Hardwood flooring continues to grow in popularity and is one of the most preferred flooring types for homes. Ironically, this is followed by all sorts of products trying to mimic the look of hardwood flooring, regardless of whether it’s porcelain tile that looks like hardwood flooring or engineered vinyl planks.
But many homeowners still prefer the real thing. Hardwood floors are timeless, rich looking and a good investment for your home. If well maintained, they last for decades. And you can refinish hardwood floors to update the color or sheen as trends and preferences change.
There are so many options to choose from, it can sometimes be daunting. But a good rule of thumb is to choose something you like rather than only something that is on trend. However, if you can do both, that is ideal. Here are a few hardwood floor stain and color trends for 2021.
Dark and Cool Toned
The trend towards darker tones continues to grow with cool tones preferred. There is a move away from warmer tones with red or red/brown undertones and a preference towards browns that are purer and more natural. For those looking to go darker, there are blends of ebony and dark walnut to true black.
Gray and Gray Blends
Gray flooring has been on the rise and you can see it everywhere you go in wood, tile that looks like wood and gray vinyl planks that look like wood. There is a range of hues, from charcoals and greiges to brown grays.
Light, Natural and Muted
The opposite of the popularity of dark woods is the choice of light or natural looking flooring. But the theme is consistent with dark woods in that homeowners still prefer cooler tones that drown out the yellow hues.
Natural Looking Floor Finishes, Sheens and Textures
Matte and satin finishes are the most popular sheens, while semi-gloss and glossy sheens are dated and a bit more difficult to maintain. Flatter finishes have become more popular. And mate and satin finishes are practical, easy to clean a and with proper care look better longer.