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2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More

Looking ahead at 2016 flooring trends and what to expect in the worlds of wood, vinyl, tile and more. Which trends are here to stay and which trends are fleeting? Here’s what we think.

Ready for 2017? Check out our latest posts –> 2017 Tile Flooring Trends2017 Wood Flooring Trends, 2017 Laminate Flooring Trends

It’s that time! While some people are off setting resolutions (I’m anti New Years Resolution, but that’s a topic for an other time), we’re looking for the latest, greatest trends and preparing to tackle new styles in the the coming year.

The flooring trends don’t change nearly as often as fashion (thank goodness) or even other home decor, but we are in a period of evolution thanks to advancing technologies.

Think about how quickly we went from cassette tapes (please tell me you remember cassette tapes!) to Spotify — that is what’s happening with flooring technologies. We can now do more than ever before with lookalike flooring options and low maintenance flooring options.

Across the Board

Parquet

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

Emser Alpine Porcelain Tile

Not just for wood anymore, parquet, which is just the fancy flooring term for “geometric” is quickly gaining popularity in tile, vinyl and more flooring options.

Where geometric patterns were once reserved for walls and backsplash, in 2016 you can expect to see more of these patterns under your feet.

You may have already seen people using chevron and herringbone patterns – they are kind of the Adele of parquet flooring (you know, everyone knows about them and they are awesome!), but don’t count out up-and-comers including puzzle looks as well as more intricate designs.

Wide Planks

wiide plank wood-look flooring in a ktichen

Okay so this is not news to anyone who has looked at flooring in the last, oh…decade, but it’s important! Know why, know why? Because this trend ain’t goin’ no where. It’s here to stay.

Large, wide planks and large format tile make your space look and feel bigger and more open. This is a modern look that will quickly turn into a classic staple.

Wood

Reclaimed Wood

Unique, durable and green, with each plank telling a story, it’s no wonder reclaimed wood has taken off so quickly. Reclaimed wood simply means taking old building materials and re-using them.

We all want something different that doesn’t look just like our neighbor’s house and reclaimed wood offers just that. As it gains popularity, it becomes increasingly more rare and difficult to find, only making it that much more popular.

My guess is that this will be a trend that sticks around for a decade or so until something different comes along. See it in action on Apartment Therapy.

Character

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

Shaw Camden Hills Engineered Wood

Similar to reclaimed wood, we are seeing more and more wood planks with grains, knots, scrapes, you name it. Imperfectly perfect.

It’s hard to say whether this trend will stick around. There’s definitely a battle going down with new planks that are going for more of the perfectly perfect with smoother finishes than ever before.

Although, if you tend to have an eye for decor with more character, I feel like you will probably love this style even when it’s no longer trendy.

Grey

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

Bel-Air Stained Strand Woven Bamboo

Yes, still. A year ago I claimed that this was a fad; a trend that would soon be on its way out. Well, I guess I can’t be right all of the time (my husband might claim differently…)

Grey appears to be here for the long haul, and it is even beyond accompanied by trendy new grey cabinets and other decor. If you like it, I say go for it – it’s not going anywhere soon!

Almost Black

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

Shaw Pebble Hill Engineered Wood

It’s not my favorite, but the extreme dark (and light) colors will be making a bold statement in 2016. While I, personally, feel the dark colors make your room look smaller, and show dirt and dust more easily, they absolutely look sleek, classy and expensive.

Will it stick around for the long haul? Eh, I’m not so sure, but you can certainly expect to see espresso brown, almost black  floors throughout 2016.

Blonde

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

Shaw Castlewood Hickory Engineered Wood

Extremes. Super dark and super light, and not much in between it seems. Light, blonde wood, often found in bamboo flooring, is gaining steam.

Light colors make your space look bigger, brighter and more open. They also hide the fact that you haven’t cleaned your floor in 2 weeks a whole lot better than their darker counterpart.

If you ask me, this new, unique wood look will become a trend-turned-classic before you’re even thinking about switching it up to something new.

Site-Finished

Site-finished floors are tongue and groove wood planks that come unfinished, and are sanded and finished on site (like the name suggests) after they are installed. This creates a more even, seamless look. This also gives you more control over the stain/finish.

