Flooring trends offer more than hardwood

The single biggest visual element in a home is the floor. It sets the mood of a room and ties a space together. According to trend scouts, this year's line-up of new floor introductions could not be more warm and inviting. Here is a glimpse of what's coming:

Tile trends

Tile might very well be the oldest known flooring category in the world. Today, the category spans far beyond traditional materials like ceramic and stone. And the classic square shape is morphing into new forms too.

Post apocalyptic, gutted-out aluminum tiles, porcelain planks that you’d swear are weatherworn hardwood, and micro-thin ceramic tiles are just some of the eye-catching category introductions.

Ceramic and porcelain in particular are some of the best choices when it comes to longevity and value. Wood looks and natural stone treatments in ceramic tile are on the rise as consumers seek to bring the outdoors in.

Over the last few years the consumer market has gravitated toward giant-sized 3×3-foot porcelain and ceramic tiles that install with very little groutAnother shape coming back into trend is the quatrefoil, meaning "four leaves."

Area rug trends

Area rugs are all about color, pattern, and texture. When it comes to rugs, everything is coming up soft, warm, and cozy. One company launched interchangeable solid and multi-colored square rug panels that can be interconnected through a Velcro backing. Consumers buy the affordably priced 18×18-inch squares at their local flooring store and assemble them on their own.

Fewer consumers are purchasing expensive, heirloom rugs and are now viewing area rugs more as a home fashion accessory — much like a scarf or jacket — that can be donated or discarded without guilt or regret.

One company presented a rippled rug that looks like the surface of a pond after a stone has been thrown. Another has launched the ultimate in sustainability —an amazingly soft shag rug containing 100 percent recycled paper in its fibers.

Carpet trends

In line with consumer demand for eco-friendly products, another new fiber on the market is made from 100 percent recycled plastic. Beige is still one of the top choices, but shades of gray — from light gray to steel and everything in between — are becoming increasingly popular. In addition, bits of color sprinkled against a neutral background add interest and dimension.

Patterned carpets are also becoming increasingly popular. These carpets are not printed, but rather created through the manufacturing process and the way the carpet is tufted. Vine patterns and squares are two of the more popular looks.

Resilient trends

Luxury vinyl tile is both affordable and low maintenance. New technology has improved the look as well as the installation process. In lieu of sheets, LVT is available in a variety of formats, including plank and tile. In addition, LVT of today is able to replicate the high-quality look of materials such as hardwood, granite, marble, and even slate. Luxury vinyl tile is very durable and extremely low maintenance, a perfect choice for wet environments like bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas of the home.

Another increasingly popular product in the resilient category is cork. Cork of today is available in a rainbow assortment of colors and textures.

Hardwood trends

Hardwood is the fastest growing segment in flooring. Richer colors, longer and wider widths, and enhanced finishes are just a few of the trends this year. Highly detailed wood grain is definitely in fashion as people skip the dark and thick stains yearning for more classic, natural beauty.

The pendulum has begun to swing back toward lighter colors in hardwood, including sun-bleached blondes and driftwood-inspired gray-browns found in white oak, walnut, and maple.

Distressed, weathered, wire-brushed, soft scrape, even "demolition-style" are just few of the popular wood presentations dominating the market.

Another highlight in textured wood is eco-friendly reclaimed wood – flooring made from historical buildings, factories, truck decks, food crates, and other materials. Floors with a "demolished" appearance are also rising in popularity. Back to the post-apocalyptic trend, these floors have seen it all — they’ve been beaten, scratched, stained, and scraped to such a degree that any additional abuse and wear will just blend right in.

Hardwood plank sizes are also changing both in width and length. Natural wood floors in traditional widths of 2.25 – 3.25 inches are still popular, but wider widths of up to 9 and 10 inches across have taken hold. Wider planks are more contemporary looking and give the illusion of a larger space.

Bamboo has been a popular flooring material for a long time, but what we are seeing lately is an explosion of color and style.

Laminate trends

Advancements in technology have made it possible for laminate to mimic different materials, in some cases to the degree that one cannot tell the real thing from the man-made alternative.

Leah Gross-Harmon is a spokeswoman for the Anaheim, Calif.-based World Floor Covering Association. For more information, go to WFCA.org.

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