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2022 Vinyl Flooring Trends: 20+ Hot Vinyl Flooring Ideas

Vinyl flooring as a whole is trending right now, but right now there are some particularly popular vinyl flooring trends you should be aware of if you’re thinking of remodeling. 

Advancing technology has given vinyl manufacturers have developed shockingly realistic tiles and planks mimicking natural looks, such as wood and stone. They are also creating unique, decorative looks currently unavailable in any other style of flooring.

But enough chit-chat. You’re here for trends, and we’ve got the trends. Get ready to see some gorgeous wood looks (including handscraped and distressed looks!), natural stone looks, and more. 

“Flooring needs to work with your lifestyle and design of your home. It is a very difficult piece to change so I always pick “trends” that I think will have longevity in the marketplace. I see vinyl being the new go-to flooring.” – Courtney Greger, My Flipping Job

2022 Trending Vinyl Flooring Looks

As I mentioned, the coolest thing about this year’s vinyl flooring trends is the realistic looks manufacturers can accomplish. Once upon a time, realistic wood-look vinyl flooring was unheard of. Now, I bet if I showed you some current options, you’d never guess they were vinyl!

Currently, you will find vinyl flooring available in styles that mimic current wood and tile flooring trends, and even a few vinyl-specific trends as well.

Related Content >> Vinyl Plank Flooring Buying Guide

Wood-Look Vinyl

The consensus among design experts is that wood-look flooring and wood accents are the new neutral. Wood looks are incredibly trendy and versatile enough to go with tons of styles, from farmhouse to contemporary.

These days, wood-look vinyl is just as realistic as wood-look laminate.

“Better technology is constantly being created and used to make vinyl flooring look more like real hardwood. Whatever you see trending in engineered hardwood, whether it is a rustic oil-finished Oak or a more contemporary smooth maple, the vinyl flooring industry will be quick to create a visual that will be nearly impossible to tell apart from the real deal. ” – Carly Notcha, US Floors

With that said, there are quite a few textures and wood-look species you should keep an eye out for this year. In 2022, vinyl manufactures will only be producing even more convincing wood looks mimicking the hottest wood flooring look and texture trends.

While vinyl typically uses embossing and prints for their looks rather than real scrapes and wirebrushing used in hardwood, you can still expect to see vinyl floors mimicking these looks in 2022 and beyond. Here’s the breakdown, just for you.

Trending Wood-Look Vinyl Textures

  • Handscraped: These looks feature long, ingrained scrapes with high variation between planks, making each plank appear handcrafted, unique, and rare.
  • Wirebrushed looks show subtle, intentional wire scratches leaving the appearance of exposed wood on the surface. These imperfections are smoother and more consistent than handscraped or distressed looks.
  • Distressed: Distressed vinyl looks as though it’s been through a lot of wear and tear. You can expect to see the appearance of scrapes, burns, knots, wormholes, and more, giving these floors an aged, antique look.
  • Embossed in register: Registered embossing means the textured surface is designed to exactly match the wood-look image underneath, so it looks and feels like the real thing.
  • Micro beveled edges: A bevel on the edges of a plank or tile adds more definition between each piece for an even more realistic look.
  • Painted beveled edges: Want even more definition? A painted bevel adds an extra touch of realism with painted bevels to better emphasize individual planks.

Trending Vinyl Wood-Look Species

  • Oak: This is one of the most popular wood looks for vinyl flooring. Oak looks feature straight grains and light brown tones.
  • Pine: A pine wood-look plank will feature a range of colors, often with prevalent knot textures.
  • Hickory: This is one of the lighter wood-look options, with delicate grains that offer a lot of character.
  • Walnut: The deep coloring and bold wood grain of walnut wood-look vinyl make this a great option for a classic or contemporary space.
  • Acacia: The pronounced grain and occasional knots create a distinct look that’s perfect for any aesthetic.
  • Maple: The light to medium brown tones of maple wood-look flooring deliver a classic aesthetic.

Will the wood-look vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

1,000 times, yes! Wood-look flooring will be trending for the foreseeable future and vinyl will only gain momentum and popularity over the next decade.

SHOP WOOD-LOOK VINYL

Related Content >> Art Deco Flooring Ideas

Stone-Look Vinyl

Once upon a time, porcelain and ceramic tile were the only way to get a beautiful, durable, realistic stone look. These days, technology allows for more types of flooring to share the scene. So everyone has to make their looks more convincing, stylish, and durable.

While laminate has always focused almost exclusively on wood looks, vinyl is known for its versatility in style and looks. You will typically see stone looks in luxury vinyl tiles (LVT).

Just like wood-look vinyl, stone-look vinyl uses the same technologies to create looks mimicking gorgeous, timeless natural stone. You don’t have to pay a fortune for soft, porous marble; stone-look vinyl flooring has changed the game.

Trending Stone-Look Vinyl Types

  • Marble: Chic and timeless, marble is one of those looks that will never go out of style. Marble is known for its unique veining and gorgeous translucence. It’s also known for being soft and porous. In 2022, you’ll see lots of marble looks, particularly Carrara, in durable, nonporous LVT.
  • Limestone: The gorgeous natural patterns of limestone are highly sought-after for a luxurious look, but the real thing can be high-maintenance. Now you can get beautiful limestone-look vinyl tiles at a fraction of the cost.
  • Travertine: Travertine is the floor of castles and ancient architecture. But it’s only increasing in popularity in 2022. The versatile, neutral colors with distinctive patterns and veining are a timeless look that you can now find in affordable, low-maintenance LVT!
  • Slate: Sharp and contemporary slate looks will be super trendy in 2022. Although the most common will be the dark chalkboard look, slate comes in a variety of colors and slate-look vinyl will mimic them all.

Will the stone-look vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Yes! Vinyl is giving porcelain and ceramic tile a run for their money with equally convincing stone looks with more warmth and resilience than traditional tile.

Stone looks are timeless, and now that they are more accessible, you will see stone-look vinyl well into the next decade and beyond.

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Concrete-Look Vinyl

Concrete floors are pretty popular right now. People are still experimenting with that industrial look and concrete can provide a sleek, upscale, modern look with the right decor.

While concrete is known for being a cost-effective flooring option, vinyl flooring, even luxury vinyl tile, is also known for being super affordable. 

But you know what vinyl is not known for? Poor, aching feet from standing all day on a floor with absolutely zero give. Concrete is not awesome on your joints, so homeowners are now looking for this hot look in other flooring options. 

Vinyl flooring is resilient and constantly innovating in realism. In 2022, you’ll see concrete-look vinyl in trendy condos, loft apartments, and lots of up-and-coming spaces.

Will the concrete-look vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Again, maybe over the next few years, but eventually, the trend towards nature will knock ’em out of the limelight.

Decorative and Patterned Vinyl

Geometric patterns are huge in tile and carpet right now, so it only makes sense that this trend is trickling over into vinyl. Of course, natural and authentic looks are still kings of the vinyl castle, but it’s nice to see designers mixing it up a bit.

Some vinyl planks are now coming out with decorative and graphic styles to rival tile. Parquet patterns and classic trellis designs line up perfectly from plank to plank. Since vinyl planks are way easier to install than tile, lots of DIYers are going to gravitate to this alternative.

Kitchens and bathrooms are especially primed to benefit from this innovation. This is where creative flooring thrives, and it’s also where vinyl really excels. Honestly, it seems like the perfect combination.

Will the decorative vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

This trend will continue to grow. This is a brand new frontier for luxury vinyl, and I could see a developing need for more decorative looks with the benefits of quality vinyl. At least for the next few years, I predict you’ll see this trend sticking around.

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2022 Trending Vinyl Flooring Types

The hottest types of vinyl floors have been (and will continue to be) SPC vinyl, WPC vinyl, luxury vinyl planks (LVP), luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), and luxury vinyl sheets. They really take things to the next level as far as looks, durability, and features.

WPC Vinyl

WPC stands for wood plastic composite but is also commonly referred to as waterproof core.

WPC vinyl plank flooring and WPC vinyl tile flooring are best known for being 100% waterproof. You can think of WPC flooring as luxury vinyl flooring amped up a notch with a special waterproof core that makes it perfect for just about any room in the house.

Plus? The looks and realism are top-notch. You’ll see WPC vinyl planks with prints mimicking the hottest wood trends including distressed and handscraped looks that can fool even a discerning eye.

WPC vinyl is popular in homes thanks to its durability, fully waterproof floor, and that comforting bit of give underfoot. You’ll see them all over the home but especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements

Will the WPC vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Yes! WPC flooring will remain popular over the next several years, and likely, beyond.

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SPC Vinyl

WPC’s cool new cousin!

Rigid core a.k.a. SPC vinyl flooring is exactly what you’d expect: vinyl flooring with a tough, sturdy, rigid core. The rigid core allows you to install your vinyl floor in areas you wouldn’t normally be able to.

You see, most subfloors are inherently uneven. It’s just not common to have a perfectly smooth subfloor hanging out waiting for you to come put your dream floor on top of it. This new rigid plank technology helps to eliminate ripples and waves that are often caused by uneven subfloors.

SPC is like WPC vinyl on steroids. You get the tough, waterproof, gorgeous floors WPC is known for with that new, extra-strong rigid core. It’s no wonder this new flooring idea is taking off at lightning speeds!

Will the SPC vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Absolutely! 2022 will just be the beginning of a trend I expect to see grow for decades to come. It will probably even overstock WPC.

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Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP)

 

This is where some people get confused. LVP, LVT, and WPC/SPC vinyl are not interchangeable terms.

All WPC and SPC vinyl planks are a step above luxury vinyl planks because they’re waterproof. 

“Luxury” means LVP is tougher, more durable, and more beautiful than older, outdated vinyl planks. These luxury vinyl planks feature a protective wear layer that works as a bodyguard to keep your floor safe from all the elements. 

But! LVP is not waterproof. That’s fine because maybe you don’t need that extra-tough waterproof core for your living room. A little bit of luxury is all you need.

You will see realistic LVP prints in all the hottest wood trends without but with way less maintenance.

Will the luxury vinyl plank flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Absolutely. In the coming years, you will only see more vinyl as it begins to overtake laminate flooring.

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Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT)

Luxury vinyl tiles are very similar to luxury vinyl planks, simply in tile form. I know, it was really difficult to get that from the name.

LVT typically offers realistic natural stone looks. It’s a warmer, more resilient alternative to tile, still giving gorgeous stone looks at an affordable price.

When vinyl first started gaining popularity, it was all about the tiles. This was before manufacturers developed ultra-convincing wood looks.

These tiles are still trendy; stone looks are classic and will never go out of style. However, I would steer you towards luxury vinyl planks over luxury vinyl tiles.

Will the luxury vinyl tile flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Yes and no. Luxury vinyl tiles will maintain popularity, but luxury vinyl planks will take off over the next decade while LVT stays consistent.

SHOP LUXURY VINYL TILES

Vinyl Sheets

So what’s new in the world of sheet vinyl? Answer: just about everything! New colors, patterns, textures, and materials are offering homeowners an easy upgrade. Fiberglass cores and backing ensure better durability. Plus, the stone-look and wood-look textures have never looked better, boasting exquisite detail. 

Natural looks aren’t the only area where vinyl sheets excel. Unlike most other vinyl products, sheets also offer bright, decorative patterns. 

Best of all, vinyl sheets can be temporary, especially if they have that fiberglass backing. That means you can lay it out with ease, and pull it up without a lot of hassle. Renters rejoice! Finally, a temporary flooring solution that doesn’t look temporary. 

Will the sheet vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

For sure, you’re going to see sheet vinyl making a big come-back in the years to come. It’s durable, easy to install, and versatile enough to come in tons of styles, patterns, and colors. What’s not to love?

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2022 Vinyl Flooring Installation Trends

I know, I know; there is nothing “trendy” sounding about flooring installation. No matter how big of a flooring enthusiast you are, it’s doubtful you sit at home thinking “OMG I am so excited about this trendy loose lay vinyl flooring!”

It’s not necessarily the look or the style that is trending here; it’s the idea that these new options are now available.

You see, vinyl flooring is all about making your life easier. Less maintenance, easier installation, more longevity. I’ve said it before and it still holds true: vinyl is the busy homeowner’s flooring.

Loose Lay Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is all about ease and convenience. Easy to clean, easy to keep looking fabulous, and with loose lay vinyl planks, easy to install, too!

Installing loose lay vinyl planks could not be easier. Here’s what you need to install them: perimeter tape and the planks.

Seriously.

And before you worry that this affects the durability, these are high-quality luxury vinyl floors, many with lifetime warranties. Simple and dependable.

Loose lay planks are relatively new to the world of vinyl flooring. Now, many of the trendy wood-look luxury vinyl planks come in these DIY-friendly loose lay options.

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Will the loose lay vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Probably. My prediction is that manufacturers will trend towards interlocking planks more than loose lay.

However, manufacturers will continue to produce beautiful loose lay vinyl planks to appease the DIY market. Once the floor is installed, no one will know the difference, so this is simply more of a preference.

