted, the skirting boards or baseboards will neatly cover this gap, ensuring the floor looks seamless and professional.
Herringbone Flooring With or Without a Border: At a Glance
| Feature | With a Border | Without a Border |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic | Framed, polished, and sophisticated – like a rug or picture frame | Seamless, modern, and minimalist with continuous flow |
| Feel | Traditional, formal, and structured | Contemporary, open, and uncluttered |
| Best for Room Size | Larger rooms or irregularly shaped spaces where definition is needed | Smaller or narrow rooms where maximising space and flow is important |
| Ideal Style | Period homes, formal dining or living rooms, and classic interiors | Modern apartments, Scandinavian design, and minimalist or understated spaces |
| Installation Complexity | More complex due to precise cutting and fitting, slightly higher labour costs | Simpler installation with fewer cuts and less waste |
FAQs
Q: Does a border make a room look smaller?
A border can visually frame the space, which can sometimes make a large, open-plan room feel more defined and cosier. However, in a small or narrow room, a wide border might make the space feel more confined. In these cases, a continuous herringbone pattern without a border can help the room feel more expansive.
Q: Is it more expensive to have a border?
Yes, typically. Adding a border increases the complexity of the installation. It requires more precise cuts and additional labour to lay the border planks around the perimeter, which can slightly increase the overall cost of materials and fitting.
Q: Can I use a different type of wood for the border?
Absolutely. A contrasting wood species, colour, or grain for the border can create a stunning and dramatic effect. For example, a dark walnut border can beautifully frame a light oak herringbone pattern. This is a great way to add a unique, custom touch to your floor.
Q: What about a border in an irregularly shaped room?
A border is a great solution for rooms with awkward angles, alcoves, or non-straight walls. The straight lines of the border provide a clean edge and “square off” the space, making the herringbone pattern in the centre easier to lay and visually neater.
Q: Will a border go out of style?
Both herringbone with and without a border are considered timeless. The choice is more about the specific aesthetic you’re trying to achieve. A border provides a more traditional, classic, and formal feel, while a borderless floor is the choice for a modern, minimalist, and seamless look. Neither is a “fad” that will quickly go out of fashion.
Q: What’s the best way to transition the flooring at a doorway?
This is a key consideration. With a border, the straight lines of the border can be used to create a natural and clean transition at the doorway, often with a threshold strip. Without a border, the herringbone pattern can continue seamlessly into the next room if desired, or it can be finished with a threshold to mark the change in space.
Q: Do you need a border for LVT or laminate herringbone, or is it just for real wood?
Borders are a design choice available for all types of herringbone flooring, including engineered wood, LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile), and laminate. The installation method and the way the border pieces are attached may vary by material, but the visual effect and design principles remain the same.
Final Thoughts
The choice between a border and no border is ultimately a matter of personal taste and the aesthetic you want to achieve in your home. A border creates a framed, polished, and traditional feel, while a borderless design delivers a seamless, contemporary, and open look. Both are timeless approaches that showcase the beauty of herringbone flooring in different ways.
When deciding, think carefully about the function of the room, its size and shape, and how the flooring fits into your overall design vision. A formal dining room or period property may benefit from the sophistication of a border, while a modern apartment or smaller space could be elevated by the clean flow of a borderless design.
Whether you opt for a framed, traditional look or a seamless, modern flow, herringbone flooring is a timeless choice that adds character and value to any home.
Explore Wood and Beyond’s full range of herringbone flooring options to find the perfect match for your project:
