Los Angeles design has always been about creating spaces that feel light, airy, and connected to our beautiful natural surroundings. Whether you’re looking out at the San Gabriel Mountains from Pasadena or catching ocean breezes in Santa Monica, Southern California homes should feel open, relaxed, and effortlessly elegant.
Your floors are the literal foundation of that entire aesthetic. After 40 years of flooring installations across Los Angeles, we’ve watched design trends come and go, but 2025 is bringing some genuinely exciting shifts that we’re seeing in homes from Glendale to Manhattan Beach. These aren’t just passing fads, they’re thoughtful design choices that reflect how we actually live in Southern California.
From young professionals in West Hollywood lofts to growing families in suburban San Fernando Valley homes, LA homeowners are embracing flooring styles that feel both current and timeless, sophisticated yet livable. Let’s walk through the trends that are transforming Los Angeles interiors right now.
The Top 5 Flooring Trends Transforming LA Homes
Here are the top 5 recent flooring trends, recommended by the leading flooring store and installation contractor in Los Angeles.
1. Wide-Plank Wood Looks: Making Spaces Feel Bigger and Brighter
Why Wide Planks Are Taking Over: We’re talking about planks that are 7, 8, even 9 inches wide, significantly larger than the traditional 3-5 inch planks of previous decades. These oversized planks create fewer seam lines across your floor, making rooms feel more expansive and open. In LA’s open-concept homes where kitchen, living, and dining areas flow together, wide planks create beautiful continuity.
Technical Benefits Beyond Looks:
- Fewer Seam Lines: Creates cleaner, more sophisticated appearance
- Better Light Reflection: Wider surfaces reflect more natural light, making spaces brighter
- Modern Proportions: Matches the scale of contemporary furniture and room sizes
- Easier Maintenance: Fewer seams mean fewer places for dirt and debris to collect
Popular Wide-Plank Choices:
- Engineered White Oak: Light, airy tones perfect for California’s bright, natural aesthetic
- LVP flooring in Los Angeles in Wide Formats: All the beauty of wide hardwood with complete waterproof performance
- European Oak Styles: Slightly grayed tones that work beautifully with modern and transitional designs
Why It Works in LA Homes: Our abundant natural light showcases wide planks beautifully, and the clean lines complement both mid-century modern architecture and contemporary new construction.
2. Warm, Earthy Neutrals: The Great Gray Exit
The Big Shift: Cool grays dominated for nearly a decade, but 2025 is all about warmer, more organic neutrals. We’re seeing beautiful beiges, soft taupes, and “greige” (gray-beige blends) that create spaces feeling more welcoming and connected to our natural California landscape.
Why Warm Works in Southern California: These earthy tones complement our year-round golden light and work beautifully with the natural materials, stone, wood, plants, that are central to LA design. They create a softer, more livable feeling that matches our relaxed lifestyle.
Popular Warm Neutral Choices:
- Honey Oak and Natural Wood Tones: Celebrating the beauty of natural wood grain
- Warm Stone Looks: LVT and tile that mimic limestone, travertine, and sandstone
- Greige Carpets: Perfect blend of gray sophistication with beige warmth
The Psychological Effect: Warm neutrals make spaces feel more inviting and comfortable, perfect for homes where entertaining and family time are priorities.
Design Integration: These tones work beautifully with both white and dark cabinetry, complement brass and black fixtures, and create the perfect backdrop for the colorful artwork and natural textures that LA homeowners love.
3. Natural & Matte Finishes: Embracing Imperfect Perfection
The End of the Shiny Era: High-gloss, mirror-like finishes are out. Matte, low-sheen, and wire-brushed finishes are in. This trend reflects a broader move toward authenticity and natural beauty in LA design, we want our homes to feel organic and lived-in, not like sterile showrooms.
