3 min readWhen we look back on the design trends of yesteryear, certain styles may seem hopelessly outdated—while others perhaps just weren’t executed in the right color, finish, or material. Take flooring, for example. Certain flooring styles are having a surprising resurgence, and it’s not because they ever looked bad or held up poorly.
“Some flooring choices become outdated over time when they are a result of ‘trend chasing’—remember linoleum, anyone?” says Gina Elkins, founder and principal of Studio Casa Vita.
“All of these materials were popular in their day, so much so that they might have been
overused,” Valerie Helgeson, founder and principal designer of Design Directions,
also observes. “It was never that they weren't beautiful any longer—they simply
had their day in the spotlight, and other materials took their place.”
But she seems to think that these materials are gaining popularity again in part because of the ways we’re using them in our homes.
“New finishes, different colors, and different sizes all play a part in their revival,” she
says.
Ahead, we asked these experts about the flooring trends that have been unfairly maligned as “outdated”—and the gorgeous ways they’re being used in homes now.
Checkerboard Tile
Both Elkins and Helgeson agree that checkerboard tile patterns are experiencing a major resurgence. Helgeson details their background, saying that they used to be very popular and found in homes ranging from luxury mansions to much more modest homes embracing a "country kitchen" style.
But nowadays, instead of that super-high contrast and gloss, she says that they’re showcasing softer tones of limestone and marble in honed finishes. And Elkins says that sense of playfulness and nostalgia is desired once again.
Brick Floors
“I remember when brick floors were popular in the ‘70s. It seems like everyone who was building a new home back then was bringing in brick to use in their entries and kitchens,” Helgeson reflects.
“The look of used brick always brings an aged and timeless feel to a home. I’d venture to guess that a big reason for its loss of popularity then was that it's difficult to sweep and hard underfoot. Nevertheless, it remains a beautiful flooring.”
Natural Marble Tile
Elkins says that although natural marble tile was once considered too finicky to maintain, her clients are gravitating to the beauty of what natural stone can do for a home—"namely, create a lived-in, character-enhanced space.”
Terrazzo
“Terrazzo is another flooring material I’ve seen make a comeback,” Helgeson says. “It was all the rage in homes during the late 1950s and 1960s and was frequently used in
commercial buildings.”
While terrazzo was traditionally spotted in shades of pink, blue, and primary colors, Helgeson says that today’s version is “much more restrained in color” but is “still durable and beautiful.”
Chevron-Patterned Wood
Calling chevron-patterned wood “a classic that should never go out of style,” even
though it has over the years, Helgeson says that this pattern is back and is
being embraced in a big way.
“Now, it's found in warmer matte finishes and tones of light to medium browns, not the golden oak in shiny varnished finishes of the past,” she adds.
Authentic Wood
“While new technology has created a range of laminate, vinyl, and synthetic flooring
materials, nothing will feel as soft and supple underfoot as true wood,” Elkins says.
“The resurgence and reembracing of natural wood flooring, even with uneven textures and mismatched character, aligns with clients' desire for authenticity in the home. Natural wood flooring is just one way design can evoke the feeling of a well-crafted, high-quality material space.”
