Anderson Tuftex Shares 2027 Flooring Forecast

Dalton, GA, October 23, 2026—Anderson Tuftex, the premium hardwood and carpet brand of Shaw, has launched The 2027 Floor Forecast, a new trend report for the residential flooring industry. 

The report provides a comprehensive look at the evolving role of flooring in home design and renovation, exploring what homeowners and interior designers are prioritizing today and where the category is headed next.

To inform The 2027 Floor Forecast, Anderson Tuftex partnered with The Harris Poll to survey 512 high net worth homeowners and 251 interior designers who regularly work with flooring as part of their business about the state of the flooring industry in the U.S. Notably, slightly more than half of interior designers surveyed agreed that their clients’ willingness to invest in home improvements has increased significantly over the past few years. 

According to the report, flooring is becoming more durable and design-forward, with both homeowners and designers prioritizing quality and longevity, while designers balance performance, aesthetics and sustainability. Looking ahead, sustainable materials, high-performance flooring, warm neutral palettes and smart innovations are expected to shape the category.

Key findings from the report include:

Prioritizing Durability

Homeowners are prioritizing quality and longevity when selecting flooring, with nearly seven in ten valuing flooring that lasts 15+ years. Additionally, 56% strongly agree that they are willing to pay a premium for long-lasting flooring, highlighting a willingness to invest where durability matters. First impressions are also important, with 63% strongly agreeing that the right flooring makes a strong impression when guests enter their home.

What’s Trending in Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is trending toward a balanced look that combines natural beauty with visible

craftsmanship, moving away from overly uniform designs. Among interior designers, solid/uniform finishes (52%) and light finishes (52%) are gaining popularity, while homeowners are gravitating toward wide-plank flooring (43%) and mixed-pattern designs (17%) for a more elevated, distinctive look.

Carpet Aesthetics Driving a Comeback

Carpet is emerging as a more thoughtful, versatile flooring choice, with homeowners prioritizing performance-driven features designed for modern living. The most appealing features include carpet made for high-traffic areas (57%), pet stain and soil resistance (54%) and solid colors (51%). Interior designers are also taking a more intentional approach to carpet, with performance and natural materials emerging as key considerations; 31% always recommend performance carpet, while 29% always recommend wool carpet.

Color Considerations

Hardwood continues to lean warm and natural, with 37% of homeowners favoring warm natural and honey tones, followed by 13% preferring medium and chocolate browns and 11% gravitating toward smoky midtones with soft hints of gray, charcoal or brown. In carpet, warm neutrals lead at 28%, followed by earthy, nature-inspired tones (16%) and cool grays/light gray (13%), highlighting a preference for versatile palettes that bring warmth and a sense of connection to nature.

Flooring Made for a Healthier Home & Planet

Sustainability is an increasingly important consideration in flooring decisions, but the data also points to a knowledge gap in the industry. While 60% of homeowners say sustainability is a crucial deciding factor, 52% say they’re “not too worried” about it, and 39% believe all flooring is about the same. Meanwhile, 80% of designers say clients frequently or always ask for sustainable flooring and 43% are proactively recommending it. The findings suggest that while homeowners may be interested in more sustainable options, there is an opportunity for designers and brands to lead consumer education.

Interior designers anticipate a continued evolution in flooring, with 65% predicting the popularity of carpet will rise over the next three years. Looking ahead, sustainable flooring, including natural, recyclable and low- or zero-carbon materials, is expected to have the biggest impact, followed by durable flooring such as waterproof, solid/hard composite and scratch- and stain-resistant options. Smart technology is also poised to play a growing role, with innovations like integrated sensors, click-lock features and temperature control emerging as areas of interest.

To view the full report and its findings, as well as more information on the methodology, please visit andersontuftex.com/2027TrendReport.