The Denver housing market in 2018 saw a significant acceleration in design trends, moving away from warm, traditional wood colors toward cooler, more versatile, and visually expansive styles. The key theme was embracing modern, clean aesthetics while still utilizing durable materials that could withstand Colorado’s active lifestyle. This period marked the height of the “gray trend” and the widespread adoption of high-performance alternatives.
Here are the top flooring trends from the flooring experts that defined Denver homes in the fall of 2018, focusing on hardwood, luxury vinyl, and carpet.
1. Hardwood: Gray, Wide, and Patterned
Hardwood remain decades when maintained well and have remained a staple, but preferences shifted dramatically toward modern finishing techniques and formats.
- The Reign of Gray and Greige: The single biggest color trend was the move away from traditional yellow and red undertones. Gray floors were dominant, offering a clean, contemporary look that paired well with modern furnishings. This trend was already evolving into “Greige” (a blend of gray and beige) to add back a touch of warmth and versatility.
- Wider Planks: Homeowners overwhelmingly preferred wide-plank flooring (7 inches and wider) over the standard narrow strips. Wide planks created an illusion of greater space and provided a rustic yet contemporary aesthetic, particularly appealing to the mountain-modern style popular in Colorado.
- Geometric Revival (Parquet): Highly detailed patterns, particularly the Herringbone and Chevron designs, made a major comeback. These parquet patterns were used in formal dining rooms or entryways to create a custom focal point, viewed as “artwork for the floors.”
- Finishes: Glossy, high-sheen finishes were out. Matte and Satin finishes were trending upward, as they provide a more natural, subtle look and are much better at hiding dust, dirt, and light scratches.
2. Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP): The Performance Revolution
Luxury Vinyl Plank became one of the fastest-growing residential flooring products in Denver, largely due to its technological advancements.
- Realistic Wood-Look: LVP shed its old, cheap reputation. Advances in photographic printing and embossed textures made high-quality LVP nearly indistinguishable from real wood planks, offering the sought-after gray and distressed wood looks without the cost.
- Waterproof Advantage: LVP was heavily favored for basements, kitchens, and bathrooms because it is 100% waterproof, a massive advantage over moisture-sensitive solid hardwood or standard laminate.
- Durability: As a highly resilient and dent-resistant material, LVP was seen as the ideal choice for busy households with kids and pets.
3. Carpet Flooring: Focus on Texture and Neutrality
Carpet styles prioritized durability and easy maintenance in high-traffic areas while delivering warmth in bedrooms.
- Frieze Carpet (Twisted Cut Pile): This heavily twisted, long-fiber style was popular because its texture was excellent at hiding footprints and vacuum marks, making it the choice for busy family rooms and play areas.
- Patterned Carpet: Carpets featuring subtle geometric patterns created by combining cut and looped fibers (LCL) were popular for stairs and hallways. The varied texture camouflaged dirt and wear.
- Neutral Colors: In line with the hard surface trend, carpet colors leaned toward neutral tones, earth tones, and soft grays to provide a clean, versatile backdrop that wouldn’t quickly become dated.
The Denver flooring trends of Fall 2018 underscored a desire for design flexibility (wide planks, patterns) combined with practicality (waterproof vinyl, durable fibers). Homeowners were investing in floors that looked modern and stylish but could also reliably withstand the dry climate, intense sunlight, and active mountain lifestyle.
If you need help with your floorings, visit our flooring outlet in Denver, or schedule an in-home flooring consultation today, and we will help you find the perfect fit for your home.
