2021 Flooring Trends: Top Flooring Types is our guide to the top design ideas over the past year that are sure to continue being popular in 2021. The task of finding the right flooring for your home, or commercial space, is enormous. There are so many ideas, and sales folks trying to sell you what makes them the most commission. But this decision will last you a long time. Use our guide to the hottest 2021 flooring trends to help you find the most stylish flooring with the best value, based on designer input and sales trends during 2020.

2020 Flooring Trends To Continue

Trends across hard surfaces (solid hardwood, tile, vinyl and laminate) are are moving much in the same direction as they were last year. Hard surface manufacturers (especially ceramic tile) continue to push towards replicating natural wood and stone. Carpet is still the most best selling flooring, and like hard surfaces, manufacturers are making huge strides and technological advancements to produce never-before-seen carpet looks and trends.

The trends are moving to fill the need of durability. Manufacturers are advancing technology of synthetic, ceramic, and other man-made materials to give it the look and feel of hardwood flooring, or natural stone, but will stand up to water spills or wear. And, since they look so great they’re more popular than ever.

Flooring Types

Materials

Hard surfaces are trending up because of durability. While carpets remain popular “waterproof” is the buzz. Vinyl and laminate wood floors look like solid hardwood floors yet resist scratching and are easy to clean and install. Wood look ceramic tile will also continue its popularity in 2021, giving the ultimate hard surface for folks who want the look of a wood finish.

Looks

In 2021 expect to continue seeing a lot of manufactured material with stone and wood looks. For tile, graphic tiles are coming in full force with many artful patterns rising in popularity. Reclaimed wood flooring has also gained popularity, and while some go for the real thing others are using modern laminate, vinyl, or distressed woods made to look like reclaimed wood.

Colors

While natural tones will always remain strong, gray was the big color of 2020 – and likely to keep trending into 2021. Other colors trending for wood floors are bleached or blanched, and high variations. For tile flooring cool tones, patterns, and black and white are back.

Patterns

2020 started seeing more unique patterns, and getting creative with flooring. Expect to see more unique patterned floors and larger sized materials in 2021.

Textures

Textured wood flooring has continued to gain in popularity, and will continue to trend in 2021. Stressed, textured hardwood flooring not only ads a unique flare but also hides scratches and wear. Both modern and traditional looking.

Top Flooring Trends in 2021

Vinyl Flooring Trends

Vinyl plank flooring is one of the hottest trending floor type, with many products containing scraped surface details to give it that authentic wood look floor. Technology has advanced greatly with vinyl stone look, and wood look floors are more authentic looking than ever. With their unmatched durability, easy installation, and even commercial grade products, you’ll continue to see them gain in popularity for the next few years.

The hottest types of vinyl floors to look for are SPC vinyl, WPC vinyl, luxury vinyl planks (LVP), luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), and luxury vinyl sheets. Look for waterproof vinyl, and textured, as well. They really take things to the next level as far as looks, durability, and features.

Wood Flooring Trends

2020 was the year for gray wood flooring, however that trend may not continue through 2021 as more unique and personalized designs are becoming popular. Hardwood floor lovers are buying wider planks, which have the advantage of fewer seams but can shift more. Also, floor patterns are trending for a more personalized look. Patterns like chevron, herringbone, or simply laying them diagonal to the room as well as mixed width planks. Wire brushed and hand scraped are also continuing in popularity for a more unique look that helps hide scratching.

Tile Flooring Trends

Larger tiles continue to be popular. 12×24 is popular, however some as long as 48 inches in length are selling like mad. Visiting a tile and granite store recently about 80% of the tile on their floor were the long and narrow wood or stone looking – ceramic and porcelain. Realistic stone tile such as limestone, or marble are looking better than ever. The wood look is still strong and the tile planks are getting as long as 48” at various widths. With ink jet technology the tiles give a very realistic wood or stone or concrete looks with the durability and maintenance benefits of porcelain tiles.

Vintage black and white tiles are making a strong comeback in 2020, and will continue in 2021. It’s not the same old black and white tiles as in historic homes. Instead, it’s bold, graphic, and more luxurious.  More and more homeowners want a unique twist to the vintage with modern flooring style. This includes smaller tiles with bolder graphic patterns for a more transitional decor.

Graphic Tiles: If you love unique and artful patterns on your tiles, graphic tiles are trending very strong. Using advanced technology, manufacturers are able to replicate an endless variety of images on tiles. You can get tiles with repeating patterns joined together to form one large pattern on your floor.  Graphic tiles are typically monochromatic colors but for the very brave, there are others that come in bold multicolored patterns and writings.

Laminate Flooring Trends

Made of a wood composite to imitate solid hardwood, laminate is gaining in popularity this year as a wood-look option. Personally I prefer this to many hardwood floors. It’s scratch resistance, and easy cleanup, are great for busy residential and commercial spaces. Laminate flooring is getting more and more realistic and attractive, easy to maintain, and durable, at a lower price point compared to hardwood floors. 

Water-resistant laminate flooring is trending strong, combining beauty and durability, but still not waterproof enough to recommend for a bathroom. Wide plank laminate flooring is trending now, as is high variation laminate – making no two planks look the same for a more realistic rustic look.

Carpet Trends

Carpet is still the most popular flooring, however there are now more options and greater durability than ever.

• Natural Materials – The enduring back-to-nature trend will carry through and be big news for 2021. These natural fabrics include wool, sisal and jute, and other sustainable materials with warm, earthy tones. This is especially true with area rugs.

• Area Rugs – Folks are adding a splash of color and warmth in 2020 to their floors, not only indoors but outdoors as well. Very popular this year are area rugs with an abundance of colors and styles, with materials that are low maintenance and protect your hardwoods.

• Geometric Patterns – Geometrics have been a popular trend across other interior areas this year (cushions, duvets, rugs) and the look will be big for carpet trends 2021. Look for bold designs, and mixing patterned carpets with printed sofas for a head-turning interior. 

• Carpet Tiles and Planks – Carpet tile have been around for a while, but lately trending as a DIY alternative to wall-to-wall carpet in the home. Mix and match patterns, and replacing squares that are damaged is easy. Now rug planks are also a way to be more creative with layouts.

Other Flooring Trends in 2020

Some trends are so hot you will see them in almost every type of flooring from tile to laminate. Here is a look at what’s trending across the entire world of flooring in 2019.

Fumed Wood Flooring – Stronger Color & Grain

Almost all types of wood flooring undergo some kind of staining to give them the desired final finish. Fumed wood flooring gets its rich color and grain without having to get any sort of staining. Instead, the wood is put through a process called fuming.  This involves placing the wood in a chamber where airborne ammonia is then released. The wood reacts with the ammonia and undergoes a color change. The reaction does not always result in the exact same changes. The final patina achieved depends on a number of factors including the type of wood, the outside environment and the atmosphere in the chamber itself.  So even among two similar pieces of wood, the resulting hues may vary. Generally, however, fuming gives the wood rich dark tones and enhances the natural grain of the wood.

Waterproof Flooring

Waterproof is the big thing right now and you can now choose waterproof flooring in vinyl, laminate and even carpet. The selection is better than ever, and the styles are impressively not plastic looking.

Environmentally-Responsible Flooring

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. Because “green” or eco-friendly flooring is so big right now, almost all carpet is now being made from recycled materials, at least in part. Additionally, you will see lots of recycled and reclaimed hardwood flooring and other hard surfaces using natural and recycled materials. And, don’t forget about natural, renewable sources. Cork and bamboo are excellent environmentally-friendly alternatives to solid hardwood flooring.