• Cool-toned and faux-wood gray flooring is being replaced by warmer, more natural styles.
• Warmer oak and honey-toned wood flooring are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners.
• Gray flooring is not entirely out of style, especially when it has warm undertones or is a natural material like stone.

Toured any renovated houses over the last few years? If so, there’s likely one trend you’ve noticed.

So. Much. Neutral. Gray.

But the winds of design are changing.

To find out which 2027 flooring trends might reign supreme, I chatted with a whole gaggle of interior design experts. Here’s what I learned.

Cool and faux wood gray flooring is OUT

“The grey decade was really the decade of floors pretending. Grey wood, wood look tile, everything toned to a color wood never naturally is,” states Samantha-Jane Agbontaen, interior designer and founder of House Designer, “the trend isn’t a new color, it’s the end of a disguise.” Alison River, designer and owner of Alison River Interiors, agrees: “Gray itself isn’t the problem. Gray pretending to be wood is where I think we’ve reached the end of the road . . . I think we’re finally letting materials look like themselves again.”

Nearly every designer I chatted with echoed some version of this same refrain. Faux wood greys, especially those with cooler tones, are on the way out.

Warmer Oak and Honey-Toned Flooring are IN

So, if cooler grays are no longer the sexy single on the block, then who is? The consensus: warmer oak and honey-toned flooring are the new knockouts. 

“Homeowners are leaning towards warmer wood tones that feel more natural and have plenty of character,” explains Craig Glitzen, founder and principal designer at L.A. -based Curated Style Collective. Glitzen pointed to “oak floors, including white and European oak, in natural and medium-brown tone finishes” as particularly popular.

Cozy is the new modern. People are leaning into warm and generous styling (known as “burrowcore”), preferring spaces that hug you over those that make you tiptoe around, afraid to knock anything over.

Natural looks and sustainable flooring materials are GOATED

Sensing a trend? People are done with fake. They want things in their home that look the way they actually look in their natural environment. Bailey Walton, Vice President of luxury flooring brand Anderson Tuftex, explained it to me this way:

“Designers are embracing wood with visible grain, movement, and character. Finishes that evolve over time, including wire-brushed or oiled surfaces, bring a sense of soul and craftsmanship to a space. These floors feel authentic and lived-in, aligning with the broader shift toward materials that tell a story.”

And the more sustainable, the better, according to Lisa Quinn, interior design author and show host with over 25 years of experience in the remodeling industry. She highlighted that “engineered wood, reclaimed wood, cork and bamboo” are really gaining traction and expected to “become even more popular” in the coming years.

Of course, flooring costs for sustainable and natural materials are generally more than for vinyl plank or laminate, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Patterned tile and statement flooring is trending

Although faux-wood flooring is out, it doesn’t mean you have to go with something demure. Patterned and statement flooring is also on the rise. The key is to make it look purposeful and planned.

Quinn pointed out that mixed-material flooring is a great way to spark visual interest — think stone inlays, checkerboard patterns, and parquet — using natural materials in tandem to create a floor that demands attention. More distinct and variegated tiles (think terracotta, zellige, etc.) are also coming back into vogue.

Walton put it this way, “The floor is one of the largest, most underused canvases for personal expression. Color and pattern are returning after a long run of beige and gray, and so is a willingness toward more expressive, layered interiors.”

You are a human being with unique tastes, experiences and flair. Your flooring can be your canvas to express that.

Is gray flooring dead? Designer’s consensus: “Not quite”

Cool and faux-wood grays may be on the way out, but the designers I talked with agree that gray flooring is not dead. Here are some scenarios in which gray can still shine.

• Spaces where a greige or warmer gray fits the vibe: “Gray flooring can still feel fresh when it has warm undertones and natural variations,” explains Carin Elle Mead, interior designer and founder of C. Elle Design Studio and C. Elle Home, “Pair gray flooring with warm wood, creams, natural textures, and earthy colors to create balance.”
• Areas where hiding dirt and floor durability are the priority: “Gray flooring still has its place,” says Jonathan Palley, CEO of Clever Tiny Homes, “especially . . . for high-traffic areas since it hides dirt so well.”
• Highlighting a natural gray material: “Natural materials that happen to be gray can still be beautiful,” River emphasizes, “think limestone, slate, concrete and some porcelain tile.” Glitzen agrees, pointing out that gray feels “natural and expected in these materials.”

In other words, there will always be a place for gray flooring when it’s used right. Mead puts it this way: “For me, it is less about whether gray is the trend and more about choosing the right grey for the overall palette of the home.”

Frequently asked questions

Are gray floors out of style?

Faux wood and cool gray flooring are definitely on the way out. But greiges (beige grays) and other warm grays are not. Also, grays that occur naturally in flooring materials such as concrete and limestone are still great options, especially when paired with warmer-toned furniture, fixtures and decor.

What flooring do designers recommend?

If you’re wondering what flooring trends in 2027 are going to lead the pack, look no further than natural tones. Natural oaks and warmer honey tones are quickly becoming the flooring color of choice for many designers.

Is gray flooring making a comeback?

Gray flooring will always be a solid option, especially in homes that are shooting for a modern or more neutral aesthetic. However, faux wood and bleached-out gray floors, which were all the rage for the last 10 years, are declining in popularity.

What wood tone is replacing gray floors?

Wood tones that sit right in the sweet spot between light and dark are really trending in flooring right now. Natural oak, honey oak, golden oak, light walnut and other mid-toned hues are on the rise.