- In now: warm natural oak, matte finishes, wider and longer planks, herringbone, warm browns coming back.
- Fading: cool grey, high gloss, heavy hand-scraped textures, very busy "rustic" plank prints.
- Our bet for staying power: natural mid-tone oak, matte, with real grain variation.
- Trends are fun, but the floor is the most expensive thing to change. Put the trend in the rugs.
These are the trends we're seeing in what customers ask for, what shows up in store samples and what designers are specifying around Surrey, White Rock and Langley. It's one crew's view from the field, not a survey.
1. Warm natural oak is the default
If there's one "look" of the mid-2020s, it's natural white oak: not orange, not grey, just wood. In hardwood, laminate and vinyl alike, the top sellers are natural, light-brown and warm-neutral oak tones. We think this one has legs, because it's not extreme in any direction.
2. Matte everything
Low-sheen, matte and "natural oil" looks have taken over from satin and gloss. Matte hides scratches and footprints much better, which is part of why it's sticking around.
3. Wider and longer planks
7" to 9" wide and 6'+ long planks make rooms feel calmer, with fewer seams. On hardwood, very wide planks should be engineered so they stay flat in our climate.
4. Herringbone and chevron
Herringbone has gone from luxury-only to available in laminate and vinyl. It looks incredible in entries, dining rooms and condos. Note: it's slower to install and wastes more material, so expect higher labour and order around 15% extra. Chevron (the pointy V version) is the fancier cousin.
5. Warm browns are coming back
After a decade of pale and grey, richer mid-browns and walnut tones are showing up again: not the flat espresso of 2005, but warm browns with grain and variation. If you like a cozier room, this is a safe direction.
6. Character grades
Knots, colour variation and a bit of mineral streak are in. "Perfect" clear-grade wood is less sought after. Bonus: character hides wear from kids and dogs.
7. Realistic vinyl and laminate
The gap between fake and real has narrowed. Better lines have embossing that lines up with the grain (often called EIR), more unique plank designs and painted bevels. Cheap lines still repeat the same few planks every few feet. Look at a whole box laid out before you buy.
8. More interest in what's in it
We're getting more questions about where floors are made, VOC emissions, and certifications like FloorScore and FSC wood. If that matters to you, ask for the certifications. Good brands publish them.
What we'd skip (if you're staying a while)
- Cool, flat grey. It peaked a few years ago.
- High gloss. Every era's gloss dates.
- Very heavy hand-scraped textures. They're a 2000s signature.
- Ultra-white or bleached floors. Gorgeous in photos, hard to live with.
- Planks with obvious repeat. Once you see the same knot every four feet, you can't unsee it.
Common questions
What flooring colour is most popular in 2026?
Natural and warm-neutral oak tones in a matte finish are the most requested in our area, with warmer mid-browns gaining ground. Cool greys are fading.
Is herringbone flooring a trend that will last?
Herringbone has been used for centuries, so it's more classic than trend. It costs more to install and needs extra material, but in entries, dining rooms and condos it tends to age well.
Are wide plank floors still in style?
Yes. Wide planks (7"+) remain popular and make rooms feel calmer. For real hardwood that wide, engineered is the better choice in the Lower Mainland climate.
What flooring trend is going out?
Cool flat grey, high-gloss finishes and heavily hand-scraped textures are all fading in favour of warm, natural, matte wood looks.
Who's writing this: Rose and Thorn Flooring is a flooring company in Surrey, BC. We install floors for a living, so yes, we'd love to do yours. But nobody pays us to say nice things about a product, and we don't earn commission from any brand. If something here is wrong or out of date, text us at 604-716-4160 and we'll fix it.