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Groutable Vinyl Tiles

Vinyl tiles have been competing with porcelain and ceramic tile for years as they mimic natural stone looks with less maintenance and a lower price tag. Tile has this wonderful reputation as durable, high-quality flooring.

But vinyl is probably the best option on the flooring market when you look at durability, style, price, and maintenance. It’s only going to get better.

Now, amazingly, vinyl manufacturers have created groutable vinyl tile, just like traditional porcelain and ceramic tile. At last, you can find luxury vinyl tiles that look just like their ceramic competitors but with more warmth and resilience.

In the next few years, you will see lots of stone-look groutable vinyl tile options popping up all over the flooring market.

Will the groutable vinyl tile trend last in 2022 and beyond?

I do think it will stay in style, but I don’t foresee it becoming the next big thing. I still think wood-look SPC vinyl is where it’s at in the vinyl world.

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2022 Vinyl Flooring Color Trends

Going into 2022, we’re moving more toward light, desaturated colors, with lots of cool tones thrown into the mix. You won’t find a lot of yellow, orange, or red undertones. Plus, the lights are getting even more extreme with more white-washed, beachy looks.

Homeowners are increasingly using flooring to set the tone or feel of their home. That means, we need more options! And manufacturers are responding with more beautiful colors than ever before.

Of course, not all of them are trending. Here are the best vinyl floor colors to stay trendy in 2022.

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Light Blonde Wood-Look Vinyl Flooring

As more homeowners embrace the light, airy feel in their home, you will see a huge resurgence in blonde wood (and wood-look) floors. These blonde colors can give you that light feel, while still feeling timeless.

With versatile blond wood looks, your decorating possibilities are endless. You can go for a chic, contemporary feel or a rustic, homey vibe all without changing your floors.

Blonde vinyl does something that’s kind of magic. It makes your home seem way bigger. It’s true; blonde wood-look vinyl makes any room feel larger and more open, especially if you use large planks. But we’ll get to that later on.

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Will the blonde wood-look vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

If you ask me, the blonde wood look will become a trend-turned-classic before you can even think about switching it up to something new. If you like it, go for it! It’ll be a hit for quite a while.

 LIGHT WOOD-LOOK VINYL

Whitewashed Wood-Look Vinyl Flooring

The whitewashed look is more of a west coast/California trend that is starting to spread across the country. It’s becoming popular for the farmhouse kitchen look as well. A whitewash style makes everything look cool, clean, and artfully antiqued.

Now, when I say “whitewashed,” I don’t mean a smooth, finished white floor. Whitewashed wood-look floors typically show signs of wear with the darker colors peeking out from underneath. It fits right in with the 2022 aged and worn trends happening across all styles of flooring.

Whitewash will make your home look brighter, bigger, and more relaxed. It can give that “beachy” feel or also an upscale contemporary feel, depending on the rest of your decor.

Will the whitewashed vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Over on the east coast, homeowners are still turning their nose up at the whole west coast look and feel. If this trend lasts, it will be regional, at best. If you’re looking for a light wood look, I suggest going for a more versatile blonde look instead.

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White Stone-Look Vinyl Flooring

Just how the whitewashed wood look is trending, bright white vinyl tiles are also super hot right now. 

White vinyl tiles, like white and blonde wood looks, instantly make your room look bigger, especially if you use large format tiles. Put these vinyl tiles in a room with lots of natural sunlight for a truly special look.

Will the white tile kitchen flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Yes! White is super hot right now. Even as dark colors faded out of the trends, whites are only becoming more popular.

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Gray Vinyl Flooring – In All Looks!

Gray vinyl flooring, particularly in wood-look, has grown exponentially over the last decade. Although gray vinyl tiles, particularly in stone looks, are also very popular in the kitchen.

In addition to looking chic and trendy, gray floors set the tone of a cool, contemporary home. They give you a neutral backdrop for decorating in virtually any color. Aquas, greens, bright bold colors or even black and white – they will all go with your sleek gray flooring.

Designers are now even starting to blend grays with other neutrals, like beige, to create hybrid colors. These “greige” colors are the best of both worlds. You get the cool, contemporary feel and grey combine with the neutrality of beige. Also, keep your eyes peeled for charcoals and gray-browns joining the scene.

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Will the gray vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Heck, yes! Gray will be hot and trendy for decades to come. I wouldn’t give it a second thought!

SHOP GRAY VINYL

Blue Vinyl Flooring

Feeling blue? That doesn’t have to be such a bad thing with blue vinyl flooring. In fact, this is one of the newest color trends to hit the market as cooler tones take over. 

