2021 Top Flooring Trends
1) Vinyl Flooring
Rigid Core Vinyl Planks
As technology advances, vinyl flooring gets closer and closer to natural wood and stone looks. Decorative patterns are gaining in popularity as well. Even better, all this beauty comes with no extra work. Vinyl floors involve less upkeep and maintenance and they’re easy to clean.
- Waterproof SPC rigid core: 100% waterproof and even more durable than WPC vinyl, SPC rigid core vinyl has it all.
- Vinyl sheets: For an affordable, DIY-friendly vinyl floor, nothing beats vinyl sheets. They also feature top-notch decorative patterns.
- Wood-look vinyl planks: The classic wood look is even more realistic, with embossed textures and high-end visuals.
- Stone-look vinyl tiles: Get the look of gorgeous natural stone, including marble, limestone, travertine, and more.
- Decorative vinyl flooring: Trendy decorative patterns like stained glass, trellis, and geometric designs are becoming more popular.
Vinyl flooring is durable, warm, resilient, and stylish. This is the go-to flooring option for many people, and it will remain that way for decades to come.
2) Tile Flooring - Stone Visual
Tile flooring is famous for its classic look, versatility, and practically indestructible composition. Because glazed tile is naturally waterproof, it is the only flooring option that you can use anywhere – bathrooms, kitchens, mudrooms, you name it.
- Marble-look tile: Get the high-end look of marble without the high price and maintenance hassles.
- Encaustic-look tile: Enjoy the highly detailed patterns of encaustic-look tile. Popular styles range from geometrics to florals, to old-world and Victorian.
- Decorative tile styles: From glamorous art deco tile patterns to colorful and intricate Moroccan tile looks, there are a lot of decorative styles to choose from.
- Designer tile shapes: Squares are out, and new, creative shapes are in. Expect to see more arabesque tiles, fan tiles, hexagon tiles, and more.
- DIY-friendly tile: Manufacturers have come up with innovative tile flooring that you can easily install on your own – no professional needed!
Tile is durable, easy to clean, and comes with the most style options of any other flooring. There’s always something new to explore with tile flooring, so expect to see it around forever.
3) Laminate Flooring
Flooring Trends: 12mm Hillside Hickory Waterproof Laminate
Made to imitate solid hardwood, laminate is one of the more popular wood-look options for busy residential and commercial spaces. Laminate flooring is attractive, easy to maintain, and durable with its multi-layer design, all at a lower price point compared to hardwood floors.
- Water-resistant and waterproof laminate: The best floor is a durable one, and new water-resistant and even waterproof laminate combines that functionality with lots of style. (swelling 10%, Wood fiber + glue + paraffin)
- Light wood-look laminate: The light, airy colors of blonde and honey laminate will make your space feel large and more open.
- Wide plank laminate flooring: Larger, wider planks make your floor seem less busy, and roomier, too!
- High variation wood-look laminate: With real hardwood, no two planks look the same. There is always some color variation. Now laminate mimics that rustic style.
Laminate is going to become even more popular in the next few years. Because it’s affordable, stylish, and durable as well, lots of people will continue to choose laminate flooring for their homes.
4) Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Flooring Trends: Anderson Imperial Pecan Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood is a low-maintenance, affordable alternative to solid hardwood flooring. In addition to the real wood veneer surface layer, engineered hardwood consists of man-made materials such as high-density fiberboard (HDF) to provide the look of hardwood floors, with added durability.
- Water-resistant and waterproof engineered wood: The look of real wood with the benefits of water resistance is a winning combination. Enjoy gorgeous floors in moisture-prone areas.
- Light wood engineered hardwood: The light wood look is becoming more popular as more people look for wood floors that will make their homes feel larger and brighter.
- Handscraped engineered hardwood: Handscraped looks feature long, ingrained scrapes with high variation between planks, making each plank appear handcrafted.
- Wirebrushed engineered hardwood: Wirebrushed looks show subtle, intentional wire scratches leaving the appearance of exposed wood on the surface.
Engineered wood is going to become even more trendy in the next few years. Homeowners are starting to value authentic looks and quality materials, and engineered wood offers both.
2021 Top Flooring Features
1) Waterproof Flooring
Flooring Trends: Rigid Core Vinyl Planks
Waterproof flooring is in high demand this year. It makes sense! People have busy lives and they don’t want to worry about spills and constantly maintaining their floors.
