In 2015, Americans spent $340 billion dollars on home improvement. The industry keeps growing year after year.
So if you’re wanting to renovate your home, you’re not alone! But it can be hard to know how you want to design it.
One of the most important of your home is your flooring since it’s a part of every room. We’ve created this guide to help you make your decision about flooring.
Check out these 8 popular 2018 flooring trends below.
1. Simpler Layouts
Over the past few years, it’s been popular to have a unique layout for your flooring. But in 2018, we’re seeing a shift back to simple layouts.
We’re seeing single planks laid straight as the norm. No longer are herringbones, chevron, or diagonals the most popular options.
One big reason for this is because the single plank look isn’t busy. It instead gives the room a clean look and allows you to decorate with patterns in other parts of your design. You often see more creative rugs and pillows used with the simpler flooring.
2. Wide Planks
Did you know that using wide wood planks can make your space seem bigger?
Throughout the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, 2 1/4″ strips were the norm when it came to hardwood flooring. You’re probably familiar with this classic look.
Nowadays, however wider planks are the norm. These make your home feel more custom.
There are tons of sizing options now available which means you can truly add a unique touch to your home when it comes to your wood flooring. Don’t just settle for the usual! Create something truly special.
3. Darker Tones
Darker tones are continuing to grow in popularity. These can add a luxe feel to any space, including your kitchen, living room, or bedroom.
Often these floors are achieved using a blend of ebony or Jacobean. Some people want a true black look and go for a jet black stain.
However, when it comes to darker wood floors, know that they are harder to maintain. The darker the stain, the more obvious the dust. That’s why medium floors have been so popular over the years.
So if you want the dark look but want easier maintenance, consider going a little bit lighter. Use a coffee brown or dark walnut instead of jet black.
4. One of the Biggest 2018 Flooring Trends: The Farmhouse Look
Rustic farmhouse style is everywhere. Head to any local home store and you’ll see tons of farmhouse decor. This trend has also grown in part to Fixer Upper, the hugely popular TV show where farmhouse style is the norm.
When it comes to flooring, farmhouse style means:
- Cool tones like whitewash or grey
- Wood with a strong, obvious grain
- Wider wood planks
Often, you’ll also see distressed floors that give the room a rustic feel.
5. Grey, Grey, Grey
Another huge trend in the flooring industry is grey tones. And it’s not just used in farmhouse styles. It’s everywhere!
You see this trend in real wood floors as well as in vinyl flooring that’s made to look like wood. Whitewashes are also a big favorite.
The simplest way to achieve grey floors is by using tile or vinyl that looks like wood. But it’s also possible to stain your hardwood grey–you’ll just want to hire a professional to do the job right.
If you’re interested in using wood for your floors, you’ve got to check out these hardwood trends.
6. Natural Looking Finishes
In the past, semi-gloss and glossy finishes were super popular. But these days, people are opting for a more natural look.
That’s because glossy wood floors are super hard to maintain and keep clean. They tend to show every single mark and dent.
Matte and satin finishes are the popular way to go nowadays. These low luster looks are great because they’re super easy to manage and tend to last for longer too.
7. Using Real Wood
Another big trend in 2018 is using real wood. There are lots of cheaper options out there like engineered food, vinyl that looks like wood, or bamboo.
But solid hardwood lasts much longer. It can last more than 100 years and often even 200 or 300 years.
Engineered wood can’t be sanded or refinished. Since it’s a fake wood, the scratches can’t be fixed, so if something happens to your flooring, you have to replace it.
While genuine wood flooring may cost more to begin with, it’s a better investment in the long run because it can be sanded and redone.
Bamboo flooring is also something that people are avoiding these days. That’s because bamboo is actually a grass–and it is not durable.
It does super bad with water, even from a small spill or wet shoes. If you have pets, definitely don’t get bamboo because it will scratch super easily.
Bamboo flooring is also not great for the environment because of the large amounts of adhesive that has to be used with it. All in all, bamboo is a bad idea.
8. Last But Not Least: Recycled Carpet
The past decade has seen a huge increase in environmentally friendly products. And it’s no different in the flooring industry.
One way this is being embraced currently is through recycled carpets. Manufacturers are doing their part to help the environment by using materials that were previously never used in carpet creation. These include:
- Plastic bottles
- Corn Sugar
- Regenerated Nylon
And that’s just the beginning!
The great thing with recycled carpets is that they can be woven in all kinds of designs. In many cases, you wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference between regular and recycled styles.
You’ll be doing your part for the environment while improving the look of your home at the same time. It’s a win-win situation.
Wrapping It Up
There you have it: 8 2018 flooring trends that we can’t get enough of! Now it’s time to pick the ideas that will work best for your space and to implement them.
Think about your space as a whole and consider what will coordinate best with the rest of your home’s design.
Have questions or want to learn more? Visit our home and garden blog.
