From Pinterest to Parquet: How UK Interior Trends Are Influencing Flooring Choices

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Social Media’s Power on Home Trends

The Rise (and Rise) of Parquet

Natural, Warm, and Wonderfully Real

Bold Patterns and Playfulness

Practicality is Still Key

What This Means for the Future

Undoubtedly, TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest have revolutionised how we furnish our houses. Gone are the days of perusing heavy catalogues or waiting for a Saturday walk around the do-it-yourself store to spark an idea. With just a thumb swipe, we are now inundated with exquisitely designed interiors from all over the world.

But all that inspiration isn’t just sitting on our screens. It's reshaping real homes up and down the UK — especially when it comes to flooring.

Social Media’s Power on Home Trends

Scroll through Pinterest and you’ll spot a clear shift. Clean, minimalistic Scandi-style rooms, vintage revival spaces bursting with character, and bold, playful colour schemes are everywhere. But if you look a little closer, you’ll notice the floor is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in these designs.

Once just a neutral backdrop, flooring is now a headline feature in its own right. Thanks to social media, more homeowners are realising how much influence their floor choice has over the overall feel of a room — and they’re getting braver about it.

The Rise (and Rise) of Parquet

One trend that's surged in popularity thanks to online inspiration boards is parquet flooring. Herringbone, chevron, Versailles panels — styles that once felt reserved for grand period properties are now being snapped up for everything from suburban semis to city flats.

And it’s easy to see why. Parquet offers that perfect blend of timeless elegance and contemporary edge. It’s rich with history but fits beautifully into modern spaces when paired with the right décor. Plus, with more engineered wood and luxury vinyl options on the market, achieving the parquet look has become more affordable and practical than ever.

If you’ve been saving "dream home" pins lately, chances are there’s a herringbone floor in there somewhere.

Natural, Warm, and Wonderfully Real

Another major influence? The shift towards more natural, tactile spaces. Earthy colour schemes, gentle textures, and a focus on natural materials are all examples of the grounded, realistic interior design that is becoming more and more popular.

Floors are following suit. Wider boards, matt finishes, and wood tones that highlight the natural grain are becoming more and more popular among homeowners. The popularity of hand-scraped textures, rustic oak, and even recycled wood appearances is skyrocketing.

The glossy, orangey laminates of the early 2000s are being firmly left in the past. Today, it's all about floors that bring a sense of calm and connection to nature into the home.

Bold Patterns and Playfulness

At the other end of the spectrum, there’s a rising group of homeowners embracing boldness. Social media has given rise to maximalism — where colour, pattern, and self-expression rule.

That’s reflected in flooring choices too. Patterned tiles (or tile-effect vinyls), checkerboard designs, and even painted floorboards are cropping up in stylish UK homes. These days, floors are frequently the focal point of the space rather than only serving as a subtly complementary element to the rest of the room.

It's a welcome departure from being cautious and demonstrates how much more comfortable people are with customising their environments.

Practicality is Still Key

Even while Pinterest and Instagram are frequently used for aesthetic inspiration, practical considerations still influence many final choices, particularly in British homes where muddy boots, rain, and pets are commonplace.

The popularity of engineered wood and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) isn't purely aesthetic; it's about building floors that can withstand everyday use. In addition to wanting floors that are easy to clean, scratch-resistant, and long-lasting enough to withstand family life, people also want the stunning images they see online.

What This Means for the Future

The constant stream of inspiration means trends are evolving faster than ever — but the overall message is clear: UK homeowners are becoming much more intentional with their flooring choices.

People are using their floors to tell a tale about their homes instead of merely selecting the "default" choice. Flooring is coming out of the shadows and receiving the recognition it merits, whether it is used to create a warm, nature-inspired hideaway or to make a striking design statement.

And honestly? It’s about time. After all, it’s the first thing you feel underfoot when you walk through the door. It deserves to be just as carefully considered as the perfect wall colour or sofa.