Though our days are turning cooler, the latest trends in fall flooring are really heating up. With carpet that’s softer, wood that’s got dimension, and tile that is textured, here are the hottest flooring fashions for fall:
Carpet
Orange may be the classic fall color, but this season, carpet manufacturers are going green. The trend is toward more earth-friendly options, with a focus on renewable materials. Shaw is recycling nylon into carpeting, and many other companies are melting down polyester to produce new carpet fibers. We’re also seeing a big return to luxury, as manufacturers turn out some of the softest carpet they’ve ever produced. Mohawk’s latest luxury line has three times as many fibers as ordinary soft nylon, taking softness to a whole new level. The hottest style at the moment is a broad genre called cut-and-loop. With this manufacturing technique, the pile is partly cut and looped to create a sculpted look, producing patterned carpets with personality.
LVT Planks (Luxury Vinyl Tile Planks)
Luxury Vinyl Tile Planks or LVT Planks are becoming more and more popular due to their durability, style and cost. LVT Planks are easy to clean, waterproof, and not easily torn or dented. Even if some damage does occur, your flooring specialist can easily replace a single plank instead of the whole floor. LVT Planks come in a variety of sizes, including the popular 12×24 and 18×18. The color and texture options range from slate and stone to textured hardwoods. LVT Planks can give you the look and feel of a warm hardwood with the price tag up to 40% less.
Wood
As with carpeting, environmentally-friendly options are growing in popularity. Reclaimed woods – recovered from abandoned barns and factories – are the latest trend. Bamboo is a highly renewable flooring choice that’s really catching on. It can be harvested in as little as one to five years, while hardwoods like oak require at least forty years to mature. Look for bamboo flooring to be produced in a greater variety of colors and plank widths in the months ahead.
As the “great room” approach – uniting kitchen and family rooms into a single large space – has become more popular, we’re frequently seeing hardwoods in the kitchen. There’s a trend toward darker stains, with a growing interest in gray shades. Sizable planks from more unique woods, such as cherry and walnut, are also in demand. Floors that have been scraped and textured by hand are growing in popularity, providing a more natural, hand-finished look.
Tile
Tiles in formats larger than the standard 12×12 – such as 12×24 – are becoming more common. We’re also seeing more textured options that look like wood and fabric, providing a softer feel. Gray continues to be a popular tile color, along with clay and taupe. Classic neutrals, pastel blues, and pastel greens are also trending.
Area Rugs
Rugs are the perfect way to bring the colors of the season inside. Textured area rugs add warmth, style, color, and comfort to your home. Layering them really warms up a room, providing the effect of thicker fabrics more suitable for fall. Neutral tones are popular, and mixing various textures adds character to soft browns and off-whites. If the rug is multicolored, you may wish to highlight predominantly orange tones by bringing some orange accessories into the room.
Fall flooring fashions bring home all of the warmth and glow of the season. Whether you’re looking for carpeting, wood, or tile, you’ll discover great new flooring options to choose from this year.