It used to be that if you wanted waterproof floors, tile was your only great option. However, waterproof is the big thing right now. You can choose from waterproof vinyl, waterproof laminate, waterproof engineered hardwood, and even waterproof carpet!
- Waterproof vinyl flooring: Over the past several years, there has been a huge surge in waterproof vinyl with WPC (wood plastic composite) cores that are 100% waterproof. Now there’s a new waterproof vinyl called rigid core vinyl, with an SPC core. SPC, also known as stone plastic composite, provides a durable, rigid core and complete water resistance.
- Waterproof laminate flooring: Standard laminate can warp and bubble with too much moisture, but water-resistant laminate is a different story. Waterproof laminate flooring is still up-and-coming, so it’s rare and can be hard to find. However, when you do find it, you’ll enjoy DIY-friendly laminate flooring that is 100% waterproof. This means you can install it in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, you name it.
- Waterproof engineered hardwood: Engineered hardwood is built with a real wood veneer and an artificial base. Recently, manufacturers have developed engineered hardwood with a 100% waterproof SPC core. Finally, you can showcase the beauty of natural wood in high moisture areas.
- Waterproof carpet: Fully waterproof indoor broadloom carpet is now a reality. Waterproof fiber coatings and protective carpet backings help to make carpets 100% waterproof. These carpets won’t soak up the water and stain or get moldy. Instead, you can easily clean up any liquids in seconds without them soaking in for the long haul.
Waterproof flooring has changed the game in the flooring world, and it shows no signs of stopping. Why would it? Everyone wants a beautiful, low-maintenance floor that resists water damage. I predict waterproof flooring will be virtually everywhere in the decades to come.
2) Eco-Friendly Flooring
Floor Trends: Oceanside Outdoor Carpet
The recycled flooring trend is hot all around this year. Carpet is at the forefront of this movement, but it is happening across other types of flooring, as well.
We’ve reached a time where the young homeowner demographic comprises primarily millennials. And, not to pigeonhole an entire demographic, but as a group, millennials tend to care a lot about the brands they purchase from and how their purchases impact society, the environment, and more.
It’s not enough to sell gorgeous floors at a low price. Manufacturers and retailers alike need to bring something likable and respectable to the table.
I predict consumers will only demand more recycled materials and environmentally responsible flooring options for the next several decades.
So much so that just putting an eco-friendly floor in your home could increase the resale value and reduce time on the market.
2021 Trending Flooring Looks
This year, the trends are all about natural looks. Some decorative styles sneaking in there, too.
But, when it comes down to it, the flooring trends with the most longevity are traditional, natural looks, such as wood and stone. But, you know, without the sticker price and maintenance of actual wood and stone.
1) Wood-Look Flooring Wood-look vinyl planks in a bedroom setting
Wood and wood looks have been popular in the home for ages. They just weren’t accessible to everyone. Solid hardwood flooring is expensive, finicky, and not ideal for families, pets, or areas where there will be a lot of moisture, like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.
- Laminate flooring: This was the first wood-look alternative to solid hardwood, and it remains the most budget-friendly option today.
- Wood-look vinyl planks: Luxury vinyl planks and wood-look waterproof vinyl planks offer highly realistic wood visuals and textures.
Wood-look flooring is a trend across the entire home that isn’t going away anytime soon. This trend will only increase over the next decade and beyond.
2) Stone-Look Flooring Stone-look vinyl tiles in a living room setting
Natural wood and stone looks are increasingly becoming more popular due to their surge in accessibility.
A few of the most popular stone looks in 2021 will be:
- Slate-look flooring: Clean, natural, and edgy, slate kitchen floors are great for minimalist decor. Just like marble, you can expect to see slate looks in ceramic and vinyl tile.
- Limestone-look flooring: With limestone-look flooring, you can enjoy the natural beauty and color variations of stone without the higher price.
Travertine-look flooring: Travertine-look flooring is classic. With the growing trends of unique, designer shapes in flooring, travertine is experiencing a well-deserved refresh. You can now find the gorgeous, sought-after look of travertine in more modern styles.
Concrete-look flooring: Concrete is a little different from natural stone looks, but it’s still worth mentioning. If you’re a fan of the industrial or warehouse aesthetic, then you’re going to love concrete-look flooring. It’s minimalist, contemporary, and oh-so chic.
