Contemporary Flooring Style Ideas

As the interior design landscape evolves, contemporary style keeps up with changing trends. Homeowners appreciate contemporary for its modern aesthetic with a twist. Adopting a design trend starts with flooring. Contemporary flooring blends functionality with artistry, catering to diverse tastes and lifestyles. From sleek hardwood to contrasting tiles, the choices are limitless. Creating a minimalist vibe or a bold statement is as simple as installing the right floors.

Explore creative inspiration to transform your home into a contemporary haven. 

Modern vs. Contemporary: What's the Difference? 

When you look up the word “modern” in a thesaurus, “contemporary” appears as a synonym. People often interchange these words. In design, modern refers to a movement in the early-to-mid-20th century, while contemporary focuses on what's trending now. Both styles favor clean lines, minimalism and defined shapes. However, there are key differences between the two:

1. Modern: This style focuses on function over form. Its hallmarks are sleek shapes, clean lines, natural materials and earthy colors. In modern design, simplicity wins over ornamental decoration. 
2. Contemporary: While contemporary and modern share features, contemporary evolves with the times. Characteristics include chunkier shapes, industrial materials, contrasting colors and modern technology. Contemporary style is more fluid and flexible than modern design. 

If you choose a contemporary interior, remember that it may change as trends do. The movement borrows from different approaches to reflect present, past and future styles.

Contemporary Flooring Ideas

Building on a solid foundation is the key to adopting a trend in your home. Flooring is the best place to start. Here are some ways to create the perfect contemporary look from the ground up.

1. Jump on the Tile Trend

Tiles are a versatile way to incorporate a trend into any room. The variety of colors, textures and finishes allows you to create a canvas on which to build your look. Some benefits of tiles include durability, stain resistance and easy maintenance. Consider these contemporary tiling ideas:

• Play with color: Tiles offer a wide palette of colors ranging from neutral to bright. To add some contemporary flair, go for high-gloss porcelain tiles in contrasting colors. You can create a contemporary kitchen tile floor by mixing monochrome with pops of red or yellow. These contrasts add an explosion of energy to a room. 
• Choose chunky shapes: Contemporary style is all about funky, curvy shapes. Embrace irregular motifs with artistic mosaic tiles in materials like glass or metal to embody the trend. 
• Go glossy: While the modern style prefers matte, contemporary loves to shine! Opt for tiles with a lacquered or polished surface to add some sparkle to your floor. Porcelain or mosaic are the most obvious choices. Some ceramic tiles have a glaze that boosts shine and protects against water or stains. 

2. Choose Timeless Hardwood

Wood floors offer a classic look, forming a solid base for evolving trends. Hypoallergenic hardwood looks and feels great, improves air quality and complements any aesthetic. When well-cared for, your hardwood floor can stand the test of time. Here's how to create contemporary hardwood floors: 

• Keep it wide: Wider planks hide seams for cleaner lines and a minimalist look. Stick to one width throughout your home for cohesiveness. Larger planks can also make a space appear more open, which works well in smaller rooms. 
• Vary light and dark: Warm-toned hardwood suits a more modern aesthetic. Instead, select light or dark neutral colors in cooler shades. Furniture, decor or fitting in clashing hues achieve contemporary contrast. 
• Experiment with texture: Grains refer to the knots and gnarls within the wood. Lean into minimalism with straight-grain planks or get quirky with knot variations. 

If you prefer a cleaner look, consider solid hardwood instead of engineered. Since solid hardwood comes from a single piece of wood, it's often more consistent than engineered hardwood's many layers. 

3. Venture into Vinyl Flooring

Contemporary style changes over time. Staying on trend could become expensive if you plan to update your floors to match fluctuating styles. Vinyl flooring lets you recreate the aesthetic of wood or tile at a more affordable price. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) duplicates natural stone like limestone or marble. For a cost-effective wood look, choose luxury vinyl plank (LVP). Both easy-to-install options come in various styles, colors, patterns and textures. 

You can apply the same methods for creating a contemporary floor as you would with tile or hardwood. Use oversized LVT for hidden seams in contrasting white or black with bursts of bright color. Or, try geometric patterns to add some flair to your flooring. If you prefer LVP, select wider planks in light or dark shades for contemporary appeal. Take a less-is-more approach to grains for a cleaner look.  

4. Go Faux with Laminate

Laminate lets budget-savvy designers adopt the latest contemporary trends without breaking the bank. This cost-effective material has similar chameleon-like qualities to vinyl. It can mimic wood or tile flooring at a lower cost. Its stain, water and fade resistance make it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms or high-traffic areas. Laminate has many finish options. Consider high-gloss, which lends itself to the contemporary style's love affair with lacquer. 

5. Get Creative with Carpets

Carpeting or area rugs offer many ways to play with color palettes, quirky shapes and clean lines. Ways to incorporate contemporary carpeting into your space include:

• Accent with rugs: Area rugs offer a simple and inexpensive way to keep up with changing trends. Use a bright-colored rug to contrast with a neutral floor. You can even get extra creative and hang a rug on your wall to complete your contemporary aesthetic. 
• Be bold with patterns: Carpets with geometric shapes fit into the current trend. The contemporary style takes inspiration from the art deco movement. Don't be afraid to explore more stylized or ornamental motifs. 
• Try carpet tile: Instead of carpeting your floor in a single color, use carpet tile to create contrasting light and dark blocks. 

How to Make Your Home More Contemporary

The floor is the first step to embracing contemporary style. To immerse your interior in the trend, follow these tips.

Select Low Furniture

Contemporary design favors furniture that sits close to the ground. Think low-profile sofas, coffee tables that hover just above the floor or chairs you have to sink into. Keep furniture curvy with soft edges. An overstuffed chaise lounge or sleek love seat complements the aesthetic. 

Contrast, Contrast, Contrast

As you know, contrast is a keyword in contemporary vocabulary. Carry the color scheme throughout the room, pairing stark monochrome with vibrant color. Use furnishings, decor or artwork to create a contradiction. Accessorize with decorative cushions or lampshades, keeping it minimal.

Add Industrial Accents

Sleek finishes in steel, silver or nickel can unify the interior. Introduce these accents in furniture or light fittings. Exposed metals and glass create reflective surfaces that streamline the space. 

Craft a Clean Space

Contemporary style is more decorative than modern but also embraces simplicity. Use negative space to create a calming, inviting atmosphere. Think clean and uncluttered. Focus on a few key pieces as focal points without going overboard. 

Embrace Contemporary Style at Carpet & Tile Mart

Do you enjoy matching your house to the latest trends? At Carpet & Tile Mart, we stock a wide range of flooring to help you realize your contemporary vision. Premium hardwood, tiles, vinyl, laminate and carpet bring your design concepts to life. We prioritize value by sourcing overstock materials and passing the savings to our customers.

Come to one of our stores to see, touch and experience floors before you buy. We also ship nationwide if you can't visit our locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Experience world-class merchandise combined with superior customer service!