7 Flooring Trends Going Out of Style in 2025

Good flooring can make a lasting impression. Conversely, scratched hardwood, chipped tile, or old carpet can negatively impact a space’s appeal. But it’s not just damaged flooring that could use a revamp. Sometimes, out-of-date flooring is just as detrimental to your home’s interior design, even if it’s in perfect condition. If you’re renovating the floors in your home in 2025 or building a new house altogether, design experts recommend avoiding these seven flooring trends.

Thick grout

Tile designs aren’t the only style element to consider for flooring. Spacing also plays a role. “In tile, big grout lines are out and the trend is toward more narrow grout lines,” says Holly Badertscher, executive vice president of merchandising at Empire Today, a flooring company with over 65 years in business. Thin or near-minimal grout lines are becoming popular for spaces like kitchens and bathrooms due to the more seamless and clean look they create.

Basic laminate flooring

Natural materials are trending. So, it makes sense that more synthetic-looking styles, like laminate flooring, are slowly phasing out of style. Though laminate is an affordable and durable flooring option, the replicated hardwood look—especially the grey-tone laminate—is not as popular anymore. Instead, consider investing in long-lasting and natural wood flooring. As long as it’s waxed and protected from scratches or dents, genuine hardwood can last multiple generations.

Busy tiles and planks

Highly detailed tiles can be part of an overall maximalist style, but with time, that overwhelming look can get stale. “Intricate, busy patterns are being replaced by simpler, more streamlined looks for a cleaner aesthetic,” says Badertscher. Busy tiles are out and so are high-contrast planks. Instead, designers are favoring flooring with more consistent and cleaner styles rather than overly detailed visual elements.

Wall-to-wall carpeting

Carpeting has been getting a bad rap for a while now, but it’s still a warm and cozy choice for bedrooms, and it’s a reliable way to protect the floors underneath from stains and dents. However, it can accumulate dust mites and pests and the cons can outweigh the pros. “There’s a noticeable shift away from traditional wall-to-wall carpeting,” UK-based interior designer Molly Woodward-Moor says. “Prone to staining and trapping odours, people are opting for more versatile and long-lasting flooring options like tile, luxury vinyl, and wood… Additionally, rugs and runners allow people the flexibility to update their interiors without committing to permanent flooring choices.”

Super glossy finishes

Glossing hardwood floors can make them look fresh and clean. But after use, this super glossy finish can reveal wear and damage more easily than expected. “The super over-lacquered, uber-polished floors are definitely going out of style,” says Colleen Bennett, interior designer and founder of CBB Design Firm.

Glossy and lacquered finishes also require a lot of maintenance. “They tend to show scratches, dust, and smudges too easily,” says Kerry O’Dubhir of New Wave Design in New York City. “Matte and satin finishes are now preferred for a more natural, low maintenance look.”

Really dark hardwood

“We are seeing more lights and a return to walnuts and mahoganies but not the dark black ebonized floors,” says Bennett. Really dark—even black—hardwood flooring is out of style for 2025, as is cherry red hardwood flooring. Instead, lighter, warm brown-toned hardwoods are trending for renovations this year.

Grey and cool tones

“If I had a button that allowed me to stop people from choosing grey wood floors for their homes, I would press it,” says Gala Magriñá, principal designer and founder at Gala Magriñá Design. “I think that grey wood floors suck the energy out of the room…It’s hard to offset this with furniture and decor. Sure, grey and white finishes are easy and safe to choose—which is why we see them so much—but they make for a sterile, cold, environment. And we definitely need more warmth, color, and sanctuary in our lives these days.”

O’Dubhir echoes the sentiment that gray-washed flooring is out of favor. “Once a go-to for both modern and industrial design-inspired interiors, gray flooring is being replaced with warmer and natural wood tones.” Trends are gravitating toward warmer tones, especially in hardwood or planked flooring. Cool greys may have their place as an accent, but more varied brown wood tones are in their prime.