By Nancy Mattia, CTW Features
As a major design element, flooring is as important as paint color and furniture to the look of a home. During the pandemic, many people spent a lot of time at home and put thought and energy into transforming their personal environments, and flooring was on the to-do list. And just as fashions and haircuts change over time, so does flooring. Take a look at five trends that define today’s flooring:
1 Luxury vinyl
It might seem silly to call vinyl “luxury”, but new technology has created a flooring surface that can replicate the look of pricier materials like hardwood, tile and even stone and marble, while still maintaining its affordability and durability. Besides coming in a wide range of colors and style, this material is praised for being easy to clean—it’s waterproof—and ranks high for its durability. No longer limited to the kitchen, luxury vinyl in its many forms can be installed throughout the home, including bedrooms and bathrooms.
2 Warm colors
Goodbye white-washed gray floors, hello earth tones. Cool shades like gray, which were a top choice for years, are taking a back seat to warmer hues like taupe. It’s the pandemic effect once again, which steers people towards colors that can soothe. But gray lovers shouldn’t be dismayed—the color isn’t gone completely, just enriched with earthy hues to warm it up a bit.
3 Bold patterns
If you want to add some flair to your floor, install a trending bold vintage pattern like a black-and-white checkerboard or hexagon. A pattern is a way to invoke a graphic element in a room without going over the top. A good rule: If the floor is striking, keep the walls simple—no busy wallpaper or additional look-at-me elements are needed.
4 Hardwood
Never out of style, hardwood flooring has a beauty and elegance unmatched by any other material. It looks as good in the bedroom as it does in the bathroom and works with both traditional and contemporary decorating styles. It’s no surprise that it’s still a trendy and timeless choice for homeowners who want flooring that will last for years and doesn’t require much maintenance. Hardwood also has the added attraction of its ability to increase the value of a home.
5 Stone-like looks
These days people are bypassing the real thing and choosing “stone” made of vinyl, porcelain, or laminate that mimics concrete, marble, slate, limestone, and terrazzo. Compared to actual stone, the imitators are more durable, affordable, and easier to install because they’re so lightweight.