The flooring options available to homeowners and designers continue expanding day by day as new materials and manufacturing processes are refined. Flooring that is not only stylish, but is durable and long-lasting has emerged as a trend, especially over the past year. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the modern flooring trends of 2023 and what they could mean for your next home project.
TOP 5 Home Flooring Materials
The following are flooring types trending in 2023. We’ll take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of working with each material.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is a synthetic flooring material consisting of a particle board wood layer, an image layer, and a transparent wear layer. It has been installed in millions of homes as a low-maintenance and dependable flooring option and a cost-effective alternative to hardwood. Laminate can be found in a wide variety of styles and finishes to match any decor style. A clear benefit of laminate is how easy it is to install, even for DIYers, with options for glue-down or snap-together installation. It is strong, durable, and scratch-resistant, making it a common choice in homes with children and pets.
Laminate does have some disadvantages. Unlike its synthetic competitor, vinyl, laminate is not suitable for areas with water and humidity. If exposed to excess moisture, it can cause permanent water damage or begin to grow mold. For this reason, laminate is often used in dryer areas of the home, like living areas, hallways, and bedrooms. Laminate flooring is also harder to finish than hardwood, meaning any damage to the floor will be more visible.
Hardwood
Hardwood is easily one of the most sought-after flooring types for its natural beauty. Hardwood floors can come in many varieties of wood, from light, sandy tones to dark, rich tones, that create a natural warmth and coziness in the home. Hardwood floors are an excellent investment for the home. With proper care, including refinishing your floors every 10 years, your hardwood will last an entire lifetime without need of replacement. Hardwood floors can increase the value of your home and are a selling point for many homebuyers.
One disadvantage of installing hardwood flooring is its sensitivity to moisture and humidity. In areas with high humidity, your hardwood floors can expand and contract, leaving gaps in between the boards. Ongoing exposure to moisture can also buckle and warp the wood, or even leave permanent stains in your floors. This makes it a challenging material for areas with high moisture, like bathrooms. In addition, hardwood is also more likely to gather scratches and scuffs from use, especially in darker shades of wood. Some homeowners install lighter wood tones specifically to hide the look of scratches over time. Another disadvantage of hardwood is the cost. Hardwood floors tend to be one of the more expensive flooring options, with a material cost between $3-$7 per square foot before installation.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl flooring is a synthetic manufactured material with a 3D photo layer, designed to authentically replicate the look of natural materials like wood and stone. Due to its synthetic makeup, luxury vinyl is 100% waterproof, making it an excellent choice for moisture-prone areas of the home like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and basements. It is highly durable and scratch resistant, so it’s often used in high-traffic areas and homes with children and pets. What’s more, luxury vinyl is incredibly easy to clean. It can be vacuumed and mopped with any type of common house cleaners without worrying about damaging or discoloring the material. Luxury vinyl tends to come in at a lower price point than wood or stone tile, making it a cost-effective option for homeowners.
While luxury vinyl does have many benefits, it is not an environmentally-friendly material. Its makeup includes resins, plastics, and other toxins that can be released into the air in the event of a house fire. It’s also impossible to recycle or incinerate vinyl flooring once it is no longer in use. Luxury vinyl is still regarded as an economy flooring option so it will not add additional value to a home.
Tile
Tile flooring refers to tiles that are typically made of stone, porcelain, or ceramic material, sealed together with grout. Tile is a popular option for kitchens and bathrooms because the material is naturally waterproof. Stone tile is highly durable, making it a great functional choice for indoor and outdoor home applications. Tile is also easy to clean and can last in a home for 20 or more years.
One disadvantage of tile is it tends to be a colder flooring material. In cooler climates, tile will feel notably more cold underfoot than options like hardwood or carpet. Some homeowners who like the look of tile install a heating system beneath their floors to combat this issue. Tile is also, on average, a more expensive flooring option than synthetic materials like vinyl. The grout in tile flooring requires regular sealing because it’s a porous material, so it can be permeated by water and dirt and eventually crumble if not cared for.
Carpeting
One of the clearest advantages for installing carpet is the comfort it provides. Carpet is the softest flooring option on the market, making it an ideal choice for people and pets that need more foot support. Carpet increases the soundproofing of housing units, making it more comfortable for residences with multiple floors. When it comes to 2023 trends, area rugs, carpet tiles, and frieze carpets have been popular staples in many homes.
One of carpet’s disadvantages is that it can trap dirt and allergens more than other flooring options. Carpet needs to be thoroughly vacuumed on a regular basis to reduce the amount of debris kept in the home. Carpet is also prone to staining, making it harder to maintain a brand new look over time.
Top 7 Home Flooring ideas
● Bleached wood flooring
While this style isn’t new, it continues to pop up in home designs and trend reports for 2023. Bleached wood creates a bright, airy, and fresh look for your flooring. It’s a way to update your hardwood flooring for modern styles, while still maintaining the classic look and benefits of hardwood.
● Cerused wood flooring
Cerused wood is a way of finishing wood where a wire brush is used to clean out pores, before adding a sealer and colored wax. This process emphasizes the unique natural grain and texture, while muting the intensity of the wood’s original color. Cerused wood tends to be seen in contemporary home design.
● Aged wood flooring
Aged wood floors can often be found in rustic and craftsman style homes. They have been particularly on-trend over the last couple of years, with the resurgence of the cottage-inspired design style. Aged floors create a natural, warm feeling and evoke a sense of history. They pair well with antique furniture and earth tones.
● Lighter, brighter wood flooring
Lighter, brighter wood flooring is a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Lighter woods create a sense of calmness and are great options for coastal designs. They serve as a neutral backdrop for statement furniture pieces and wall patterns. To achieve this look, go for a white oak or walnut wood with a light finish.
● Pattern and graphic tiles
Maximalist tile patterning has been making waves in 2023 as design trends away from minimalism. In particular, large-format, brightly colored tiles are a way to make a bold statement in your home and create a sense of escapism. We’re seeing graphic tiles in kitchens and bathrooms, in some cases with the tile extending all the way up a backsplash or wall.
● Marble and stone look flooring
Elegant and regal home design has been a continuing trend, often inspired by the estates of western Europe. Homeowners have been adding marble and stone look flooring into their bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, and fireplace areas to create a sophisticated atmosphere. Lighter, softer shades of marble have been particularly popular.
● Wide planks flooring
Natural materials are no doubt on the rise, with a surge in interest in environmental sustainability. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that wide wood plank flooring is trending. Wide planks offer a better view of the wood grain, imperfections, and the unique attributes of your wooden flooring, contributing to a natural and rustic atmosphere for your home.
Contact us
If you need expert guidance on home flooring options, contact the team at LX Hausys. We’ll walk you through the many flooring options on the market and help you select the material that best suits your space.