5 Hardwood Flooring Trends for 2020 and Beyond

If you walk into a home built before 2000, there’s a good chance you’ll see oak flooring in a medium stain. For decades, this was the standard hardwood flooring choice, and one of only a handful of options.

Today, the options for hardwood flooring––and the customization level you can achieve with it––are almost limitless. The species of hardwoods, the stain, and the way the planks are laid can take your room from modern, to rustic, to traditional, and beyond.

We tapped the team at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, a leading manufacturer of high-quality hardwood flooring, to share some of the most sought-after styles they’re seeing for 2020 and beyond.

Ceruse Hardwood Flooring Finishes

Ceruse White Oak flooring, like the Optimistic Stone finish from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors’ Urban line, highlights the organic beauty of natural hardwoods and adds a casual sophistication to a room. The whitewash and gray undertones create a subtler alternative to gray-finished floors, and the cool hues work especially well in both urban spaces and waterfront homes.

Smooth Grain Patterns

For contemporary spaces, woods with minimal grain patterns, like Carlisle’s Plainsawn Over the Moon Flooring, are a top pick. It features a smooth grain pattern, eight-inch-wide boards, and an extra-matte finish that combine to create a sleek, streamlined feel that complements minimalist furnishings and midcentury-inspired touches.

Light Tones

Want a look that complements today’s biggest design trends? Light-colored wood floors are a must. Carlisle Wide Plank Floors’ Weekend Cottage collection is currently one of its most popular, especially among homeowners seeking to achieve of-the-moment coastal or modern-farmhouse styles. White oak floors are light but rich, thanks to a brushing process that removes soft summer wood and reveals slow-grown timber underneath. The flooring is then buffed in a natural finish.

Timeless Design

Hickory hardwoods with a clear finish are a sought-after option for homeowners looking for versatility. The look is timeless, it complements both contemporary and traditional homes, and it adds interest to a room thanks to intermittent blonde sapwood woven throughout the grain and random floorboard widths that vary between six and twelve inches.

Herringbone Floors

A style once reserved for entryways, the Herringbone craze has spread to the whole home, especially among homeowners who love a traditional or opulent look. The herringbone pattern works well with a variety of wood species, and according to Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, is most commonly requested in light finishes.

Visit the Carlisle Wide Plank Floors showroom at the Boston Design Center Suite 541 or wideplankfloors.com for more information on the products mentioned above.