New York, NY, August 7, 2026—Martha Stewart magazine tapped several design experts asking what flooring was trending out in 2026.
The experts were Bailey Walton, vice president, Anderson Tuftex; Jessica White, senior director of design strategy and channel at Mohawk and Arianne Bellizaire, founder and CEO of Arianne Bellizaire Interiors.
Gray floors—”Instead: People are now gravitating toward warm tones. Brown colors, honey tones, and soft neutrals make a space feel grounded, rather than clandestine. It gives the room a sense of comfort and ease.”
High-gloss marble—”Instead: Bellizaire notes a shift toward larger-format tiles, as well as natural textures. ‘We might suggest a handmade clay tile laid in a herringbone pattern, or a wide-plank wood floor that picks up on regional or historical cues,’ she adds.”
Luxury vinyl plank—” Instead: White notes that today’s homes are busy, and flooring needs to be especially durable. Kids, dogs, and other family members can cause wear and tear, so it’s worth splurging on a material with higher scratch resistance and better overall performance.”
Generic flooring—”Instead: It might be a bit pricey, but consider using a custom carpet or something similarly bespoke. ‘New hardwood collections offer a kit of parts in which herringbone, plank, and decorative parquet components can be combined to accentuate the architecture and flow of a floor plan,’ adds Walton.”
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