Design Trend of the Month: Herringbone

Design Trend of the Month: Herringbone

Every January, all the industry publications are full of predictions about what will capture the imaginations of designers in the coming year. Which colors, patterns, and materials will be in — and which will be out? What sparks of creative inspiration can we expect to really take off?

Here at ARCHITECTURAL GRILLE, we stay ahead of these design trends so that we can provide our clients with metalwork that meets their needs, from grilles to custom pieces. We love it when a client finds a grille pattern within our vast array of designs that perfectly complements their current project. (Although if the perfect pattern doesn’t exist, we can surely create it.)

So, what are interior design experts predicting we’ll see in 2020? The first trend is a classic pattern that we’re suddenly seeing everywhere: herringbone. 

herringbone floor

Herringbone is a particular arrangement of rectangles that gets its name from the fact that it resembles the intricately woven bones of a fish. The rectangles are set at a 90-degree angle to one another, usually with a width-to-length ratio of 2:1, although it’s not unheard of to see a 3:1 ratio or even a 6:1. Herringbone is most commonly seen in wood, brick, or tile flooring, but HGTV predicts that we’ll see herringbone used in many more creative ways in 2020

For those looking to incorporate this distinctive pattern in a subtle way, ARCHITECTURAL GRILLE’s Red Herring Perforated Grille is an elegant option. It’s technically a “faux” herringbone, as we slightly distorted the angles to achieve optimal airflow and ventilation.

The Floral Grille in our Frank Lloyd Wright® Signature Decorative Grille Collection is also a nod toward herringbone, although its predominant pattern is technically a chevron. This design was adapted from the tulip motif featured in the leaded glass windows of the Geneva Inn, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1911.

Creating a true herringbone pattern using wood or tile is an art; every angle must be exact for the floor to come together. Because of this, the pattern has come to be associated with high-end spaces, and subtle touches of herringbone, no matter the material, tend to elevate a room. 

Which design trends are you embracing in 2020? Join the conversation on Instagram and let us know.