Luxury vinyl flooring – it’s popular, easy to install, and offers more benefits than most other floors – from its excellent waterproofing abilities to it’s low, low maintenance.
The best-kept secret to styling vinyl floors right? Knowing which patterns work best! Your most popular choices are running bond, offset, diagonal, and herringbone (this year’s favorite).
The pattern you lay doesn’t really affect the durability of vinyl (provided you install it according to manufacturer guidelines), giving you full flexibility to choose a design that works best for you.
Keep reading to discover the best vinyl plank flooring patterns (with pictures), installation FAQs answered, plus a highlight reel of our most popular luxury vinyl floors right now.
What is the Best Pattern For Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Your main options for vinyl plank flooring are running bond, offset, diagonal, and herringbone laying patterns. Running bond is arguably the most popular style, which appears like brickwork.
Herringbone has soared in popularity. Many new homes feature the divine, zigzag patterns that stretch across a floor and maximize space – and the trend is expected to continue well into 2026.
Diagonal and offset flooring patterns are more niche, but they’re still top contenders in today’s interior home design trends. The trick is to style them right, with diagonal floor patterns particularly suiting hallways and open-plan rooms that bend around corners.
We’ll get into each option below to help you find the best pattern for vinyl plank flooring in your home.
1. Running Bond Vinyl Plank
The ultimate classic, running bond flooring patterns feature prominently in designs of luxury vinyl, laminate, and hardwood flooring. It’s laid similarly to brickwork, with each plank offset from the one above and below, creating a seamless, traditional, and orderly appearance.
2. Herringbone Vinyl Plank
Herringbone floors possess old-world charm, their creation dating back centuries with their appearances in stately homes and gothic castles. They remained a rarity for decades, but today, it’s one of the most popular floors for new homes.
The pattern is created by laying vinyl planks at a 90-degree angle to each other. This leaves you with a zigzag pattern on the floor. It looks luxury and feels it, too – particularly in larger rooms or smaller bathrooms that need the intimacy.
Herringbone floor patterns are especially popular in hallways right now, adding va-va-voom to your entryways and demanding the attention of your guests.
3. Diagonal Vinyl Plank
A more unique style is to lay vinyl planks diagonally. This looks exactly how it sounds, when planks are laid at an angle across the entire floor. It’s a popular choice of floor for campervans and RVs, as the slant gives an illusion of more light and space.
In corridors or rooms that stretch around corners, diagonal vinyl planks are an excellent choice. It’s an acquired taste, but when done correctly, it reflects natural light tenfold, making rooms appear bigger and brighter.
An expert tip is to lay the planks towards the light source (like windows or patio doors) to achieve the best results!
4. Offset Vinyl Plank
Offset vinyl is laid like running bond, in a brickwork pattern, but you can choose how much it’s staggered by. This gives you more flexibility in how your flooring appears, allowing you to put your own stamp on its layout.
For example, running bond usually features the classic look of offsetting each plank by 50%, with each plank sitting exactly halfway in between the other. But with an offset pattern, you can choose an offset pattern of 30% or 33%.
The deciding factor of how much your floor is staggered by often depends on the type of floor you choose.
As an example, your installer might recommend laying vinyl tiles at a 30/70 staggering to create a more natural appearance and prevent lippage (which is when tiles are laid in differing heights).
What’s Hot? Top 10+ Popular Vinyl Plank Colors & Styles
Shop our collection of the most popular luxury vinyl colors and styles this year.
As one of the most popular types of floor, luxury vinyl offers scores of benefits, including that it’s:
- Fully waterproof
- Suitable for kitchens and bathrooms
- Strong and durable
- Highly scratch-resistant
- Grained, textured surface feels natural
- Compatible with underfloor heating
- Easy to DIY installation
Featuring brands such as Coretec, Happy Feet, Trucor, and more, these planks can be laid in a variety of patterns – from gorgeous herringbone to traditional running bond.
FAQs
What is the Best Stagger Pattern For Vinyl Plank Flooring?
When staggering vinyl plank flooring (for offset or running bond patterns), opt for a 50-50 or 70-30 stagger pattern.
For most brands of luxury flooring (the biggest names are Coretec, Happy Feet, Robbins, Shaw, and TruCor), it’s recommended to keep at least 6 inches between seams, creating a stagger of 50% for symmetry or 30% for uniqueness and levelling.
What Patterns Should You Avoid In LVP?
It’s recommended to avoid any LVP pattern that looks too uniform or unnatural. This creates a less attractive appearance and can cause stability issues in the future.
Types of patterns to avoid include straight lay (where planks are laid in a completely uniform pattern, side by side), the step pattern (where all planks fall downwards, in one direction), and the H pattern.
Learn more about flooring laying patterns (with pictures).
Does Vinyl Plank Flooring Come In Patterns?
Yes, you can get different laying patterns for vinyl plank flooring (like herringbone or running bond). You can also get patterned vinyl plank flooring (like terrazzo, marble-effect, and tile-effect vinyl).
Discover Vinyl Plank Flooring Today
Find your style – shop our collection of luxury vinyl plank flooring today. We stock only the best quality styles, colors, and brands to deliver a resilient, beautiful floor for your home.
Can’t decide on patterns? Try our room visualizer – simply upload a photo of your room and see which colors/styles look best in your home.
Looking for luxury vinyl floors in Ohio? Pop down to our showroom for exclusive deals and floors!
