What Are the Top Flooring Trends in 2021?

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You Ask, We Answer: What Are the Top Flooring Trends in 2021?

Time may have ceased to exist in this reality of ours (blurs-day, anyone?) but old habits die hard—and that means the advent of a new year has many of us thinking about fresh starts. For some Connecticut homeowners, changing up their floors holds extra appeal after so much time at home. With a plethora of new options to choose from, flooring can now fit nearly every budget and aesthetic. If you’re daydreaming about a new look under your feet, look no further than some of these top flooring trends for 2021.

Vinyl flooring

Thanks to technological advances, vinyl flooring today looks more like real wood than ever before. In fact, you can now find vinyl flooring with “scratches” or “dings” in it to give it an authentic looking hardwood finish.

Sheet vinyl flooring can deliver the look of wood, stone, or tile, but with a fraction of the expense. This affordable option can also be easier for Connecticut homeowners to install themselves, making it a top choice among DIY-ers. It’s also the easiest to maintain and some options are low to zero VOC, making it an environmentally friendly option. Because it’s waterproof, sheet vinyl can be especially appealing in bathrooms, kitchens or mudrooms, where traffic and moisture can be heaviest.

Luxury vinyl tiles offer a luxury-meets-everyday choice to homeowners who really want hardwood flooring, but know their lifestyle is more conducive to the low maintenance and long-lasting benefits of vinyl flooring. Perfect for high traffic areas of the home, luxury vinyl tile is scuff- and scratch-resistant (even from four paws!) while still imbuing the room with the warmth and charm of wood. Luxury vinyl tiles are also backed with felt, making them warmer, a bit more flexible and more comfortable to stand on.

Floating vinyl floors are ideal for homeowners who don’t want to undergo the arduous process of ripping up existing floors to replace them with new flooring. Floating vinyl floors don’t need to be secured to the subfloor and offer a bit more flexibility as they don’t have to be nailed down or glued in—so if you want to replace them again in the future, it may be easier to do so. This option may also be easier for homeowners to install, as it clicks together with a tongue-and-groove system, and it may be easier on the joints when walking around or standing for extended periods of time.

There are many benefits to floating floors, but there are some concerns to consider, as well. Some homeowners may find that floating floors need to be replaced more frequently in high traffic areas, though it can also depend on the product and if there is an underlayment used. In addition, floating floors may amplify sound, so if you live in an apartment or want to make sure your nursery remains quiet, this option may not be the best choice. Lastly, if your home experiences high humidity, this can lead to warping. Always talk to your flooring expert before deciding which flooring is right for your home and lifestyle.

Carpet tiles

Even if you love the look of hardwood or tile, having an accent rug or carpet here and there can add warmth, interest or just a soft place to land to any room. If you’re not ready for the full wall-to-wall carpet commitment but want more coverage than an area rug allows, consider carpet tiles like the ones from Flor or Lowe’s. These tiles allow you to mix and match patterns, create a rug custom made to fit your space and to pick up a dirty tile and wash it without having to launder the entire rug.

Eco-Friendly Flooring

If you’re searching for eco-friendly flooring, you’re in luck: 2021 has a plethora of eco-friendly flooring selections to fit your living and decorating needs.

While most of us think of cork as something that keeps wine in a bottle, cork flooring is becoming popular for its sustainability: cork is harvested from the cork oak tree in Mediterranean, but the trees are not cut down in the process—a renewable natural resource. In addition to being sustainable, cork is anti-microbial, making it ideal for reducing allergens in the home. Another bonus? Cork is fire retardant and easy to maintain.

Bamboo flooring looks like wood, but this sustainable grass is easy to install, easy to maintain and because it grows to maturity in 3-5 years (as opposed to a tree’s 20 years), is a viable option for those who want eco-friendly flooring. Because it comes in various grains and colors, bamboo is also appealing for many types of home decor.

For Connecticut homeowners whose hearts are set on hardwood flooring, consider reclaimed hardwood as an eco-friendly option. This option reuses existing wood from trees cut down a long time ago, salvaging it for reuse so new trees are not being felled.

Whichever option you choose, this year certainly has myriad flooring options for the style and budget of your Connecticut home!