Flooring Trends and How to Interpret Them
Tracking modern trends is similar to political polling – it depends who you ask! Our country just learned that on a massive scale. However, when looking at flooring trends in a scientific and broad manner, certain major concerns repeatedly emerge. We’ve identified three areas that are nearly universal for people researching flooring for homes or offices.
ANTIQUITY in Flooring Trends
The current trend in solid hardwood flooring is for products that have an antique or old world charm. Wider planks, hand-scraped finishes, and stressed wood designs are appearing with more regularity.
Home Flooring Pros
Don’t think of “old” when you see the word “antiquity.” Think of “enduring value and quality.” Diametrically opposed to dated looks and designs, antiquity always has a strong appeal. The worst thing a visitor could say when they walk into your home and see the floor is, “How 80’s!”
TECHNOLOGY in Flooring Trends
There is so much going on in the flooring industry right now but if you ask me, tile is where it’s at. There are tons of modern, stylish tile trends to choose from, but tile itself is trending in a big way. Solid, durable tile flooring has always been a staple in American homes, but it is coming back stronger than ever. Due to advancing technologies, tile can now mimic not only the look of natural stone but hardwood, fabrics, and more.
Flooring, Inc.
What in world does technology have to do with flooring? EVERYTHING. Because of modern technological advances, composite materials can be created that are so close in appearance and durability to real wood that most people cannot tell the difference, even up close! Any color, pattern, or texture you can think of has been produced in a tile or laminate format, even that “old world charm” if you prefer.
ENVIRONMENT of Flooring Trends
I anticipate an increase in the demand for affordable, local, sustainable flooring products. Local wood reclamation, whether that wood is being salvaged from old barns or rescued from underneath old and outdated carpeting, is going to be popular across the country. I also imagine we will see an increase in popularity of lighter wood flooring, even softer wood like pine and cork, and lighter stains on wood flooring, as lighter color floors pair well with trendy bright and bold paint and wallpaper colors.
Cindy Weinstock / The Flooring Lady
There’s a special feeling that comes from taking something old and using it in something new. It is good for nostalgia and for the carbon footprint. Re-using something means it doesn’t need to be created from new resources. It represents a healthy view of preserving and conserving the earth we are blessed to share. Maybe you aren’t the type who gets excited about telling your friends that your floor was once a 19th century cabin built by pioneers, but you probably are happy about saving the planet.