Technical Advantages of Matte Finishes:
- Hides Minor Imperfections: Daily wear and minor scratches are much less visible
- Reduces Glare: More comfortable underfoot and easier on the eyes
- Feels More Natural: Mimics how wood naturally appears without heavy finishing
- Easier Maintenance: Shows less dust, fingerprints, and water spots
Popular Natural Finish Options:
- Wire-Brushed Hardwood: Texture that follows natural wood grain patterns
- Matte LVP: Sophisticated appearance without artificial shine
- Honed Tile Finishes: Stone looks with soft, natural texture rather than polished surfaces
Why LA Loves Natural Finishes: In our indoor-outdoor culture, these finishes create seamless transitions between interior floors and natural outdoor materials like stone patios and wooden decks.
4. Pattern & Personality: Beyond Basic Straight Planks
The Pattern Revolution: Straight, parallel plank installation is no longer your only option. Los Angeles homeowners are embracing sophisticated patterns that add visual interest and create custom, high-end looks without overwhelming the space.
Trending Pattern Options:
Herringbone: The Sophisticated Choice
- Creates movement and visual interest without being busy
- Works beautifully in entryways, dining rooms, and powder rooms
- Available in both hardwood and luxury vinyl
- Adds significant perceived value to the space
Chevron: The Modern Statement
- More contemporary than herringbone, with planks meeting at sharp angles
- Creates dramatic visual flow perfect for hallways and feature areas
- Requires more skilled installation but delivers stunning results
Mixed-Width Layouts:
- Combining different plank widths creates custom, organic appearances
- Mimics reclaimed wood aesthetics popular in LA design
- Works especially well with engineered hardwood and luxury vinyl
Patterned Tile Applications:
- Geometric patterns for powder rooms and entryways
- Subway tiles in creative layouts for kitchen backsplashes that coordinate with floor choices
- Hexagon and fish-scale patterns for bathroom accent areas
Where Patterns Work Best: Entryways make stunning first impressions, dining rooms benefit from the elegance, and powder rooms can handle bolder pattern choices since they’re smaller spaces.
Choosing between the authentic feel of engineered hardwood and the durability of laminate for your pattern project can be complex. We break down the pros and cons in our Hardwood vs. Laminate Comparison guide.
5. Sustainable & Eco-Conscious Choices: Green Living Meets Beautiful Design
Why Sustainability Matters in LA: Environmental consciousness isn’t just a trend in Los Angeles, it’s a lifestyle. Homeowners want flooring choices that reflect their values while still delivering beauty and performance.
Popular Eco-Friendly Options:
Sustainably Sourced Hardwood:
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood
- Reclaimed wood with verified sustainable sourcing
- Local species that reduce transportation environmental impact
Low-VOC and Zero-VOC Materials:
- Luxury vinyl with phthalate-free construction
- Water-based finishes for hardwood
- Natural fiber carpets with organic backing materials
Recycled Content Products:
- LVP made from recycled materials
- Carpet tiles with recycled fiber content
- Tile made from recycled glass or stone
Health and Environmental Benefits:
- Better Indoor Air Quality: Low-emission materials support healthy living
- Sustainable Sourcing: Responsible forest management and recycling programs
- Longevity Focus: Choosing durable materials reduces waste over time
The LA Wellness Connection: In a city focused on health, wellness, and environmental responsibility, flooring choices that support both personal and planetary health resonate strongly with homeowners.
How These Trends Work in Real LA Homes
The Open-Concept Challenge
Why Trends Must Work Throughout Connected Spaces: Most Los Angeles homes feature open-concept living where your flooring choice affects multiple rooms simultaneously. The trends we’re seeing work beautifully in this environment because they create flow rather than visual breaks.
Successful Trend Combinations:
- Wide-plank LVP in warm neutrals throughout main living areas
- Herringbone patterns in entryways that transition to straight planks in living spaces
- Matte finishes that connect seamlessly from interior to outdoor patio materials
Neighborhood Style Integration
Mid-Century Modern (Hollywood Hills, Palm Springs Style):
- Wide planks in natural teak or walnut tones
- Clean, geometric patterns
- Matte finishes that complement period architecture
Spanish and Mediterranean (Pasadena, Glendale):
- Warm, earthy tile patterns
- Natural stone looks in luxury vinyl
- Traditional patterns with contemporary scale
Contemporary (West Side, Beach Communities):
- Large format everything, wide planks, oversized tiles
- Cool-warm neutral blends
- Sustainable materials that reflect environmental values
When planning flooring for family homes, these design trends need to work with daily life realities. Check out our Kid-Proof Flooring guide for tips on making trendy choices that also handle family activities.
