With wood-look flooring options on the rise, wood manufacturers have to keep things interesting, trendy, and up-to-date. Wood floors are a classic choice and there will always be a market for solid and engineered hardwood flooring. According to the Houzz 2020 Kitchen Trends Study, natural hardwood is number one for kitchen flooring materials. Green living has made an impact on interior designers and homeowners so when it comes to flooring they are seeking environmentally friendly options. At the top of that list is natural hardwood floors and American-made products.
Colors
Homeowners are starting to use the flooring as the piece to set the tone of the room or home. That means that more options are needed – custom colors. Not all colors are on “trend” so here are a few basic trending color concepts for 2020.
White Oak, Select, Rift & Quartered, Custom Stain, Matte Finish, Herringbone | Photographed: Caroline Sharpnack
Blonde
More homeowners have been embracing the lighter wood floors that were once viewed as outdated or inexpensive. That is no longer the case. Blonde flooring can give you that light feel making your home look bigger and up-to-date.
For a blonde wood floor, you will see White Oak, Hard Maple, Live Sawn White Oak and Rift & Quartered White Oak. There has been a growing demand specifically for Select grade Plain Sawn and Rift & Quartered White Oak. The select grade Rift & Quartered has a crisp clean look that displays the beautiful graining of medullary flecks and linear grain patterns across the face of the boards. Lighter stains do not hide these remarkable grain patterns as much as a darker stain would.
Whitewashed
This may seem more of a west coast trend but it is starting to spread towards the east coast. As people are looking for a relaxed feel in their home, the coastal California vibe and whitewashed wood flooring is at the top of that list to achieve that appearance. This trend has become very popular in the now-trending farmhouse homes, particularly in kitchens.
Whitewashed doesn’t exactly mean a smooth, white wood floor but more particularly whitewashed wood showing signs of wear with some darker wood peeking from underneath. This “beachy” feel can give a cooling, relaxed vibe while also upscale contemporary feel depending on your decor.
Honey
Honey wood flooring is still light enough to give you benefits of the blonde color but provides a rich warmth from the slightly darker tones. This is just a step darker than the trending blonde color and found in many popular wood species.
This color is more realistic and as though what you would expect wood to look fresh off the tree. Overall, other trends may steal the spotlight from time to time, but honey color is expected to remain a classic and relevant for decades to come.
Grey
Years ago, grey was on the rise and trending but is it short from fading away anytime soon. Grey is here to stay and not just for flooring, but for the home in general. It not only looks chic and trendy, but also it creates a tone of cool, contemporary home.
Grey and beige (greige) is starting to appear in the market as the new upcoming color trend. This brown, grey and a hint of beige is another color not just for flooring but also for the overall home. It compliments modern white looks and country browns. Greige allows homeowners that feel their home looks too grey or like concrete by adding just a touch of beige to add a relaxing, luxury feel.
High variation
According to Flooring Inc. in their piece on Wood Flooring Trends for 2020, homeowners are trending towards less “manufactured” repetitive looks and choosing more high variety wood. This appears as more natural wood and less staged like a vinyl or tile product might appear.
Usually these variations occur in the same color family so that one piece does not stick out like a sore thumb. Sometimes, if done correctly, you can see some floors incorporate bright colors with neutrals. It can create a wow factor and be a great conversation starter. However, remember that this style isn’t for everyone if you’re looking at the resale value.
Texture
Smooth flooring will always be a classic but adding texture will be more prevalent than ever before. Variation of texture is on the rise and so are more distressed looks. Hand scraping and wire brushing are still popular but distressed is expected to be more popular for 2020. Designers are seeking natural, one-of-a-kind looks where no two boards are the same.
Hard Maple, Character, Hand Scraped, Antique Mahogany Stain | Photographed: Shannon Allison
Hand scraped is long in-grain scrapes along the face and/or edge of the board so each board is unique and looks handcrafted to where one does not look like another. Hand scraping is meant to reproduce the look of hand-hewn boards from the time when boards were planed by hand with a draw knife. True hand scraping makes every board unique as compared to machine scraping that is common with many mass produced products.
Wire brushed is texturing that pulls the soft grain away from the growth ring. It has a unique two-toned texture on the surface that exposed the heartwood beneath. These imperfections are smoother and more consistent than hand scraping and distressing.
Distressed is a distinctive texture that makes the board look like it has been through a lot of wear and tear over many generations of use.
Finish
As for flooring finish, shine is out as homeowners are seeking flatter finishes. Satin and matte finishes are what’s trending at the top of the list.
Satin is a great in between finish of glossy and matte. It has a little bit of shine but not as much to show any imperfections or dirt as a high gloss finish would. This has been a popular choice the last few years and a safe option for resale value.
Matte finishes have a misconception of looking dull and flat due no sheen when dry. It is a flatter finish but it provides more of a contemporary and expensive look. This finish is on the rise and is expected to stay popular for years to come.
Layouts/Patterns
This is the year of creativity with floors from Herringbone and Chevron patterns to wide mixed widths.
White Oak, Character, Custom Stain, Matte Finish, Herringbone | Photographed: Caroline Sharpnack
Herringbone and chevron patterns offer a chic and sophisticated look. These patterns are similar but have their own distinction. Chevron is boards generally at a 45-degree angle that come to a point, as herringbone is two boards connecting at a 90-degree angle. These patterns will mostly stay popular in kitchens and hallways.
Wide planks, 5” and bigger, are still trending because they help achieve the appearance of making a room look bigger and less busy.
Mixed width planks add a little something extra to your floor. This gives the eyes additional detail that’s unique and a modern look.
Laying the flooring down diagonally instantly adds a unique, modern look. This is uncommon, but that also means the style will not grow old quickly.
Flooring Types
There are so many flooring options today. There is more of a push for local and green flooring and homeowners are starting to take note of what their floor is made of.
Reclaimed wood is environmentally friendly and what designers are seeking: a story. These planks can come from old barns and the appearance can have anything from patina, mortise and tendon joints, nail holes, and wormholes. It has a rustic and weathered look that has came from years of wear. They are impossible to replicate from virgin wood so they do come at a cost but the look is truly one-of-a-kind.
Engineered flooring is becoming more popular with the realization that it is more structurally stable than solid so less of a worry when it comes to humidity issues. Not all engineered flooring is made the same as some have a thin rotary peeled wear layer while others can be produced to have a thick wear layer allowing for multiple refinishes in the future. Engineered flooring is not waterproof but are required below grade or when the subfloor is concrete or has radiant heat.
American-made extends beyond traditional items to flooring and home decor. There is a strong desire for products solely made in the United States. This is not something that will go away and will probably increase through the years.
Overall, hardwood flooring continues to remain a very popular option and provides many options for colors and layout patterns.