Hot 2021 Flooring Trends for Fall and Winter

While crisp golden and crimson leaves cover the ground outdoors, 2021 fall and winter flooring trends make an impression indoors. Here are a few popular products coming to stores this season.

As always, hardwood flooring tops the list. At least, anything that looks like hardwood flooring, that is. Faux wood products are more practical than real wood, so the happy middle ground is engineered hardwood. With a variety of colors and dimensions, it is beautiful, durable, and offers a wide range of style options. The ones what are water-resistant, can be used in virtually any room, which is always attractive. Bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, hallways, and more are still a welcome arena for engineered wood in 2021.

As an accent piece, tile provides a splash of color in entryways, mudrooms, kitchens, and outdoor spaces, particularly in the south. In addition, ceramic tile designs of natural and untreated wood will be popular in 2021. The look of wood can evoke feelings of calmness found in nature. It goes to show that the wood look is popular, even if it is on tile.

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is not new, but it is continuing. Gaining popularity from year to year, it continues to rank high with DIY homeowners, with grey being the overriding color choice. The easy-to-install process of glue down, self-adhesive, or snap-together tiles and planks makes it an attractive option for do-it-yourselfers. It is created with a digital photograph of wood or stone, and the top layer is covered with a protective urethane coating. Best of all, LVT is soft to walk on, waterproof, beautiful, and easy to maintain.   

A specific type of luxury vinyl tile is the high-quality embossed-in-register (EIR). This is the top-of-the-line luxury vinyl tile. It creates the appearance and texture of natural wood and stone with three-dimensional wood grain surfaces. The words ’embossed in registration’ mean the texturing follows the patterns in the image. As the laminates are heated, a metal plate that contains a pattern pressed into the surface material creates convex and concave ridges in the laminate, giving it a deeper color and more natural look. The texture perfectly lines up with and matches the wood portrayed in the top image’s layer.

In a different arena, electrostatic dissipative flooring (ESD) removes static from people that build up over the day from clothes, floors, or carpeting. Used mainly in the electronics industry to keep workers safe, ESD can prevent shocks ranging in severity from mildly annoying to catastrophic. As part of a complex flooring system, ESD works in conjunction with footwear, garments, and grounding straps to minimize and control proper grounded discharge. Primarily used in commercial complexes, homeowners interested in protecting their devices may benefit from ESD as well.

Almost like shag and similar to Berber, frieze carpet has a fun texture. It is made with tight twists, which is cleaner and more durable than other carpets, and its slightly long, curly fibers hide seams, footprints, and messes. The informal appearance can be a welcome change from sleek, formal hard-surfaced floors. Although hard-surfaced floors are generally preferred for high traffic areas, there is still a place for carpet in casual rooms with high traffic, such as hallways, family rooms, and bedrooms. So, if you are looking for a not-so-fancy carpet option, frieze is a popular flooring alternative this year.

Flooring Communication

As a flooring retailer, it’s always important to stay aware of trends as they tend to change from season to season. It’s also important to make sure you’re communicating often with your suppliers to be informed of inventory, pricing and more. With VendorPriceBook.com, communication–including up-to-date pricebooks–is easier than ever. Check out our platform to learn more: VendorPriceBook.com.

History of Ceramic and Stone Tiles

As flooring retailers, we are always surrounded by beautiful tiles. It’s easy to lose sight or perhaps not even be aware of the journey tile making has undergone through the ages. The history of ceramic and stone flooring is long and interesting. With so many setbacks, it’s truly a wonder that we have such a vibrant industry today. 

Flooring Through the Ages

Egypt was among the first to succeed in stone construction, which dates back 5000 years. In ancient Greece remnants of this tradition have been uncovered as well. Ceramic flooring has been traced back to the 4th century BC . The Romans expanded on the ceramic industry and made great gains. Some Roman structures even had heated floors. As they occupied Western Europe, tile making became more and more popular. With the fall of the Roman empire, tile production ceased to be commonplace. However, this introduction of ceramic tiles would have a far greater impact on the architecture from Europe to North America than anyone could have predicted. 

In the 12th century, Cistercian monks began producing patterned floor tiles to place in cathedrals and churches. During the Reformation, tile making suffered another setback in the 16th century. The tradition was carried on in Turkey and the Middle East with wall tiles still being produced for decor and Delft tiles developed in Holland in the 17th century, inspired by the Chinese porcelain tiles.

The Palace at Westminster

Flooring Revolution and Revival

While tile making might have continued on this way, a continuous cycle of resurgences and roadblocks, the flooring industry, as did many other industries, saw a huge breakthrough during the Industrial Revolution. With the introduction of machines, tiles were no longer produced using the arduous processes required by hand, and Britain led the way, along with Germany, France,  and Belgium. 

In 1843, England’s Herbert Minton brought back encaustic tile-making. His tiles were more popular due to his range of color use and the help of a brilliant Gothic artist, named Augustus Pugin who designed the tiles. During this time dust-pressing became the standard for making the tiles, which allowed for more efficient production. These tiles were placed in some of England’s most prestigious structures, such as the Palace at Westminster in London, and Queen Victoria’s Royal Residence on the Isle of Wight. 

For thousands of years, stone and ceramic tile has been a sought after flooring, due to its beauty and durability. You can visit some of the oldest and most breathtaking structures in the world to see early examples of stone and ceramic tile. At one time, only the ultra wealthy could afford stunning tiles for their floors. But thanks to modern technology, that is no longer the case. Stone and ceramic flooring is an affordable and lasting choice for a variety of budgets.

