Trending Floor Styles That Sell

For many buyers, flooring is an unexpectedly key factor in the choice of a home. Flooring can unify a space and make it stand out — or can draw unnecessary attention to itself and be a stumbling block to a sale. When preparing your next property for sale, flooring should be a focus, not an afterthought.

In-demand flooring styles are changing — these are the types most sought after by today’s buyers and how sellers see the value of revitalizing their floors.

Materials of the moment

Light-colored hardwood

Clean, elegant, and versatile — hardwood is preferred over carpeting and tile throughout high-end homes — excluding, usually, bathrooms. Hardwood has become such a basic expectation that if your seller doesn’t have the flooring installed and the flooring suits the style and era of the home, it’s worth having a conversation about adding it before listing.

It should be noted that hardwood is increasingly being put into areas of the home where other types of flooring were once favored. A trend has taken shape where buyers seem to be taking carpet out of the master bedrooms and installing wood floors and adding rugs.

Warm-tone natural stone

You can’t go wrong with organic materials. Stone has always been a favorite type of flooring in specific parts of a property, and its prevalence is on the rise.

Marble remains very popular for bathrooms. Natural travertine is in demand for outdoor living areas. But stone of a light, neutral, and natural hue has made its way indoors as well and is a durable choice that complements both classic and contemporary interiors.

If a client already has stone floors, there are fairly simple ways to refurbish them ahead of a sale. Honing a stone floor, changing the grout, or simply professionally cleaning them through a steam clean or diamond polish are effective methods.

Colored or textured concrete

Despite the fact that this material may not traditionally be associated with warmth — either in appearance or feel — concrete can be mixed with integral colors, acids, and dyes to create more organic shades, and can be stained or decorated once it’s laid. Radiant heating works exceptionally well with these surfaces.

While concrete flooring is an intuitive fit for chic, modern interiors and industrial lofts, the breadth of colors and textures available makes it a good fit for many homes beyond the usual suspects. It also makes for a beautifully blank canvas for featuring rugs and runners.

Keep things bright

Regardless of material, the main attributes prized in today’s market are light, natural, and warm. As we go into a new decade, new style trends are emerging. When it comes to flooring, we are transitioning from dark, high-gloss flooring to light floors with a natural matte finish. Light floors make the space feel larger, cleaner, and cozier.

Reading high-end interior magazines, following particular decorators on Instagram, talking to designers, and walking through the flooring showrooms from time to time lets us see what’s available and what’s selling. But even though light-colored flooring might be the latest trend, there’s bound to be a new architectural magazine rocking dark flooring.

When to make a change

Updating flooring can be a very pricey upgrade, and deciding whether to move forward or not comes down to simple economics: cost versus benefit. You should gather quotes for a replacement, refinish or repair, and cleaning to analyze what the best options would be. If the cost outweighs the benefit of updating the floors don’t move forward; however, if the benefit is greater, it’s time to schedule those contractors.

Flooring is the subtle X factor that underlies every view of every room in a home. Alongside variables like wall color and furnishings, you should (if possible) ensure that a property’s floors also resonate with buyers: foundational details can make a big impact.