Flooring high-flyers: 2021’s most popular choices

In what was quite a challenging year for most customers – lockdowns, more home-working for both adults and kids alike, and then the slow easing of restrictions – it’s no surprise that people turned their attention more to their homes than ever. With money saved due to less commuting, foreign holidays and eating out, many chose to improve their interiors and invest in attractive new flooring. 

But what did most people go for? Have we noticed any new trends? Let’s find out.

2021 19 Bestsellers

Let’s cut straight to chase. Out of a huge range of colours, styles, patterns, widths and textures to choose from, here are the ones customers most frequently purchased:

1. Prestige 7mmDusky Grey Oak Laminate 3532
2. Prestige Century Oak Grey 7mm V-Groove Click Laminate Flooring 4175
3. Ecostep Storm Grey 991M Vinyl Cushion Floor
4. Prestige Plus 12mm Silver Oak Plank AC4 Click Laminate Flooring 3900
5. Plain Colours Solid White 000S Vinyl Flooring
6. Aqua Plank Shadow Grey Click Vinyl Flooring
7. Ecostep 892 Noblesse Cushioned Vinyl
8. Aqua Plank Fossil Grey Click Vinyl Flooring
9. Prestige White Oak 8mm V-Groove Laminate Flooring 3201
10. Ecostep Grey Chic 977M Vinyl Cushion Floor
11. Ecostep Mist White 009S Vinyl Cushion Floor
12. Prestige Classic 6mm Oak Light Grey Laminate Flooring 3904
13. Prestige Oak Grey 8mm V-Groove Laminate Flooring 4175
14. Prestige Herringbone Faded Oak 8mm Laminate 3678
15. Ecostep Noblesse 1892 Cushioned Vinyl Flooring
16. Ecostep 793 Alba Cushioned Vinyl
17. Ecostep Pale Shadow 741M Vinyl Cushion Floor
18. Prestige Natural Oak 7mm V-Groove Click Laminate Flooring 3903
19. Plain Colours Solid Grey 910M Vinyl Flooring

As you can see, while high quality laminates took 3 out of the top 4 positions, another trend really shines through. Grey colours dominated sales of laminate, LVT and vinyl flooring in 2021, peaking in the Spring and remaining strong for the rest of the year.

Photo Credits: @stantonrenovation

It’s also very interesting to see white products making their first appearance in our top 20 chart, taking three positions out of the top 12. With most sales in Summer and Autumn, this could be a reflection of the trend towards a combination of Japanese minimalist and Scandi tones in homes, possibly complementing other light hues in decor or soft furnishings.

This said, the more traditional natural oak tones continued to see steady sales as ever throughout the year, especially with those going for laminate flooring. With cushioned vinyl also featuring strongly, we could conclude that many customers are seeking a quality feel underfoot with the best value for money. No surprise there! 

With a variety of product materials included in the top 20, it’s interesting to see how they break down individually and also note which type of flooring is conspicuously absent from the charts…

Top 10 Best Selling Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) products

Focusing solely on LVT flooring, the current trend towards lighter tones is firmly on display. Grey and white colours were the three most popular choices with customers, above the more natural oak tones, although the traditional and original timber choices were still strong. 

1. Aqua Plank Shadow Grey Click Vinyl Flooring
2. Aqua Plank Fossil Grey Click Vinyl Flooring
3. Aqua Plank Cool White Oak Click Vinyl Flooring
4. Aqua Plank Ultra Original Oak 5G Click Vinyl Flooring
5. Aqua Plank Traditional Oak Herringbone Click Vinyl
6. Aqua Plank Pumice Oak Click Vinyl Flooring
7. Aqua Plank Loft Oak Click Vinyl Flooring
8. Aqua Plank Urban Oak Click Vinyl Flooring
9. Aqua Plank Acacia Oak Click Vinyl Flooring
10. Aqua Plank Shore Oak Herringbone Click Vinyl

LVT has been a very popular choice of flooring in recent years, influenced by the increasing availability of DIY plank options. Its tactile feel, low acoustics and high water and scratch resistance have all helped it to become the go-to product for those seeking the perfect balance of high quality and practicality.   

Top 10 Best Selling laminate flooring products

High quality laminate continues to be a best-seller here at Factory Direct Flooring. As above, grey and white tones hog the popularity chart, but the more traditional natural and faded options are far from disappearing altogether. 

