:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SPR-types-for-floor-and-wall-1822635-08-eb7f8146077e4768a05a5140591a5ff6.jpg "6 Ways to Fix Your Outdated Flooring Without Doing a Full Renovation")
Key Takeaways
- The most common outdated floors are overly warm or gray wood, beige tiles, and worn-out vinyl or laminate.
- Re-stain or paint dated wooden floors, and cover wood and tile with peel-and-stick or floating flooring.
- Drawing attention elsewhere with rugs, wall paint, furniture, and decor works on every floor type.
When it comes to home design, there’s a fine line between vintage and outdated— but with flooring, the difference tends to be a lot more obvious.
“Flooring that instantly dates a space usually falls into three buckets,” interior designer Peggy Haddad says. “Overly cool-toned gray hardwoods, which are a flip favorite that already feels tired, orange or red oak from the ’90s and early 2000s, and those 12×12 beige porcelain tiles that scream builder-basic.”
If your home’s floor falls into any of these categories and you’re ready for a major change without the cost or hassle of a complete renovation, these are the fixes for outdated flooring you’ll want to know about.
Meet the Expert
- Peggy Haddad is a Denver-based interior designer and founder of her eponymous firm.
- Alice Moszczynski is an interior designer at Planner 5D, a home design software platform.
Cover Up with Area Rugs
One of the easiest— and most versatile— fixes for outdated floors is to cover as much square footage as possible with a chic area rug (or a few).
“A large area rug instantly disguises flooring that feels dated, draws attention away from problem areas, and sets a new palette for the space,” interior designer Alice Moszczynski says.
Adding an area rug can work on almost every type of floor, including wood, laminate, vinyl, and tile; just note that they have a tendency to slip on hard surfaces and bunch up when placed on carpet flooring without a rug pad underneath.
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Refinish Outdated Wood Hues
If the wooden floors in your space have an overly bright red or orange-toned finish from the ’90s, our pros recommend dialing things down a notch with the help of a more ashy, neutral wood stain that can cancel out the warmth.
“For red oak, my go-to stain to use is Weathered Oak by Duraseal,” Haddad says. “It mutes the orange undertones, and creates a timeless, natural look.”
Remember that this fix only works on real or high-quality engineered wood floors, and laminate or vinyl wood-look flooring can’t be refinished.
Refresh With Paint
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
If your flooring’s drab gray tones are coming from concrete—or you just prefer a color-drenched, maximalist look—the solution might just be as simple as a can of paint.
“Painting works best for real wood and concrete, since laminate or vinyl won’t hold new finishes well,” Moszczynski says.
Try Peel-and-Stick
Although the dreaded-by-designers 12×12 beige variety tends to be the most common outdated floor tile look, there are also plenty of patterns out there you might want to hide.
Enter: peel-and-stick tiles and floor coverings, which can cover up old vinyl, laminate, and tile instantly.
“They’re durable, affordable and easy to remove—but can’t be applied over floors that are carpeted, significantly uneven, or damaged since the new material won’t stick properly,” Moszczynski says.
Floating Flooring
Much like peel-and-stick tiles and floor coverings, interlocking planks are another DIY beginner and renter-friendly way to transform your home’s flooring on a budget.
Easy to install and adhesive-free, these planks click into place together over a layer of foam that sits on pre-existing, completely flat floor surfaces like wood, concrete, tile, and some laminates. This is known as floating flooring, and can be added (and removed) without causing any damage.
However, it’s restricted by similar limitations to peel-and-stick, and won’t work well over carpet or springy laminate.
Build Balance Through Decor
Whether you’re living in a rental or a space you own, one of the most foolproof fixes for a space outdating flooring is to distract from it with the help of your furniture, decor, and wall color choices.
“Pair outdated tones with fresh paint, furnishings, and textiles that balance them,” Haddad says. “Cool gray floors feel warmer with creamy neutrals, blonde or white oak furniture, and brass accents.”
Especially when combined with the perfect area rug, this technique can help to draw the eye away from any unsightly carpet, laminate, vinyl, or tile; using cooler-toned decor can also work wonders to tone down the warmth of ’90s oak and cherry.