My guess is that this will continue to be popular for those who are very specific in their design ideas, but I wouldn’t say you should ditch your pre-finished floors just yet. It’s very unlikely (like almost impossible) that site-finished floors would ever become the “norm”. My guess is that this will become a long-term trend for wealthier homeowners.

Cork

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

USFloors Canvas Cork Flooring

Eco-friendly, joint-friendly and resilient with a totally unique look, cork has been trending for years and, in 2016, we only expect to see more of it on the market and in the home.

Bamboo

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

Muse Strand Bamboo Collection

Like cork, bamboo has been working its way into homes for years and it’s not going anywhere. One of the strongest floors on the market with unique looks and colors including the aforementioned blonde wood look, bamboo continues to be a staple for homeowners looking for something a little different in their home.

Vinyl

Luxury Vinyl

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

Vidara Vinyl Planks – Sierra Walnut

Okay, so basically all vinyl is trending right now. In fact, I wouldn’t even call it a trend, I would dare to call it the next big dog in the flooring world. When you think flooring, typically you think wood, tile and carpet…maybe laminate….maybe.

My prediction is that vinyl will be sneaking its way in there becoming one of the most popular and sought-after floors on the market, and this is in large part due to the newest luxury vinyl. With wood looks, natural stone looks and more, luxury vinyl comes in totally waterproof options and technologies are better than ever giving your home a look that no one would guess is vinyl.

We’re just a little bit excited about it. Just wait ’til you see what’s coming in 2016 for luxury vinyl. It’s gonna be pretty bomb. Yes, I said bomb. 1990 called and they want my vocabulary back.

Leather Looks

Say whaaaaa? Basically, you name it and vinyl can create it. Leather-look vinyl is just beginning to make its way onto the market, and it is quickly gaining steam as the flooring of choice for man caves, game rooms and more. I

‘m not sure it will gather enough steam to be a whole home flooring, but expect to see plenty of leather-look accents in 2016.

Loose Lay

This DIY trend is on the rise. There are now vinyl flooring options that only require some double sided carpet tape around the perimeter and that’s it. This is a game changer for DIY-ers who want to redo their floors, but can’t afford an installer.

This stuff is heavy and durable, and you may have already seen it, but prob thought it was wood because…that luxury vinyl – it’s legit.

Tile

Wood-Look

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

Daltile Season Wood Porcelain Tile

I wouldn’t call wood-look tile a “new” trend by any means, but it is only building momentum in terms of popularity, and it is quickly becoming a whole house staple.

I was talking to a friend yesterday with solid hardwood floors and he told me that he wishes these tile options would have been available when he redid his floors and that, given the choice, he would switch in a heart beat.

On a personal note, I’m getting ready to put these all throughout my house so, clearly, I’m a fan.

Geometric

Patterns and shapes once reserved for walls and backsplash are taking floors by storm in 2016. The geometric tile patterns, colors and options are endless and they give the “bohemian chic” type a way to design in their style without searching countless junk yards to piece things together.

Fun, vibrant and eye-catching, 2016 will be full of unique, geometric tiles in the homes of trendy 20 and 30 somethings. Will they last forever? Well, I have a hunch it will stay more of a young, first-time homeowner thing, but I imagine that 10 years from now the hipsters will be all about keeping it around. 😉

You can see a gorgeous, classy use of geometric tile on East Coast Creative Blog.

Brick-Look

So…I didn’t even know this was a thing until recently. Brick-look tile started gaining popularity as a wall tile and is now expanding and being used as a flooring option.

Personally, I love it as an accent wall and I do not love it as a floor, but if you like a more European look, you might feel differently. To see this done well, ignore the headline and check out this gorgeous brick-look kitchen floor!

Cement-Look

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

Daltile Veranda Solids Porcelain Tile

Are you noticing one major trend? DISGUISE! The hottest trend by far is floor that looks like something it’s not, and the cement look is no exception. Industrial, modern looking cement isn’t typical inside the home, but in 2016 you will see homes embracing that look with cement-look tile.

