Interior design is a lot like building a puzzle. Furniture, décor, lighting, wall colors – all pieces of a beautiful picture that reflects your taste and style.
One of the biggest pieces of that puzzle (and one a lot of people ignore TBH) is flooring. No matter what look you’re trying to achieve or mood you want to create, the flooring will be a key part of the equation. That’s why I’ve absolutely fallen in love with luxury vinyl: It gives me creative freedom that other types of flooring don’t … which brings me to the first of our three big trends.
1. Eye-Catching Patterns
Chevron, herringbone, parquet, basketweave or something completely original – timeless patterns make a bold statement. Luxury vinyl in gluedown and loose lay installation formats can be cut and laid to create virtually any design imaginable.
Left: Ashland LLP95 in herringbone; Right: Mina's basketweave pattern (photo: Cory Phillips, The Home Aesthetic); Bottom: Bleached Grey Walnut WP329 in a block pattern
Industry-leading manufacturers like Karndean have been quick to pick up on the trend, with flooring that’s got patterns printed directly on individual pieces or is pre-cut to be laid in chevron or herringbone, reducing disruption in your home by making installation even faster. See for yourself with these luxury vinyl designs from Karndean: Pale Limed Oak, Salvaged Barnwood and Palazzo Marble.
Left: Pale Limed Oak CH-KP94; Center: Salvaged Barnwood SM-RKP8209; Right: Palazzo Marble SM-RKT3012-G
2. Large Wood-Look Planks
This one is *literally* a big trend. Wider planks (think 7” to 10”) translate to fewer pieces in a given space, reducing the number of seams and making that space feel larger. Larger planks, which are particularly striking in trendy open floor plans, also show more of the natural beauty of the wood that inspired the design.
Bonus? Fewer planks = faster installation.
Go big or go home!
Left: Worn Fabric Oak LLP330; Top: Washed Butternut RKP8108; Bottom: Character Walnut LLP315
3. Warm Tones
Last but not least … it’s what most people think about first when it comes to flooring.
Color!
There’s been a clear shift recently, away from cool grays toward warmer undertones of yellow, orange and red in wood-inspired designs. It’s a trend that began during the height of the pandemic, when people were looking to make their homes more comfortable – light-warm woods with natural finishes allow spaces to feel inviting while remaining airy and open. And you can actually go back a couple decades further to understand another interesting factor driving the trend: The warmer flooring tones are a nice complement to honey oak-colored cabinetry that many homeowners have in their kitchens.
If you’re loving this vibe as much as me, check out a few of my faves from Karndean: Ohana Koa, Natural Koa and Natural School Cedar.
Left: Ohana Koa VGW143T; Center: Natural Koa RKP8122; Right: Natural School Cedar VGW142T
-Mina
Mina Starsiak Hawk is the host of “Good Bones” on HGTV. A real estate agent with an Indianapolis-based home-renovation business, she and her team buy properties in serious disrepair and transform them into stunning homes, revitalizing their favorite neighborhoods one house at a time.