Hardwood Floors April/May 2026

By Karen Asprea

Flooring plays a particularly important role in this process. It is the surface people connect with most physically – walked on daily, felt underfoot, lived on – so naturally it demands a longer view. Because of this, the trends we see in flooring tend to align with longevity rather than novelty. The right floor influences how light travels through a space, how furniture sits, and how people move and gather. It sets the emotional tone of a room in a way few other materials can. There is a clear shift away from overly uniform or generic finishes toward wood floors that feel layered, warm, and tactile. Subtle variation in grain, tone, and texture is valued increasingly, as are finishes that highlight a material’s natural character rather than mask it. This is where classic choices such as rift and quartersawn white oak lead consistently. Their refined grain structure, stability, and timeless appearance make them well-suited to spaces designed to endure, both aesthetically and functionally. Plank width and installation patterns also are

“DESIGN INTENT AND JOBSITE REALITIES: SHARING PERSPECTIVES FOR BETTER OUTCOMES” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 9:15-10:15 A.M. MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW TO JOIN US AT EXPO Moderator: Lawrence Skutelsky of PID Floors Panelists: Karen Asprea of Asprea Studio and Robyn Branch of Robyn Branch Design

IGNITE YOUR PASSION

becoming more expressive, with mixed widths and thoughtful layouts creating personality and flow across residential and commercial interiors. When executed with intention, these choices feel enduring rather than trendy. Most recently, I renovated a home in Miami, Florida, using flooring that employs natural pigments to draw out the depth and color of the wood. It is the kind of material that improves with time, aging beautifully while anchoring the rest of the design quietly. At the end of the day, the best flooring trends are the ones that enhance a space without calling attention to themselves, creating environments that feel grounded, timeless, and truly lived in. At the NWFA Expo, I’ll be participating in a panel conversation focused on collaboration between architects, interior designers, and the wood flooring industry. It is an opportunity to have a practical, honest discussion about how these relationships actually function in the field, not just in theory, but on real jobsites.

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