The economy may be slowing down spending, but it’s also reshaping flooring trends. When considering the best Flooring Trends in 2023, today’s budget-smart consumers aren’t giving up on home upgrades. They’re simply demanding more value for their money.
“There’s been a shift from spending to savings,” says Chris Davis, president and CEO of the World Floor Covering Association. “Consumers are still buying flooring, but they’re choosing comfort, practicality, and long-term value. They may not be moving right now. However, they’re definitely improving their homes with the best Flooring Trends in 2023 in mind.”
Flooring manufacturers have taken note. Instead of pushing high-end luxury campaigns, they’re focusing on products that are affordable and low-maintenance. Also, these products are built for everyday living. That means more innovation and fresh options in the long-time budget leaders: resilient vinyl and carpet, which are part of the best Flooring Trends in 2023.
Vinyl rising in demand
Resilient vinyl now comes in a huge range of colors, textures, styles, and patterns. Pair that with easy cleaning, softness underfoot, and strong stain resistance, and it’s no surprise vinyl continues to win over cost-conscious homeowners.
The standout category is “luxury vinyl,” which offers realistic stone, ceramic, and wood visuals. These are increasingly hard to tell apart from the real thing. Priced around $4 to $5 per square foot, luxury vinyl sits mid-range. Yet it delivers the look of premium materials like marble or “exotic” hardwoods — at a fraction of the cost.
Carpet still leads
Carpet remains the top seller, making up more than 60% of retail flooring sales. Manufacturers are responding to a slower housing market with more fashion-forward options across all budgets.
“The variety today is incredible,” Davis explains. “Patterns, textures, bold colors, unique cuts — there are more eye-catching choices than ever. The best Flooring Trends in 2023 are driving new designs.”
Going green
If there’s one category seeing fast growth, it’s sustainable flooring. LEED-driven demand in commercial spaces has helped lower costs for eco-friendly residential products, making them more accessible to everyday buyers.
Manufacturers now offer options with high recycled content and responsibly sourced raw materials. Some standout examples include:
• FSC-certified wood flooring from responsibly managed forests, available in beautiful species like tigerwood and Brazilian cherry at reasonable prices.
• Cork, a naturally renewable material harvested from bark that grows back, used in both cork flooring and eco-friendly linoleum.
• The Vintage Barrel Collection from Fontenay, crafted entirely from reclaimed white-oak wine barrels.
• Carpet made with corn-based fibers or recycled food and drink containers, led by brands like Mohawk.
• Engineered wood from Magnewood, using a stable substrate made from 75% recycled material.
Conclusion:
New buzzwords in flooring include “antimicrobial” and “antibacterial.” Cork is naturally antibacterial. Meanwhile, Stonepeak Ceramics offers tiles coated with a sunlight-activated material. This material helps break down germs and pollutants — pushing the limits of modern performance flooring.
From reclaimed wine barrels to corn-fiber carpet, today’s flooring trends prove that beauty, sustainability, and affordability can absolutely coexist.