You’ll find blue more with the decorative side of vinyl (because who’s ever heard of blue wood?). It’s becoming more common with geometric and graphic patterns in light grayish-blue. 

Keep in mind, we’re talking light, almost gray-blues, here. Don’t run out and buy neon blue flooring thinking you’re a trendsetter. In this case, the more reserved and more neutral you go, the better.

Will the blue vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

For a while! Blue is kind of like a neutral these days, but the trends always swing back and forth between warm and cool tones. Five years from now, it might still be in style. Ten years from now? Not so much.

SHOP BLUE VINYL

High Variation Vinyl Flooring

High color variation vinyl can feature variation between planks, in each plank, or both. This gives you a look with lots of dimension and excitement.

Homeowners love the natural, rustic look that higher color variation vinyl provides. In nature, stone and wood aren’t so uniform. There are all kinds of inconsistencies.

Now, with modern technology, you can achieve these more random, natural looks with previously only available in specialty wood flooring with vinyl! This makes your floor more of a statement piece and tends to pair best with simple but contemporary decor.

Will the high color variation vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

The challenge with something bold like high color variation is it’s a very specific aesthetic. I believe they will likely be trendy for the next decade or so.

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2022 Vinyl Flooring Layout and Pattern Trends

“The way you lay a flooring pattern can really spice up whether it is trendy or not. You can pick a very classic floor but lay it in a herringbone pattern to add drama to any room. Herringbone and Chevron patterns are showing up everywhere, as well as laying a room on a diagonal.” – Courtney Greger, My Flipping Job

This year, patterned floors are a huge hit.

Unfortunately, when people hear the word “pattern” or the dreaded “parquet” (which, BTW, just means pattern), they imagine the horribly out of date 1970’s parquet floors.

Don’t worry – today’s patterns are anything but dated. You’ll see sleek, upscale, modern designs as well as larger and larger tiles and planks.

Chevron and Herringbone Vinyl Floors

First, let me clear up a little misconception. Chevron and herringbone are very similar, but each has its own distinction.

Chevron floors require flooring to be angled and come together to a point. Although, some manufacturers are producing vinyl tile and vinyl sheet products with the hexagon and chevron patterns in the tile itself, which is pretty darn cool if you ask me.

Herringbone achieves a similar look by connecting two planks at a 90-degree angle as seen below.

For traditional vinyl planks, herringbone is much more accessible than chevron. However, the chevron vinyl tiles and sheets allow you to achieve this look without spending extra money on materials and installation.

Long-plank herringbone patterns are going to be super hot over the next year, especially among young homeowners. But I suspect you’ll also see a surge in chevron tiles, especially in kitchens, as well.

Will the chevron and herringbone vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

This trend isn’t likely to last forever, but it sure looks pretty while it’s here.

And, it will probably stay trendy in the kitchen the longest.

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Large Plank Vinyl Floors

This is one trend you can expect to see every year in every style for the foreseeable future. Longer, wider planks make your room look larger, more open, and less busy.

Soon, short, thin planks will be seen as outdated. In fact, I would venture to guess that going with smaller planks could significantly reduce your home’s resale value. And also, they just won’t look as good.

Now, I do think eventually we’ll hit a limit for how large these planks can get. But, I definitely recommend getting on board with the large plank vinyl trend!

Will the wide plank vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Manufacturers are only trending towards even wider and longer planks. This trend will soon become a classic staple and will likely last the test of time.

WIDE PLANK VINYL

Large Format Vinyl Tiles

Large format tiles have been trending for quite some time with manufacturers continuing to create larger and larger individual tiles.

Wonder why they’re so popular? Large-format vinyl tiles make your room look bigger, especially if you choose a light color. Just like large vinyl planks.

Will the large format tile vinyl flooring trend last in 2022 and beyond?

Without a doubt! Large-format tiles and wide planks are here to stay.

Related Content >> Vinyl Flooring Buying Guide

Conclusion

Did we miss anything? Leave it in the comments – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

As you can see, there’s a lot going on in the vinyl flooring industry right now. There are plenty of different, unique options trending that will likely stick around for years to come, which means your possibilities are endless.

If you want something hot that will last for the long haul, we recommend going for a large, wood-look vinyl plank. Even better if it’s WPC!

If you’re inspired by these trends and looking to get started with vinyl flooring, browser our huge selection and order some free samples.

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Ari Ziskin: 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.
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