Nothing But the Best
There was a lot of new flooring on display at this year’s International Surface Event trade show that reflected the outlasting popularity of luxury vinyl, porcelain, laminate wood-look, and stone-look flooring. In general, flooring colors are warming up, with lighter grays moving aside for browner tones and more rustic finishes in both real and imitation wood and stone. The move to more waterproof products, larger tiles, and wider and longer planks continues as well. Here’s a look at a few trends you can expect this year, according to Houzz.
Grays
One of the most noticeable trends in flooring for the year is the lack of cool-toned grays. Grays are still popular, but we’re seeing more grays with warmer undertones. Some designers consider that part of the so-called Japandi design trend, which combines the Japanese interior style of warm tones and natural elements with a clean, minimalist Scandinavian influence.
Luxury Vinyl
Vinyl planks and tiles seem to be everywhere, almost overshadowing the other types of flooring. Improved digital technology has resulted in more realistic imitations of wood and stone. The trend toward rigid cores in tiles and planks, along with thicker wear layers on the surface, has made these products more durable.
Laminate
If you’ve experienced only cheap laminate with its shiny plastic look and feel, you’re in luck. Today’s quality laminate flooring has come a long way. It’s still constructed of a layered composite of compressed wood fiber atop a durable fiberwood base, but improved technology means the image layer looks much more realistic. Products with bevels and an embossed texture that looks like real wood can easily compete with the best luxury vinyl planks.
Wood
For those who want the real thing, hardwood flooring is still popular. This reflects the movement away from those cool grays and toward the warmer tones, richer browns, and hand-scraped rustic surfaces. Made up of natural wood on the surface with a composite of wood fibers, particles, strands, and veneers forming the rest of the plank, engineered wood tends to be less expensive than hardwood.
Stone
Stone looks are very popular as well. Stone-like porcelain and luxury vinyl are showing up in a variety of room settings, from living rooms to laundry rooms. Natural stone also is still a durable and elegant choice. For the homeowner who wants the ultimate in luxury flooring, real marble is their best option.
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