Beyond Black and White: Checkerboard Flooring Gets a 2025 Makeover

As 2025 approaches, interior design trends are shifting, and flooring is no exception. While classic checkerboard patterns remain a beloved choice for kitchens and bathrooms, the traditional black and white iteration is evolving. This year, homeowners are encouraged to explore bolder colors, alternative layouts, and updated materials to keep their spaces feeling fresh and contemporary.

Key Takeaways

• Checkerboard flooring is timeless but the classic black and white is being updated.
• Bold colors, softer palettes, and varied tile shapes offer fresh takes.
• Alternatives like parquet, encaustic tiles, and terrazzo are gaining popularity.
• Matte finishes and natural materials are preferred over high-gloss.
• Gray-toned flooring is falling out of favor.

A Fresh Take on Checkerboard

While checkerboard flooring has endured for centuries, its classic black and white scheme can sometimes feel harsh or overwhelming in modern homes. For 2025, designers suggest embracing bolder color pairings, such as rhubarb red with jade blue, or opting for softer palettes like gray, rose, or green-toned tumbled stone. Rectangular or hexagonal tiles can also add an intriguing visual effect, moving away from the traditional square.

Embracing Alternatives

For those seeking a departure from checkerboard, several other flooring trends are emerging. Parquet and herringbone patterns offer intricate designs and visual depth without being overly busy. Printed encaustic tiles provide a unique, hand-crafted feel, while traditional terracotta brings warmth and organic texture. Terrazzo tiles are also predicted to be a major flooring choice for 2025, offering a blend of classic style, texture, pattern, and sustainability.

Material and Finish Matters

When it comes to materials, there's a noticeable shift away from certain finishes. High-gloss floors are being replaced by matte or textured finishes, which are more practical and forgiving in high-traffic areas like kitchens. Gray-toned wood flooring is also falling out of favor, with warmer, natural wood tones like oak and walnut, or richer browns and dark chocolates, taking its place. Similarly, large square tiles are being superseded by oversized rectangular tiles or monolithic slabs for a more contemporary, seamless look.

What to Avoid

Designers are advising homeowners to steer clear of several dated trends. This includes glossy or high-shine floor tiles, which are high-maintenance and can feel cold. Gray kitchen flooring is also on the decline, as the focus shifts towards warmer, cozier palettes. Brightly colored checkerboard floors are being replaced by more muted tones or classic black and white. Simple, linear wood flooring layouts are also being updated with more intricate patterns like herringbone, chevron, or Parquet de Versailles. Finally, using separate flooring in different zones of an open-plan space is considered outdated; a cohesive, single flooring option is preferred for a seamless flow.

By exploring these evolving trends, homeowners can ensure their kitchen and bathroom floors are not only stylish but also timeless and functional for years to come.

Sources

• 6 Outdated Kitchen Flooring Ideas and What to Choose Instead, Livingetc.
• 10 Bathroom Flooring Trends for 2025, Livingetc.
• 7 checkerboard floor tile alternatives to try in 2025, Homes and Gardens.
• Checkerboard Kitchen Floor Ideas, Retro Tile Trend, www.domino.com.
• 5 dated kitchen flooring trends to avoid in 2025, Homes and Gardens.