6 Flooring Styles That Instantly Date Your Home

Flooring is expensive to install and replace in a home, meaning that you won’t want to do so often, and steering clear of certain materials is therefore key.

“We always encourage our clients to choose materials and finishes that feel authentic to them rather than chasing fleeting trends,” says Laura Umansky, the founder of Laura U Design Collective in Houston, Texas. “Timeless colors and classic materials will always stand the test of time.”

Wondering which types of flooring materials will date your home instantly? Below, Southern designers highlight six looks that they say have definitely gone out of style.

Builder Grade Carpets

Craving carpet in your bedroom? Skip the matted builder grade options, Emily Chastain urges. “If you can make it swing in your budget I’d opt for a thicker carpet to give it a more timeless look,” says the founder of Emily Chastain Interior Design in Memphis, Tennessee.

Orange Or Red Wood Floors

It’s time to say goodbye to these strong hues. “Overly orange or red hardwood floors tend to feel really dated and reminiscent of the 1990s and 2000s,” says Courtney Hill Utt, the founder of CHU Interiors in Austin, Texas. She is a proponent of going with “a more neutral, rich or natural white oak look” instead.

Marble Lookalikes

Chastain is also tired of seeing white porcelain tiles with with gray veining, designed to resemble marble. These, she says, “are starting to look outdated as they’ve been used so much in new construction the past seven years.”

If you can’t afford real marble, don’t worry—you can still bring style into your home for less.

“There are a lot of great alternatives to marble that won’t break the bank, like travertine, soapstone, and some limestone or solid colored ceramic or porcelain tiles,” Utt says.

Dark, High Gloss Prefabricated Hardwood

Rebecca Robinson refers to this style of flooring as “one of the most outdated flooring trends.” As the founder of Monarch Lane Interiors in Nashville, Tennessee, says, “It’s not necessarily the color that feels dated, but the excessive sheen, which tends to highlight every imperfection.”

Not sure what to select instead? “Today, people are gravitating toward lighter to mid-toned wood floors with a matte finish for a more natural, understated look,” the designer explains.

Alicia Hassen, the founder of Brooklinteriors in Austin, Texas, agrees, adding that high gloss flooring “highlights every scratch, smudge, and imperfection—far from ideal for today’s busy households with kids and pets.”

Laminate And Vinyl Options

Hassen encourages people to just say no to gray laminate or vinyl wood flooring.

“This trend peaked in the 2010s, a time when house flippers prioritized quick, budget-friendly makeovers over timeless design,” she says. “Now, gray floors are associated with a cold, artificial feel rather than the warmth and authenticity of real wood.”

Taylor Johnson, the founder of Taylor Johnson Interiors in Greenville, South Carolina, agrees. “That type of grey is never found in nature, so it was never going to stand the test of time,” she says.

To really embrace that warm look, Hassen suggests choosing flooring in a biscuit oak or neutral brown. “These balanced, earthy shades create a welcoming, high-end aesthetic that won’t feel dated in a few years,” she comments.

Separate Flooring In An Open Floor Plan

Have an open floor plan? Be sure to take note as to what Umansky has to say regarding flooring choices.

“Using different flooring in an open-concept space can make a home feel disjointed and outdated,” she says. “A continuous flooring choice enhances flow, makes the space feel larger, and creates a more cohesive design.”