The Biggest Hardwood Trends of 2026: Warm Tones, Wide Planks, and Matte Finishes
As the premier flooring experts serving Glendora, La Verne, and Claremont, Nemeth Family Interiors is constantly watching the trends that shape Southern California home design. For hardwood flooring, 2026 is moving away from the cool, ash-gray floors of the past and embracing a style that is warmer, more natural, and incredibly luxurious.
If you are planning a hardwood renovation, here are the three major trends defining the most desirable homes in the San Gabriel Valley and beyond.
Trend 1: The Return of Warm & Earthy Tones
Say goodbye to stark gray washes. The leading trend is a full swing back to warm, inviting, and earthy wood tones. Homeowners are seeking comfort and character, which translates to shades of honey, amber, and mid-browns that highlight the natural grain of the wood.
Golden and Honey Oaks: These tones create a bright, airy feeling while maintaining warmth, perfectly complementing the bright light of a California home.
Rich, Mid-Tones: Floors that look naturally aged—not stained gray—are highly sought after, offering a classic, timeless foundation for any interior design style.
Brand Spotlight: Anderson Tuftex: Brands like Anderson Tuftex are leading this movement with collections that focus on natural white oaks and hickories, using subtle finishes to bring out the wood’s inherent character rather than masking it with heavy pigment.
Trend 2: The Luxurious Look of Wide and Long Planks
The standard 3-inch or 4-inch plank is being replaced by much grander dimensions. Wide-plank hardwood—typically 6 inches to 10 inches wide—and extra-long boards create an upscale, expansive, and calming look.
Fewer Seams, More Flow: Wider planks mean fewer seams, which visually reduces “noise” on the floor and makes rooms feel larger, a key design goal for open-concept homes in San Dimas and West Covina.
Emphasizing Natural Grain: Wide boards allow the natural patterns and character marks of the wood—the very elements that make hardwood so beautiful—to be fully showcased. This is especially true for engineered hardwood, where the wide planks offer greater stability against moisture changes.
Intricate Patterns: Beyond the plank size, homeowners are also embracing patterned floors. The herringbone and chevron layouts, once reserved for high-end luxury estates, are now a mainstream trend for entryways and dining rooms, adding a unique, European-inspired touch.
Trend 3: Matte and Ultra-Matte Finishes
High-gloss floors have fallen out of favor. While glossy finishes are beautiful, they notoriously highlight every speck of dust, scratch, and pet print. The future of hardwood is matte.
Understated Elegance: Matte and ultra-matte finishes absorb light rather than reflecting it. This creates a soft, contemporary aesthetic that gives the floor a rich, natural, oil-finished look without the maintenance requirements of real oil.
Practicality and Performance: A low-sheen finish is significantly more forgiving in a busy home. It beautifully masks minor scuffs and daily wear, making your floor look cleaner for longer.
The Best of Both Worlds: Many top brands now use high-performance, scratch-resistant coatings (like aluminum oxide finishes) beneath a beautiful matte top layer, giving you the natural aesthetic you want with the durability you need.
Hardwood flooring remains the gold standard for adding value and enduring beauty to your home. By choosing trends like warm tones, wide planks, and a natural matte finish, you are investing in a look that will remain elegant and desirable for decades to come.
Ready to explore the finest new collections from Anderson Tuftex, Shaw, and Mohawk? We welcome you to visit the Nemeth Family Interiors showroom right here in Covina to consult with our design experts and find the perfect wide plank, warm-toned hardwood for your next project in Glendora or Claremont.