Now that you know a bit of flooring history, you might want to use it when selling to your flooring customers!

Networking Tips for the Flooring Retailer and Flooring Vendor

When it comes to flooring, there’s not a one-size-fits-all for each customer. There are various options available to suit each customer’s taste, style, needs, and budget. 

Think outside the box and expand your flooring business by reaching out to new customers (consider different types you may have never thought of such as business owners) to increase sales and create a reliable brand people trust.

There are many ways to reach potential customers. Through online marketing, direct mail, and cold calling — you can grow your flooring business as quickly as you want. 

Networking with those in the construction or design industry can lead to multiple jobs and enhance your reputation for creating quality flooring for residential and business customers.

Think about it, homes, businesses, schools, and pretty much every building, new or old, need flooring. The options for networking are endless! Other traditional, potential networking partners for a flooring company include:

• Interior designers
• Building owners
• Home contractors

Flooring vendors can find several networking opportunities by contacts with various retail stores. Big box stores can be lucrative but don’t forget about local stores and local contracting companies either! 

Whether you are a flooring retailer or flooring vendor, here are some tips to help promote your business and products!

1. Build a website for your flooring business that includes business contact information, description of flooring services and installation procedures, types of flooring, customer testimonials, and before and after pictures of recent jobs. 

2. SEO Search engine optimization is a great way to improve your website’s search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your homepage. However, SEO is not an exact science and it’s definitely not a quick process. Many factors influence these rankings. Try writing original content (blogs, articles, etc.) about your products or craft, and post them on your website. Make sure to include keywords that mention flooring or flooring terms in each post. Think of this as a long-term tactic.

3. Take high-quality photographs of your work. Show potential and current customers precisely what you can do with professional-quality images of each job. Show before and after pictures and pictures of different products showcasing different types of flooring and projects. 

3. Utilize LinkedIn. Use your actual photo, complete all the details of your profile, and of course, link to your company page. 

4. Join flooring, contracting, residential, and commercial building associations. Attend networking events that you know home contractors or related organizations may be present. Don’t expect to get a sale–this is a time to get to know others and introduce yourself!

5. Ask for referrals. Satisfied customers can and will provide you with solid leads. Offer them a discount on future jobs, or thank you gift to encourage referrals. 

By successfully networking, you can lay a solid foundation for your flooring business! And while you’re at it, check out VendorPriceBook.com — the ultimate tool for looking up flooring pricing and inventory from your preferred flooring supplier.

Carbon Neutral Flooring

According to the Global Status Report, building and construction accounts for 39% of global carbon emissions. With climate change a global issue in the forefront of everyone’s minds, many top companies are making changes to reduce their carbon footprint, and the flooring sector is no exception. In recent years, flooring manufacturers have questioned how they can make further changes towards a positive impact on our planet, and carbon neutral flooring seems to be the answer. 

If you are not familiar with this concept, you may be asking— what exactly is carbon neutral flooring? A carbon neutral product is made with net-zero carbon emissions. This is achieved through absorbing any emissions released by making production changes to reduce emissions, while supporting outside endeavors to reduce harmful greenhouse gases in our environment. Are you looking to provide your flooring customers with carbon neutral flooring options?

Top Carbon Neutral Manufacturer in Flooring 

Several flooring manufacturers have successfully produced carbon neutral flooring. However, if you Google carbon neutral flooring, you will quickly find one company consistently headlining the efforts. Interface was one of the first companies to pioneer the carbon neutral flooring sector and has continued to lead the way.

In 1994, they began with a mission to achieve carbon neutrality and have since achieved 74% reduction in carbon emissions. When you compare this number with the decreased emissions of Mohawk, one of the largest flooring manufacturers at just 20.08% since 2010 according to their 2019 Sustainability Report, it’s easy to see the magnitude of Interface’s accomplishment. However, the company isn’t just stopping at carbon neutrality. It has launched a new effort called, Climate Take Back™, seeking to make positive steps toward reversing global warming.

They currently offer an extensive portfolio of flooring options, including carpet tile, luxury vinyl tile, and nora® by Interface, which is floor covering made of rubber. 

While Interface is a leader in the carbon neutral flooring sector, it is by no means the only flooring manufacturer striving for carbon neutrality. There are numerous others who have achieved whole and partial carbon reduction. Some of them are listed below. 

• Tarkett offers carbon neutral luxury vinyl tiles, planks, and sheets, as well as rubber flooring options. 
• Shaw Contract produces completely carbon neutral commercial carpets. 
• Forbo Flooring Systems reached carbon neutrality with the production of Marmoleum, a linoleum made from natural raw materials.  

The companies above have met their goals, but continue to strive forward in an effort to reduce global warming and increase sustainability. Through utilizing recyclable materials and renewable resources, decreasing the amount of energy used during the manufacturing process, as well as supporting outside projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions, these companies have achieved great feats in the flooring manufacturing industry. With small changes, we can all do our part and take the steps necessary to preserve our planet for future generations. 

Reach out to your flooring vendor or supplier to learn more about carbon neutral floor covering options, from carpet to linoleum.

Going Green with your Flooring Pricebooks

If you are wondering how you can further help with the green movement in flooring, look to going paperless with your pricebooks! With VendorPriceBook, no longer do you need to rely on paper pricebooks, or even PDFs! Try us out and see the difference. In our web application, you can easily chat with flooring vendors and suppliers as well as look up inventory and pricebooks (confidential).