Quick comparison
| Herringbone | Straight Lay | |
|---|---|---|
| Supply cost | $35/m²+ | $30/m²+ |
| Install cost | $25-50/m² | $20-35/m² |
| Install time | Longer | Faster |
| Visual impact | High | Clean & classic |
| DIY-friendly | No | Possible |
| Best rooms | Living, dining, hallway | Any room |
| Period homes | Excellent match | Good |
| Resale value | Strong point of difference | Standard expectation |
What is the actual difference?
Both herringbone and straight lay use the exact same hybrid flooring planks. The same 7mm SPC core. The same wear layer. The same click-lock system. The difference is entirely in how those planks are laid.
Straight lay is what most people picture when they think of timber flooring - planks running parallel to the longest wall, offset by a third or half to avoid H-joins. It is clean, modern and works in any room.
Herringbone involves cutting every plank at a 45-degree angle and laying them in a zigzag pattern where each plank meets the next at a right angle. The result is a distinctive V-shape that has been used in high-end interiors for hundreds of years - and it is having a major resurgence in Melbourne right now.
Cost difference - what you actually pay more for
Herringbone costs more for two reasons:
1. More waste
When planks are cut at 45 degrees, the offcuts at the edges of the room are larger and less reusable. A typical herringbone job wastes 10-15% more flooring than straight lay. That waste is factored into the supply price - which is why herringbone boards often come at a small premium.
2. More labour
Herringbone takes longer to set out, longer to cut and longer to lay. The installer has to find the true centre of the room, establish the starting rows precisely, and maintain the pattern perfectly across the entire floor. Any deviation is visible. A good installer can do around 25-30m² of herringbone per day versus 40-50m² of straight lay.
At LVJ Timber Floor, straight lay hybrid starts from $30/m² supply. Herringbone starts from $35/m² supply. Installation is quoted per job once we have seen the room.
Which rooms suit each pattern?
Herringbone works best in:
- ✓Open plan living and dining areas - large uninterrupted floors let the pattern breathe
- ✓Hallways and entries - the diagonal draws the eye forward and makes the space feel longer
- ✓Period homes (Victorian, Edwardian, Federation) - herringbone is historically accurate to the era
- ✓Rooms you want to feel more premium - herringbone signals quality in a way straight lay can't match
- ✓Commercial spaces and hospitality fitouts where first impressions matter
Straight lay works best in:
- →Bedrooms - the simpler pattern is restful and less visually dominant
- →Small rooms - herringbone can feel busy in very small spaces
- →Whole-home installations where budget matters - straight lay is more economical across large areas
- →Modern and contemporary interiors where clean lines are the goal
- →Any room where you want the furniture and fittings to be the focus, not the floor
Can you mix both in the same home?
Yes - and it is one of the best decisions you can make if budget allows. The approach we see most in Melbourne right now is herringbone in the main living and dining area, straight lay in the bedrooms. It gives you the wow factor where guests spend time while keeping the bedroom cost down.
The key is using the same colour and thickness throughout so the home feels cohesive. We can run both patterns in the same visit and the transition between them just uses a small threshold strip or can be done seamlessly depending on the room layout.
The honest answer: which should you choose?
If you are renovating a period home in Melbourne's west - Yarraville, Footscray, Williamstown, Seddon - herringbone is almost always the right call for the main living areas. It suits the architecture, it is what buyers in those markets respond to and it will add genuine perceived value at sale time.
If you are doing a new build, a rental property, or you just want clean and practical - straight lay is excellent and costs less. There is nothing wrong with straight lay. It is the most popular choice we install and it looks great done well.
The best way to decide is to look at the photos in our gallery and see which one you keep coming back to. That is usually your answer.
Not sure which pattern is right for your home?
Long will come out, look at your space and give you an honest recommendation - no pressure. Free measure and quote across Melbourne's western suburbs.