When it comes to flooring, it’s important to choose a material that doesn’t just suit your space in terms of function, but also style. There are plenty of options, from vinyl and laminate to concrete and cork, with countless variations within each category. Needless to say, picking the right material for your home can be overwhelming.
To help narrow the field, we’ve rounded up the types of flooring and finishes that seem to be gaining the most recognition this year (with the help of a few experts, of course).
Read on for the top flooring trends for 2022.
#1 Brown Tones
“Mid- to dark-brown wood floors are starting to have a moment,” says Marc Bacher, founder of Scandinavian hardwood floor company Stuga. While light-colored floors are beloved for their ability to make a space feel bigger and more open, darker brown hues have become more popular ever since the pandemic hit. “We’re seeing a steady trend toward cozier, more nostalgic spaces,” Bacher reveals. “Brown flooring adds comforting, visual warmth. It invites you to slow down.” And it’ll forever be a classic. “It may be on trend now, but it will never go out of style,” he asserts.
#2 Oversize Planks
Extra-long and extra-wide planks are now in vogue, says LL Flooring expert Jen Meska. That’s likely because they create fewer seams (which results in a more clean and cohesive look).
#3 Nature-Inspired Motifs
"Nature-inspired floor tiles are really popular right now," shares Luke Crownover, digital asset manager at The Tile Shop. "Patterns featuring whimsical florals and organic shapes can help soften and ground a design, while coastal-inspired blues and greens instantly bring the essence of water and botanicals into a space for a fresh atmosphere."
#4 Oiled Finishes
“One trend we’ve seen this year is homeowners embracing oiled floors,” says Bacher. Up until now, the flooring industry has been focused on manufacturing indestructible offerings coated in multiple protective layers that make the finished product appear more artificial. “Oiled floors are the antithesis of that faux feeling,” he explains. “They look and feel natural, and age beautifully.”
The growing fad might be due to the fact that an increasing number of homeowners are starting to favor imperfect materials sourced from nature over synthetic ones (which are extremely tough, but more faux-looking). “I think the movement toward oiled floors is an extension of that trend,” Bacher notes.
#5 White Oak
There’s always a high demand for hardwood flooring, but one type is proving to be exceptionally in demand: white oak. “It takes color so beautifully, but it’s also beautiful in its natural state,” asserts Meska, who says that the versatile tree species is the perfect canvas for applying all sorts of colors and glosses.
#6 Ultra-Matte Finishes
More and more homeowners seem to be gravitating toward very low-sheen protective coatings for wood. “Ultra-matte floors are now gaining popularity, and it’s no wonder—they feel much more natural underfoot and look incredible,” Bacher says.
#7 Pattern Play
Patterned flooring is often used to increase visual interest in a home’s high-traffic spots, like hallways and foyers. But lately, it’s been seen taking over more formal spaces, such as living rooms and dining areas. (Take for instance this chevron engineered hardwood or diamond-patterned cork from LL Flooring.)
"Custom floor patterns are a big tile trend we’re seeing, from creating unique designs with penny-round tiles to making a one-of-a-kind checkerboard pattern with a mix of colors or materials," adds Crownover.
#8 Carpet Tiles
Also known as modular rugs, carpet tiles provide a great way to add flair to your space without having to commit to wall-to-wall carpeting. They also make cleaning easier: If one rug gets soiled, you can easily pick it up and wash it by itself!
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Kristin Tablang is a senior editor at House Beautiful, where she covers design, real estate, culture, and travel. Before joining HB, she served as the lifestyle assistant editor at Forbes and Haute Residence editor at Haute Living. Born and raised in New York, she’s a proud alumna of both the City’s Macaulay Honors College and Bronx High School of Science, and is currently an MBA candidate at NYU’s Stern School of Business. An avid photographer and gourmand with an insatiable wanderlust, she'd traverse the globe with just a fork and camera in hand if she could. Visit her website at www.kristintablang.com to view her complete works and get in touch.
