What are the best flooring options for your home?

The style, colour, material and pattern of hard flooring has tended to resist significant change – but our overall decor choices have become more adventurous. Nature-infused biophilic design, bold and warm colours, and strong heritage influences have all taken to the interior style stage. And while hard flooring hasn’t moved too far from its role as a somewhat neutral base, it’s been making a few quiet changes of its own. Here are the trends to know when researching flooring options for your home.

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What are the trending flooring options for 2026?

• Affordable wood flooring and wood aesthetic options like engineered wood, laminate planks and sheet vinyl.
• Warm and honey-toned oaks.
• Matt wood finishes and authentic-looking wood with visible knots and grain.
• Modern classic herringbone and chevron parquet flooring.
• Larger format ceramic tiles.
• Outdoor materials like marble and limestone.

What is popular in wood flooring?

Timber and timber-look flooring has been a popular choice for Australian homes for decades. Interior stylist Tilly Roberts of Tilly Roberts Design says as of 2026, there have never been more timber and floating floor options available on the market. “There’s now a broad range of beautiful, affordable mid-range styles which have really changed the landscape,” she says.

• Solid hardwood: At the top of the budget tree is solid hardwood, which can be sanded back and refinished repeatedly, and can also be stained to suit your preferred aesthetic.
• Engineered flooring: This has a thin layer of hardwood veneer over a core of materials like ply – delivering the wood look while a little easier on the hip pocket.
• Laminate planks and sheet vinyl lookalikes: These wallet-friendly versions neatly mimic the timber aesthetic, as does hybrid flooring, which can be used just about anywhere in the home –even wet areas like laundries and bathrooms, excluding the shower.

What colour wood flooring should you choose?

Warm and darker toned wood are popular flooring options. What is shifting, says Bunnings flooring buyer, Alice Philp-Taylor, are the tones people have started gravitating toward. “The move away from cooler greys toward warmer oaks, honey hues and Australian species reflects the growing appeal of organic design – bringing a sense of natural warmth and calm into interiors,” she says. “We’re also seeing a resurgence of darker woods – such as walnut and mid‑walnut – reflecting a renewed interest in nostalgic and heritage-inspired styling.”

What finishes are trending in timber flooring?

• Real-looking timber: “We are definitely seeing a preference for ‘authentic’ character over perfection – knots and grain variation give flooring a sense of history and soul,” says Alice. “In a design context, these ‘blemishes’ provide visual texture that prevents large, open-plan spaces from feeling too flat or clinical.”
• Matt finishes. “Matt mimics the raw, organic look of European oak and beautifully diffuses light rather than reflecting it,” explains Alice. “Gloss still has a place in traditional or ‘high glamour’ settings, but matt is preferred for its ‘quiet luxury’ aesthetic and ability to hide the wear and tear of everyday life.”

What is parquet flooring?

Parquetry – timber ‘tiles’ laid in a pattern – is a more decorative flooring option. The technique has been around for centuries and has made an enduring comeback. “Herringbone and chevron have moved from ‘trend’ to ‘modern classic’, frequently used to define zones or add architectural interest in entryways,” says Alice. With its heritage flavour, this isn’t a look that suits every space, but new variations are bringing parquetry’s style and interest to more modern timber planks. “We are seeing a move toward extra-wide and extra-long straight-lay planks, which creates an expansive feel in larger homes,” she says.

What is trending in ceramic flooring options?

• Large tiles: Dimensions matter when it comes to ceramic tiles. “I’ve noticed large format styles making a comeback, but in a more refined way,” says Tilly. “I’m seeing a lot of travertine tiles paired with beautifully colour-matched grout so the floor almost reads as one continuous slab.”
• Natural materials: “There’s also been an increase in more ‘outdoor’ materials, such as limestone, being used indoors, which creates a lovely sense of cohesion.”
• Shades of marble: A staple in hard-working surfaces, including floors, marble colours naturally range from myriad shades of white and cream through to reds, pinks, browns, golds and greens, with barely there to heavyweight veining giving each slab a unique look – and it’s these, more emphatic variations that are becoming sought after. “The focus is shifting from cool‑toned Calacatta to warmer, more expressive stones like travertine and soft onyx,” says Alice.

Which flooring patterns and colours are trending?

• Maximalist style: “We are seeing more bold patterns and ‘maximalist’ terracotta, russet, greens and soft blue colours on the rise. These are used strategically, in smaller zones like powder rooms, laundries, or feature niches and mudrooms,” explains Alice.
• Patterns: Traditional encaustic-style tiles are becoming favoured again for entryways with a heritage feel, while geometric patterns remain popular in hard-working rooms. “Checkerboard patterns are another trend I’m seeing a lot of,” says Tilly. “They’re playful and relatively affordable, and work especially well in laundries, bathrooms and even outdoor spaces.”
• Nostalgic design: Retro flooring materials are also having a moment. “There’s a real return to Mediterranean-inspired, earthy materials like terracotta, which align with the current ‘warm rustic’ trend,” says Alice. Cork tiling is another ‘comeback’ choice. Treated to a non-yellowing, water-based finish, its strong eco aesthetic has all the makings of a relaxed, modern floor. “I feel cork tiles and terracotta are very strong trends and classic choices that will always be in style,” says Tilly.

Keen to refresh your existing flooring?

Check out our expert guide to cleaning and caring for your floor.

Photo credit: Practa Solutions, Hanwood, Smart Home products, Johnson Tiles. 

Some photographs feature products from suppliers other than Bunnings.

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