5 Outdated Flooring Trends to Say Goodbye to in 2026, According to Designers

The new year is the perfect time for a home refresh, and most of us start by rethinking our walls and furniture. But sometimes, the true culprit behind a room feeling outdated is under your nose—or in this case, your feet.

The right flooring has the power to ground a space, elevate paint colors, and even make a room feel bigger. So if renovating and redecorating are at the top of your resolutions list, designers say there are a few flooring trends to leave in 2025—and are sharing their favorite upgrade options to try instead.

Classic Checkerboard Tiles

There are a few traditional design elements that will forever be in style, but some “timeless” touches can actually date a home.

Although they were much loved in retro spaces, design firm founder Damla Turgut believes that bold black and white checkerboard tile floors will soon be left behind since black and white can be so visually overwhelming.

“We’re seeing a big shift towards softer, more nuanced checks: camel with creamy white, off-white with sage gray, even maroon paired with a warm neutral,” she says. “These combinations still give you that graphic rhythm but in a way that feels more timeless, forgiving, and contemporary.”

Gray Tones

Over the past few years, interior trends have made a big move towards coziness and comforting, rich hues—and if 2026’s colors of the year are anything to go by, next year will be no different.

The warmth and depth of brunette flooring isn’t going anywhere, which means builder-grade gray laminate planks, vinyl, and tile floors are on the way out.

“The cool-toned gray floors that dominated the last decade are finally losing momentum,” Turgut says. “They flatten natural light, make rooms feel cold, and clash with the warmer palettes people are gravitating towards. We’re seeing designers move back to honey, natural oak, toffee, and walnut— anything with warmth and variation.”

Plain Porcelain Tiles

As the love for perfectly imperfect textures, grounding tones, and natural materials continues to grow, interior designer Laura O’Brien predicts the large, plain-colored tiles often seen in bathrooms and kitchens being replaced by options that bring the outside in.

“Generic porcelain or ceramic can feel cold, utilitarian, and at odds with the warmth and sophistication today’s kitchens demand,” she says.

But, this is not without exception.

“That said, porcelain designed to mimic natural stone can be elegant when executed thoughtfully, and natural stone on both floors and countertops remains the ultimate hallmark of quality and timeless taste,” O’Brien says.

Tile-Look Vinyl

While true tiles painted in a Spanish or Portuguese style can work well in smaller areas like entryways, powder rooms, and on kitchen backsplashes, designer Nina Lichtenstein says the time has come to replace busy peel-and-sticks with a stone-effect alternative.

“Heavy pattern-on-pattern vinyl that mimics old-world tile often reads more theatrical than timeless,” she shares. “Subtle texture and depth will take its place, with materials that evoke calm and connection rather than competing for attention.”

Ultra-Glossy Finishes

If there’s one thing 2026’s home trend predictions show, it’s that the definition of luxurious home decor is shifting.

As the era of picture-perfect spaces defined by neutral-only decor, walls, and floors is phased out in favor of all things lived in, bold, and character-filled, Turgut says that hotel-style shiny tiles are now a no-go— both for style and safety reasons.

“High-gloss flooring often looks cold, and reads as more ‘show home’ than “’real home’,” she explains. “Glossy floors also show every footprint and splash—and they’re genuinely slippery. Matte and honed finishes have a far more grounded, elegant look and feel.”