The flooring industry is constantly evolving to meet new trends and adapt to different market needs. From natural materials, rustic textures, and sustainable materials, the future of flooring offers some exciting changes that are sure to make a big impact on home décor. We’ve compiled nine of the most popular trends for the coming year in this post.
ENGINEERED OR SOLID WOOD FLOORING?
Solid wood has been the preferred flooring option for many decades, however, engineered wood flooring has increased in popularity and use due to its many benefits. Engineered wood flooring is more stable and sustainable than solid hardwood, being that you can get multiple planks of engineered wood flooring from only one solid plank. Other benefits include wider and longer planks and also the ability to install underfloor heating without the wood separating or cupping.
Interestingly enough, a question that arises frequently is, “Is Engineered Wood Flooring real wood?” The answer to that question is, yes, and you can read more on that topic
LAMINATE VS VINYL FLOORING?
The vinyl flooring market is taking over the laminate boom of the past. The reasoning for this is not surprising as its qualities are generous: waterproof, more durable, and higher quality. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is an affordable, yet favorable alternative to traditional wood floors. Depending on the brand, some vinyl flooring looks very wood-like, and high-end brands offer more plank patterns per box. For example, Woodpecker Brecon line comes in 8 different plank patterns and is embossed so it looks and feels very similar to a real wood floor.
HYBRID FLOORING
As technology advances, so does the flooring industry. Hybrid planks are the latest and they bring the best of both worlds. With 1 mm real wood top layer and a solid core backing it has the many benefits of LVP mixed with real wood. This floor is water, scratch, and dent resistant. It’s the perfect, yet more affordable, solution for a busy lifestyle.
If you are in the market for a hybrid floor, our Lynton collection has an undeniably gorgeous color scheme.
WIDE PLANKS
For the last few years, wide planks have been on interior design lists and they are here to stay for a while. Wide plank flooring opens up a room and planks with a minimum of 7″ wide are often used to make a space look bigger and less busy. If you are looking for wide plank wood flooring, a lot of our collections have wider planks and we have something for every style.
PARQUET FLOORING
Parquet flooring has been popular for years in Europe and now, in America, parquet flooring is gaining popularity quickly. For a floor that will truly make a statement, parquet is it. Offering a more modern look, boards can be single laid or even doubled for a different pattern. Designers and end-users alike are using herringbone or chevron patterns to create a showpiece in different spaces, sometimes using the planks for walls or even ceilings.
To highlight the wood flooring, another technique is to use matching planks along with parquet. This exhibits both floors and can be done in matching colors using parquet in one area and a matching and/or coordinating plank on the rest of the space creating cohesiveness. This avoids making the space too busy with a lot of parquet.
RUSTIC TEXTURES
DISTRESSED
If you are looking for a naturally aged floor, this look has small grooves and undulations that have been hand distressed.
HANDSCRAPED
The irregular ridges and grooves result in depth and definition to the wood’s surface, creating an aged look that is smooth to the touch.
SAWN
The surface of a sawn finish is rough and rustic and has kerf marks that you can see and feel as though the wood has been freshly cut in front of you.
BRUSHED
The boards are lightly brushed to remove softer fibers between the harder grains for a finish that subtly highlights the wood’s texture.
COLORS
If you haven’t read our post about interior trends for 2022, take a minute to have a look. Most of the interior trends for next year are a result of COVID-19, among them being the neutral color palette.
In 2021 we have seen an increase in greige, natural and white flooring. 2022 is shaping up to still show a trend on those colors. Among the most popular is natural, not surprisingly, the look of unfinished wood has been a preferred color by customers. Browse our white, beige and greige floors, then order your complimentary favorite samples.
FINISHES
Satin and glossy finishes are a thing of the past. Being the popular kid on the block, they are now headed in the opposite direction and finishes like low maintenance oil have taken over. Trending now is matte and very low sheen finishes, with advantages such as hiding dust, imperfections, and dirt. However, please don’t think you can put your cleaning supplies away! Sorry to disappoint but all wood flooring needs to be cleaned on a regular basis.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability has been a popular topic in the last decade but recent events have speeded up the trend. According to the recent study, ‘Gen Z Shoppers Demand Sustainable Retail’, Generation Z and Millennials are most likely to make purchase decisions based on values and principles. They are willing to pay premium prices on products that have a purpose in saving the planet. This being said, it’s very important for flooring manufacturers to comply and be on the right side of the story. At Woodpecker, we only bring you responsibly sourced wood with full FSC or PEFC certifications and we are committed to being a good ancestor for future generations.