3) Marble-Look Flooring
Stone Flex Tiles - Gemstone Collection
Both classic and contemporary, the marble look is a great way to pull out all the stops for a new floor. If you’re looking for a floor that says “high-end luxury” without the price tag to match, marble-look tile or vinyl is for you.
4) Decorative Flooring Waterproof Vinyl Planks
While natural looks are still big, more and more people are starting to search out decorative flooring with some fun and personality. Geometric patterns are huge in tile, carpet, and vinyl right now, and that trend will keep growing.
Be on the lookout for decorative and graphic styles like parquet patterns and classic trellis designs. Kitchens and bathrooms are especially primed to benefit from this look. This is where creative flooring thrives.
2021 Trending Floor Colors
In 2021 the trends are changing with a focus on light, airy looks, and moving towards warmer tones. You’ll see lots of blondes and whites, plus some cool tones, but gray is still going strong, too.
1) Gray Flooring
Gray wood-look flooring: Shaw Messina HD Plus Waterproof Plank
Gray flooring, particularly gray wood, has grown exponentially over the last decade. Although gray tiles, particularly in stone looks, are also very popular.
2) Blonde Wood-Look Flooring
As more homeowners embrace the light, airy feel in their homes, you will see a huge resurgence in blonde wood (and wood-look) floors.
Blonde floors make your room feel larger and more open, especially if you use trending large planks.
3) White-Washed Wood-Look Flooring
Whitewashed wood-look floors are excellent for the now-trending farmhouse style homes, particularly in the kitchen.
Whitewash will make your home look brighter, bigger, and more relaxed. It can give that “beachy” feel or also an upscale contemporary feel, depending on the rest of your decor.
4) Traditional White Flooring
Bright white ceramic and vinyl tiles are super hot in the home, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and commercial spaces.
White floor tiles instantly make your room look bigger, especially if you use large format tiles. Put these tiles in a room with lots of natural sunlight for a truly special look.
5) Cool-Toned Flooring Mannington Benchmark 6' Vinyl Sheet
Cool tones will be trending across the flooring market in 2021, but to be frank, the trends often drift back and forth between warm and cool tones.
6) High Color Variation Flooring High variation vinyl plank flooring in a living room setting
7) Black and White Flooring FlooringInc 2020 flooring trends: black and white flooring in a kitchen setting.
2021 Trending Flooring Patterns and Layouts
1) Wide Plank Flooring
Longer, wider planks make your rooms look larger, more open, and less busy. This trend will soon become a classic staple and will likely last the test of time.
2) Chevron and Herringbone Flooring
Herringbone pattern floors create a contemporary zig-zag pattern by connecting two planks at a 90-degree angle. This makes your floor look pretty unique, and it’s easy to DIY, so it’s a popular trend with homeowners. And, it will probably stay trendy in kitchens and entryways the longest.
3) Checkered Flooring
The checkered look has always been a classic design in kitchens and bathrooms, and now this vintage pattern is coming in full force. As trends move more toward unique and vintage styles, it only makes sense that checkerboard floors would make a comeback.
4) Creative Tile Transitions
This pattern is often achieved with hexagons, but any tile shape will work to create a one-of-a-kind look as you transition to other rooms in your home. It’s the ultimate way to express your creativity.
2021 Trending Flooring Textures
1) Handscraped
Handscraped looks instantly make your home look timeless and expensive.
Because handscraped floors look truly finished, they are trendy not just with younger homeowners but with more established homeowners, as well. Handscraped floors are almost guaranteed to amp up your home value.
If you’re looking at long-term resale value, I would choose handscraped looks.
2) Wirebrushed
Homeowners are loving weathered wirebrushed looks. This trendy look adds character to your floor without looking unfinished.
They hide dirt really well so you don’t have to clean your floors as often! If cleaning isn’t your favorite pastime, that is a huge selling point. Especially in the kitchen.
3) Distressed
Setting the tone with a floor that looks almost historic instantly gives you an envy-inducing decor. Distressed floors make a great pairing with brick walls, fireplaces, stacked stone, farmhouse kitchens, basically every other hot interior design trend going at the moment.
4) Smooth Flooring: Rio Grande Waterproof Hickory Engineered Wood
Smooth floors are chic, elegant, and classic. I don’t think a time will come when smooth floors are ever totally out of style.
