If the flooring in part or all of your home is nearing the end of its road, it can be difficult to commit to replacing it because it’s a major expense, and you don’t want to end up with regrets over your choice.
But at some point you’ll have to make that leap, and it’s easier to do when you have options to update your look with elements that have timeless appeal.
Many trendy flooring choices fall squarely into this category, carrying benefits that aren’t going to fade away if they don’t make next year’s “hot” list.
Wide planks, big tiles
Both of these are in demand because they excel at making spaces feel roomier.
Wider and longer boards are coveted for this exact reason, but since there aren’t so many giant trees being cut down anymore it’s easier to find these shapes in vinyl planks or engineered wood than traditional hardwood.
Tiles don’t have that issue, and it’s easy to order them at six square feet or larger. This also cuts way back on the amount of grout you need to maintain.
Engineered wood
As the stock of new-growth or reclaimed wood starts to run low, it’s a good idea to consider engineered wood.
These floorboards consist of a thin layer of hardwood on top of a high-quality plywood core that’s stable and durable while drastically reducing the need for hardwood. Since they can be fashioned into wider planks than solid wood, it happens to be engineered for one of our biggest current trends.
Checkerboard patterns
Nostalgia has breathed new life into the energetic black-and-white tile patterns associated with diners and dives, and it’s making its way back into modern as well as retro homes.
Other color combos are along for the ride, paring white with blue or green or neutral shades like beige and brown. This effect can be achieved with old-school linoleum, vinyl, even marble to give a fun twist to a high-end environment.
Whitewashed wood
White floors are giving many rooms a lift these days.
Because the beauty and utility of hardwood floors often comes with a darker cast some homeowners feel they have to fight against to make rooms cheery, treating them with chemicals or finishes that give them an ashy or white color lightens the mood of the room — allowing the natural grain and knots of the hardwood to show through.
Carpet
While most trendsetters banished this option from homes a couple decades ago in favor of rugs partially covering wood or tile floors, many people crave the softness and warmth of carpets, particularly in bedrooms.
Low-pile carpet has been making inroads into some of the chicest markets in the U.S. and even picking up on some hard-surface flooring trends, including checkerboard designs and the use of natural fibers like wool (the only choice suitable for wall-to-wall carpeting) and large area rugs of jute, sisal and cotton.