1. Prestige 7mm Dusky Grey Oak Laminate 3532
2. Prestige Century Oak Grey 7mm V-Groove Click Laminate Flooring 4175
3. Prestige Plus 12mm Silver Oak Plank AC4 Click Laminate Flooring 3900
4. Prestige White Oak 8mm V-Groove Laminate Flooring 3201
5. Prestige Classic 6mm Oak Light Grey Laminate Flooring 3904
6. Prestige Oak Grey 8mm V-Groove Laminate Flooring 4175
7. Prestige Herringbone Faded Oak 8mm Laminate 3678
8. Prestige Natural Oak 7mm V-Groove Click Laminate Flooring 3903
9. Prestige Classic White Oak 6mm Laminate Flooring 3201
10. Prestige Plus 12mm Mocha Rustic Oak AC5 Click Laminate Flooring 4731

Being easy to install, flexible in application and offering a spacious look with less joins throughout a room, laminate flooring is still a popular choice for customers.

Top 10 Best Selling vinyl roll flooring products

Perhaps we should have presented this list earlier, as vinyl roll flooring products saw significant growth in the second half of the year, overtaking laminate sales by a considerable margin. 

Wood effects were still easily the most popular, with grey and white wood patterns being top sellers in particular and medium or rustic oak textured prints also featuring strongly – a testament to the quality of today’s vinyl products. From wood, stone, concrete and patterned tile effects through to solid colours, speckled or marble-look – with a huge array of colours, styles, patterns and textures available – there’s literally no limit with vinyl.

1. Ecostep Storm Grey 991M Vinyl Cushion Floor
2. Ecostep Rustic Oak 606M Vinyl Cushion Floor
3. Plain Colours Solid White 000S Vinyl Flooring
4. Ecostep 892 Noblesse Cushioned Vinyl
5. Ecostep Grey Chic 977M Vinyl Cushion Floor
6. Ecostep Mist White 009S Vinyl Cushion Floor
7. Ecostep Noblesse 1892 Cushioned Vinyl Flooring
8. Ecostep 793 Alba Cushioned Vinyl
9. Ecostep Pale Shadow 741M Vinyl Cushion Floor
10. Plain Colours Solid Grey 910M Vinyl Flooring

Our managing director Paul Hambidge says: “The growth in sales of vinyl roll flooring was really quite remarkable and unusual for us, as we’ve historically seen higher sales of alternative products. As a result of this popularity, we’ve more than tripled

 our stock holding of it. It’s a great, budget-friendly option that can sometimes present less challenges in installation.” 

It’s also worth remembering, due to the cost-effective way vinyl flooring is produced, its manufacturers are always ahead of the rest of the flooring industry in bringing out the most up to date designs and colours.

Top 10 Best Selling engineered wood flooring products

Engineered wood flooring naturally lends itself to traditional tones and artisan styles. What’s worth noting here is not only the trend towards matt finishes throughout the chart, but also the popularity of the Herringbone style. 

1. Abbey Cervara 14mm Oak Matt Lacquered 4 Strip Click System
2. Herringbone Parquet 18mm Natural Oak Brushed Oiled Engineered
3. Abbey Sawtry 14mm Oak Brushed Matt Lacquer Engineered Wood Flooring
4. Abbey Kintbury 14mm Golden Oak Matt Lacquered 4 Strip Click System
5. Abbey Torre 14mm Coffee Oak Brushed Matt Lacquered Engineered Floor
6. Herringbone Parquet 18mm Natural Oak Brushed Matt Lacquer Engineered
7. Abbey Delapre 14mm Coffee Ash Matt Lacquered 3 Strip Click System
8. Abbey Kempton 20mm Brushed UV Oiled Oak Engineered Flooring
9. Frankton Oak Matt Lacquer 18mm Engineered Flooring
10. Abbey Sarlat 20mm Golden Oak Brushed Matt Lacquer Engineered Flooring

In general, we saw a huge rise in orders for Herringbone flooring in 2020 and demand remained strong in 2021, with customers frequently opting for the dynamic style. With a high position in this chart, and in choices for LVT and laminates, we can tell this is a trend that is here to stay.

What’s missing from these lists?

Engineered wood sales were low in comparison to other flooring products, and real wood boards were very much in the minority. Being quite high-maintenance, susceptible to impacts, moisture and stains, and not recommended for kitchens or bathrooms, real wood is still very much a luxury choice – definitely most effective in rooms focused on relaxation and entertaining, rather than areas of high traffic or activity.  

Photo Credits: @project.house.10

However, modern manufacturing techniques and digital printing for vinyl flooring means most customers are comfortable opting for more durable and cost-effective alternatives. With the strikingly realistic appearance of quality vinyl flooring, you can get the texture and warm tones of real wood with all the added benefits of water resistance and durability.

Ready to choose your flooring?

Take a look through all the shades, sizes, styles, textures and other options in our dedicated parquet flooring section and use the handy room area calculator to get an idea of the cost.

Looking for inspiration on designs, so your floor really stands out from the crowd? Check out our complete guide to parquet flooring patterns.