4 Flooring Trends on Their Way Out in 2025

Even the smallest nuances in your flooring can completely change how a space feels. However, not every aesthetic trend ages well. This year, for example, designers are moving away from once-popular choices that now feel dated and difficult to live with.

If your floors are starting to feel a little too builder-basic, it might be time to rethink them. This year, aesthetes are embracing natural textures, lighter woods, matte finishes, and materials that feel soft and lived-in, rather than overly polished.

Glossy Espresso Hardwood Floors

“[These] are the silent saboteurs of modern interiors,” says Mike Belk, owner and founder of Belk Tile. Once prized for their dramatic, reflective finish, these dark floors now feel like relics of early Pinterest days.

“That high-gloss sheen shows everything—every footprint, every speck of dust, every scratch,” he adds. “You could clean it twice a day, and it would still look like someone walked through with muddy shoes.”

Design-wise, these floors can make rooms feel smaller and dimmer, especially without ample natural light—and the rich tone limits your palette. “You end up stuck with high-contrast pairings that can feel dated,” Belk says.

Try this instead: Opt for lighter, natural wood tones in low-sheen finishes. They’re more forgiving, timeless, and versatile, working well with styles from Scandinavian to transitional.

Vinyl Laminate

Designers are turning away from synthetic flooring toward more natural, wellness-forward options.

“As awareness grows around how materials affect our health, I believe we’ll continue to move away from vinyl and laminate,” says Lisa Sternfeld, a WELL-certified interior designer who specializes in non-toxic and sustainable interiors. “Vinyl is typically made with PVC, which can contain phthalates and other chemicals that off-gas into the home.”

Try this instead: Cork is one of Lisa’s favorite alternatives. “It’s renewable, naturally antimicrobial, and provides comfort and warmth underfoot,” she says. Plus, it’s sound-absorbing, mold-resistant, and can help regulate indoor temperatures.

Millennial Gray

Millennial gray flooring had a serious moment—especially in engineered vinyl and gray-washed wood planks—but now, designers are ready to move on.

“Gray floors are going out along with the rest of millennial gray,” says interior designer Andrea Sinkin. “We still use gray occasionally, but we warm it up with other tones in the room, and always make sure there’s contrast.”

Try this instead: Use matte-finish planks in natural tones. They offer a more organic, lived-in feel that pairs well with layered textures and warm minimalism.

Narrow Planks and Small Tiles

Bigger is better when it comes to scale on the floor; Sinkin is seeing less demand for narrow wood planks.

“Glossy, small-format tiles and narrow hardwood boards feel a bit tired now,” she says. These smaller formats can make a space feel visually busy or outdated, especially in larger, open-concept rooms where scale matters more than ever.

Try this instead: Choose wide planks and large-format tiles with matte or lightly textured finishes. Not only do they create a more seamless, modern look, but they also reduce grout lines and visual clutter, making your space feel more expansive and elevated.