Large Format

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

Daltile Exquisite Porcelain Tile

Just like wide planks, I predict the large format tile trend is here to stay. They make your space look bigger, give you less grout lines (OMG I HATE GROUT!), and provide a beautiful, clean, modern look.

Of course we will likely reach a point, like with phones, where the size gets excessive, and I have a feeling that may happen within the next 5 years, so my advice: don’t get sucked in, but do go with the large format sizes currently available on the market.

What trends are you looking forward to?

2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More! Get up to date on up and coming flooring trends with what you can expect to see in homes in 2016 and beyond.

About Ari Ziskin

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Ari Ziskin is our resident expert in all things fitness, dance and flooring trends. After five years of blogging at Ari’s Menu, where she was featured on sites like The Huffington Post and Buzzfeed, Ari decided to pursue writing full-time. Nothing makes her happier than sharing her knowledge to help people create their gyms and begin their fitness journey.

19 Comments on “2016 Flooring Trends: Wood, Vinyl, Tile & More

  1. Well, the above listed flooring options or trends what ever the name can be called are simply brilliant. However, I have used few of them on my own house and my relatives. And found that different flooring options comes up with their own pros and cons.I personally believe hardwood flooring is a perfect choice, if maintained properly. But its expensive nature and future deterioration leaves me thinking.

    Another choice would be Laminate for sure. One of the advantage of Laminate flooring that I didn’t see here is that It is really great with pets and kids.Can’t say much about tiles, carpets and others since I haven’t used them. However, you mentioned it comes with various designs and patterns. So I guess it would be worth a try in near future.

    Anyway keep posting good stuffs like this. You have got a loyal fan here 🙂

  2. We have vinyl for almost a year now. It looks great, fits to every style, easy to clean. And we sure had a lot of fun setting it up on our own. 😀

  3. A fabulous post. Can’t expect more information than this when it comes to floor tiling. Thanks again buddy.

  4. I really hope that the trend toward geometric patterns and blemishes in wood floors stick around. I really like them. Both of these things make the floor look more interesting and I think they make the room more comfortable. As long as they don’t affect the durability of the floor, I figure why not allow for some knots in the wood.

    • I love the knots also – so unique, and it makes the floor seem more homey and comforting without losing any of the style!

  5. Thank you for such a great write up. The choice of material for floor covering is affected by factors such as cost, endurance, noise insulation, comfort and cleaning effort.

  6. Okay, but where are the really cool geometric, retro designs? How blah all of the above is!

    • Thanks for your feedback, Mary Beth. Unfortunately, finding homes with installed designs in every trend, as you could imagine, would be quite difficult! If you follow these ideas and create something beautiful, we’d love to see it!

  7. Hello, please can you kindly give me some advice! I have a large kitchen dinner, about 45m2 which is dark grey/anthracite matt handleless and a white corian worktop…

    I am so so puzzled with which floor to have to make it modern but warm. The oak wood flooring I am having in my living room and hall is a bit too rustic for the modern kitchen and I dont want a different wood.

    . I dont want the kitchen diner to look like a kitchen showroom and too clinical so have decided against a polished porcelain..

    I have seen a nice very light grey stone look matt porcelain but am worried this wont look as fresh and clean in the whole kitchen diner as the tile has darker shades in it…

    Can you please advise on the new look for kitchen floor tiles that would go with a matt anthracite handleless kitchen??? I am happy to spend the money for a good look tile.

    Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Hi Maria,

      Can you attach a photo please? We’re not interior designers, but we will do our best to make a recommendation. Thanks for commenting!

      You’re also welcome to check out this page – I’ve filtered out the options you’re not interested in so you can see if anything catches your eye.

  8. Yes, Flooring is one of the most important elements in a house and the right flooring will provide great comfort to your house in many ways. this all are the very popular choice and definitely durable, resistant to damages, easy to install and most importantly they are quite affordable too.

  9. Thank you for your post. Each year, interior design trends come and go, some long lasting while others are fleeting and temporary. Any professional will tell you what’s worth investing in and what trends to consider as fashion accessories.

  10. Pingback: 2017 Tile Flooring Trends: 18 Ideas for Contemporary Flooring - FlooringInc Blog

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