Kitchen Trend Integration
Many of these trends work especially well in kitchens, where style meets high performance requirements. For detailed information on how these trends perform in your kitchen environment, read our Best Kitchen Flooring article.
Making Trends Work for Your Budget
High-End Trend, Budget-Friendly Execution:
- Wide-Plank Look: Choose LVP in wide formats instead of engineered hardwood
- Pattern Interest: Use patterns in smaller accent areas rather than throughout entire home
- Natural Finishes: Matte LVP provides the look of wire-brushed hardwood at lower cost
- Eco-Conscious Choices: Many sustainable options are competitively priced
Investment Priorities: Focus trend spending on high-impact, high-visibility areas like entryways and main living spaces. Use classic, timeless choices in bedrooms and secondary areas.
See Trends in Your Actual Space
A trend photo online can look stunning, but how do you know if that wide-plank white oak will make your Glendale bungalow feel larger or just overwhelming? Or whether that warm greige will coordinate with your existing furniture and décor?
The Reality Check Challenge: Lighting makes everything look different. Your home’s natural light, ceiling height, room proportions, and existing features all affect how trendy flooring actually appears and feels in your space.
Why Our Shop-at-Home Service Perfects Trend Selection:
- Scale Assessment: See how wide planks or large tiles work with your specific room proportions
- Color Coordination: Compare trendy colors against your existing décor in your actual lighting
- Pattern Impact Evaluation: Experience how herringbone or chevron patterns affect your space’s feeling
- Trend Longevity Discussion: Based on 40 years of trend cycles, get honest advice about lasting appeal
The Carpet Wagon Trend Experience:
- Style Consultation: We discuss your aesthetic goals and personal preferences
- Curated Trend Selection: We bring the most relevant current trends for your home style and budget
- In-Home Reality Testing: Experience trends in your actual space, lighting, and room proportions
- Longevity Assessment: Based on four decades of design evolution, we help you choose trends with staying power
- Investment Strategy: Plan which areas to embrace trends and where to choose timeless options
Trends vs. Timeless: Finding Your Balance
The 40-Year Perspective: After four decades in Los Angeles homes, we’ve seen countless design trends cycle through. The most successful flooring choices blend current style with timeless appeal, creating looks that feel fresh today but won’t feel dated in five or ten years.
Our Trend Philosophy: Embrace trends in ways that enhance your home’s natural character rather than fighting against it. The best trendy choices work because they solve real design challenges, making spaces feel larger, brighter, more comfortable, or better connected to outdoor areas.
Investment Strategy for Trends:
- High-impact areas: Embrace bolder trends in entryways and main living spaces
- Personal spaces: Choose trends that reflect your genuine style preferences
- Budget considerations: Use trend elements strategically rather than throughout entire home
Ready to Bring 2025’s Best Trends Home?
The most successful trend is one that genuinely reflects your personal style and works beautifully for your specific home and lifestyle. Trends should enhance your space, not overwhelm it or fight against your home’s natural character.
Every Los Angeles home is unique, from Spanish bungalows in Pasadena to modern condos downtown, and the right trend interpretation depends on your specific space, natural light, existing features, and personal aesthetic.
Why guess about trends when you can experience them risk-free in your own space?
Schedule your free, no-obligation Shop-at-Home design consultation today! We’ll bring the latest Los Angeles flooring trends directly to your home, help you see how they work in your unique space, and guide you toward choices that feel both current and perfectly suited to your lifestyle.
Call 1-877-519-2466 or visit carpetwagon.com to schedule your comparison consultation.
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