Flooring Trends To See and Feel
Color, shape, and texture are the latest trends in flooring.
Flooring has come a long way since linoleum and shag carpet. It’s more durable, colorful, and diverse than ever. Flooring can set the tone for a space; from airy and vast to cozy and warm. These current trends will give any space a much-needed update, and many of them are DIY friendly.
Tile is trending toward the more colorful and textured. The biggest surprise is that it’s not just for flooring anymore. Placing a row of textured tile on walls can create the illusion of movement. Strategically tiled walls create a lovely backsplash accent.
Subway tile has seen an upward swing in popularity as the minimalist trend continues. Subway tile calls to the imagination subterranean tunnels with gleaming white walls. But subway tile has come a long way since its beginnings. Colored glass, smooth marble, and creative ceramics are just some of the modern styles of subway tiles. Installation techniques can vary as well, using a herringbone pattern for example, creating fun patterns for a unique look.
As colorful trends continue, mosaics are highly-favored as well. Mosaics range from solid colors to vibrant rainbow mixes. They come in configurations from tiny geometric shapes of circles, squares, rectangles, and octagons to ones with a stone-like appearance. Mosaics generally do not stain or mildew and wipe clean easily, so they work well as backsplashes as well as accents in shower and bathroom flooring.
Industrial, metallic looking tile has also become fashionable. Older styles looked more like stainless steel and tended toward cold and industrial. Newer metallics, however, are coming in warmer tones like bronze, copper, and gold. Mixed metals is a trending fashion in home decor as well. These metallic tiles can add a bit of glamour and warmth to your space as a backsplash or accent.
Many of these types of tiles include unique shapes and sizes which can create a distinctive look for your space.
Nature seems to be inspiring designers. With a return to warmer tones of brown, to cooler grays and almost white, hardwood encourages the look of natural materials indoors.
When choosing hardwood, it’s important to know the difference between hardwood and engineered hardwood. Engineered wood floors are composed of layers of plywood and hardwood and are better at handling moisture. Solid hardwood is more durable but may warp with moisture and time. Both give the appearance of hardwood.
Vinyl has become extremely popular in recent years because it can imitate the look of stone and wood but is cheaper and more durable. Vinyl is scratch resistant, waterproof, and better at handling everyday wear and tear from pets, sand, and grime. It’s also easier to install for DIYers out there.
Laminate used to be an economy flooring option but is now very common. It reproduces the look of wood or stone using photorealistic imagery, including texture and species, at a lower cost. It also is more water resistant than real hardwood. It sometimes requires underlayment and moisture barrier with installation, but is often installed as a “floating floor,” meaning that the flooring pieces connect to each other but not the subfloor.
Cork flooring has been around for a long time but has become popular again in recent years. It is thought of as a more “green,” sustainable flooring compared to hardwood. It is soft and cushions the feet, so it is ideal for a room where standing is required for long periods of time or where children play. As well, cork is a good insulator and is hypoallergenic. It should not be installed in damp places like basements, as it is prone to rot.
Cork comes in a surprising number of plank and tile sizes and colors and can be refinished.
Every space can use an update, and these trending flooring options are the perfect way to add color, texture, contrast, and warmth to any room.
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