This month we take a closer look at how flooring trends continues to evolve with the addition of warmer hues, texture, and vintage inspired designs. As interiors move towards warmer, more grounded palettes, timeless patterns are finding new relevance. WGSN, the global authority on consumer and design trends, forecasts nature-led colours including earthy clay tones and meadowland greens for 2027, signalling an appetite for interiors that feel warm, grounded and connected to nature.
Twill from Ulster Carpets captures this direction. Designed by Ulster’s in-house designers Clare Jenkinson and Calvin Pope, the collection reinterprets four enduring patterns, Tartan, Gingham, Herringbone and Houndstooth, for today’s home.
Each pattern is presented across four sophisticated earth tones, creating 16 distinctive design and colour combinations. Twill also taps into the Vintage Reimagined trend, where familiar references are refreshed through contemporary colour and styling.
Inspired by Ulster’s history of Tweed manufacturing, the collection brings traditional textile influences into a modern setting.
Available in the new year, Twill arrives in time for the forecast 27/28 trends, giving retailers a collection that combines recognisable pattern with colours set to shape the next chapter of interior design.
Cormar Carpets highlight that In 2026, homes embraced interior design schemes that feel warm, considered and full of character. Calm, neutral palettes remain popular, but increasingly they are being elevated through layered textures, natural materials and tactile finishes that bring depth and personality to a space. This focus on tactility is placing textured carpets firmly in the spotlight. Loop pile designs are particularly suited to the trend, introducing subtle pattern and dimension while maintaining a timeless, understated look. Wool also complements the move towards natural materials, combining warmth and comfort with lasting durability.
Cormar recently launched Trilogy collection brings together three popular loop pile designs – Brontë, Austen and Collins – in one must-have range of carpet options. Made from 100% Pure New Wool, each design offers its own distinctive texture and character underfoot, providing plenty of choice for both contemporary and traditional interiors.
A considered palette of six versatile neutral shades across each design reflects the warm, natural tones shaping interiors this year. Naturally resilient and moth-resistant, Trilogy is also designed to withstand busy homes and high-traffic areas. Combining natural materials, versatile colour and distinctive texture, Trilogy provides a stylish foundation for creating the warm, layered interiors defining 2026.
In a world of fast furniture and throwaway trends, a quieter approach to interiors is taking hold. Slow living, a philosophy rooted in intention, craftsmanship and connection to the natural world, is reshaping how we design and live in our homes, starting from the ground up. This appreciation for natural materials, tactile textures and considered craftsmanship is reflected in Alternative Floorings’ latest wool collections.
Previewed at Focus/26 and available from December, Wool Connection celebrates the enduring craft of textile weaving. The new handwoven collection features four distinctive patterns – Willow, Reed, Field and Furrow – each available in three nature-inspired colourways: Forest, Sky and Earth. From the timeless plaid of Field to the subtle tonal stripe of Reed, treated to be moth-resistant, each design showcases the versatility and beauty of wool through texture and pattern, celebrating the skill and artistry behind traditional weaving techniques.
Wool Hush and Wool Calm are new tufted loop carpets crafted from 100% wool fibre, designed in response to the growing demand for calmer, more restorative interiors. Harnessing wool’s natural warmth, softness and acoustic benefits, the collections create spaces that feel balanced, comfortable and inviting, adding peace and tranquillity. Both collections are also treated to be moth-resistant, helping to maintain their appearance and longevity over time. Each collection features a carefully curated colour palette, with every shade named after UK meadows, reinforcing the connection between nature, wellbeing and interior design.
Grey had its moment, now colour is having its say, according to Elements London. The interiors we’re drawn to today feel warmer, more expressive and infinitely more personal. Richer palettes, bolder combinations and the charm of vintage touches are replacing the pared-back minimalism of a decade ago, bringing character, depth and a little more joy into the way we decorate.
For the past two years, introducing colourways that feel unexpected, distinctive and just a little bit different has been high on our agenda. We’re seeing a growing desire for interiors that feel collected rather than styled; spaces where colour, texture and pattern can be mixed with confidence, and where flooring becomes part of the story.
At this year’s Decorex International at Olympia London, we introduced our flatweave collections with this spirit in mind. A mix of PP and P.E.T. collections offer beautiful versatility, with designs that work effortlessly across indoor and outdoor spaces which are perfectly suited to the more relaxed, flexible way we are living now.
And then there are the colours. We’ve introduced new, richly considered shades across some of our existing collections, proving just how transformative a change of palette can be. The same design can suddenly feel warmer, more playful, more sophisticated, even a little unexpected. For us, that is the real pleasure of colour. It can completely change the mood of a room, awaken a familiar design and give an interior its own sense of identity.
Beautiful flooring should never simply sit quietly beneath your feet. It should tempt the eye, invite touch and become something to covet.
Karndean Designflooring has identified five key design directions that reflect changing lifestyles and a growing desire for interiors that balance individuality, practicality and lasting appeal. “Flooring isn’t a cushion cover. You don’t swap it out with the seasons and you shouldn’t have to,” says Aris Lazdans, Design & Trends Expert at Karndean.
Biophilic Living – Bringing nature indoors remains a priority. Karndean’s new Van Gogh designs, including Après Oak, Indy Urban Elm and Natural Prime Oak, capture the natural grain and character of timber. Alongside the organic tones of Art Select, they offer nature-inspired flooring with waterproof and scratch-resistant performance.
Next is Heritage Revival with decorative patterns and traditional craftsmanship which are making a comeback. The new Knight Tile Curio collection introduces vintage-inspired tessellated designs, while the Heritage Collection offers timeless character with contemporary practicality.
Playful Maximalism sees homeowners embrace bolder, more expressive interiors. Knight Tile Curio offers versatile layouts through a single rotating tile, while Art Select’s Empire Marble and Rose Onyx provide further opportunities to introduce personality and statement flooring.
Flexible Living – As homes accommodate hybrid working and multigenerational living, adaptable flooring is increasingly important. Van Gogh’s coordinated plank, herringbone and panel formats create visual continuity across multifunctional spaces.
Finaly, we see Confident Contrast. Mixing wood and stone effects, contrasting tones and complementary textures allows homeowners to define different zones and create individual schemes without compromising cohesion.