2026 London Flooring Trends By Alba Flooring

Flooring for 2026 is about warmth, comfort and performance. London homeowners and business owners want interiors that feel contemporary without being cold, with floors that are beautiful, durable and easy to live with.

Alba Flooring, a leading flooring supplier and installation company, based in south London, supplies, installs and repairs quality wood flooring, laminates and tiles across London and the United Kingdom. From our showroom at 574 Wickham Road, Shirley, CR0 8DN we help clients in Shirley, Croydon, West Wickham and nearby areas choose floors that feel current for 2026 and are ready for everyday life.

Our specialists support both domestic and commercial projects, from first ideas to final installation, including sustainable wood specifications and underfloor heating ready build ups that suit London properties.

Quick FAQs and company background are available on our About page.

Looking to transform your space with our bespoke flooring?

Our team at Alba Flooring are here to help.

2026 Flooring Trends

Warm tones, texture and layout

The strongest 2026 schemes use warm oak, smoked and honey tones rather than cool greys. These colours flatter London terraces and flats, work well in receptions and meeting rooms and pair with the softer lighting and natural textures many clients now prefer.

Subtle texture, such as lightly brushed or matt surfaces, makes floors feel natural underfoot while staying easy to clean. Layouts mix wide planks with herringbone and chevron so spaces feel calm but characterful, with borders and framing used to define open plan zones around kitchen islands, hallways or waiting areas. As Arben, Senior Flooring Consultant at Alba Flooring, notes, Clients want floors that feel warm and calm now but will still look right in five or ten years.

Waterproof, family and business friendly floors

For busy households and businesses, waterproof surfaces are a major 2026 trend. Rigid core LVT and waterproof laminates are ideal for kitchens, entrances, staff rooms and rental properties, offering convincing wood and stone looks, good slip resistance and low maintenance.

Many London clients now mix materials, using engineered wood in lounges and boardrooms with LVT or laminate in kitchens and corridors. This delivers a consistent look and keeps budgets under control while durable, easy clean surfaces sit where they are needed most.

Materials And Choices

Wood, LVT and laminates

Engineered wood flooring remains the leading choice for sustainable wood flooring in 2026. Correctly sourced and installed, it can last for decades, can often be refinished and adds real value to homes and commercial premises, especially in living rooms, bedrooms, receptions and meeting rooms where warmth and character matter.

Luxury vinyl tile is the go to option where practicality comes first. It can be laid as planks, tiles or herringbone, works very well with underfloor heating and suits everything from family kitchens to healthcare or retail settings, while laminate offers a cost conscious way to refresh bedrooms, home offices and rental stock.

Alba Flooring works with trusted manufacturers including Ted Wood, Amtico Flooring, Woodpecker and Tuscania Ceramiche, giving clients a focused catalogue of products with proven performance and compatible accessories.

Tiles and planks

Large format porcelain tiles are a key 2026 flooring trend for generous kitchens, receptions and showrooms, creating a calm, expansive feel with fewer grout lines and linking neatly to patio or terrace finishes for a seamless look. In longer London corridors, hallways and compact rooms, plank formats are often more effective, making spaces feel longer and avoiding visually busy grout patterns.

Before any tile or plank installation we survey the subfloor, check strength and flatness and recommend any levelling or moisture control work, which is essential for long term performance.

Spaces And Build Ups

Living, kitchen and open plan areas

In living rooms and open plan family spaces, 2026 schemes are anchored with warm herringbone or wide planks in engineered wood or LVT, which work with changing furniture and colour schemes so flooring does not need to be replaced each time the decor evolves. Underfloor heating ready build ups are now common, since correctly specified floors help distribute heat evenly and support efficient heating.

For an independent overview of underfloor heating and energy efficiency you can visit guidance from the Energy Saving Trust. Kitchens often use large format tiles or stone effect LVT for easy cleaning and a statement finish, with subtle pattern or direction changes to mark island or dining zones without breaking the overall flow.

Commercial spaces and technical build ups

Modern commercial flooring in London must handle heavy wear while supporting brand experience. Engineered wood, LVT and high performance porcelain tiles are popular in receptions, meeting rooms, clinics, salons and showrooms, with patterned floors guiding movement and quieter wide planks suiting professional services that prefer a calmer feel.

Older shells and basements need more technical planning. Alba Flooring checks structure, performs moisture testing and designs acoustic and levelling build ups before recommending any surface finish, reducing the risk of movement, lipping or noise problems later.

You can explore our full range of wooden flooring in our Flooring Catalogue.

London Coverage And Support

London supply and fit

From our base in Shirley, Alba Flooring supplies and fits domestic and commercial flooring across a wide part of south and central London. Typical projects include family homes in Shirley and West Wickham, flats in Croydon and Addiscombe and commercial schemes in Beckenham and Bromley, with selected nationwide installations available by agreement.

We handle subfloor preparation, moisture control, installation and finishing, so you work with a single specialist team throughout the project.

Design, showroom and pricing

Our brand new cinematic tiles showroom at 574 Wickham Road showcases herringbone, chevron, wide planks, LVT and a large choice of porcelain, set out so you can compare tones, textures and formats in real light. Walk in clients currently receive 10 per cent off showroom purchases and bookings*.

You can preview the space on our Alba Flooring showroom reel, follow our main Instagram page and explore the About Us section, our expert advice page and the complete flooring catalogue. A free measure, layout suggestions and a clear written quote are all part of the service.

Terms and conditions apply, please ask in the showroom for details.

FAQs And Next Steps

2026 flooring trend FAQs

Are 2026 trends suitable for small London flats?

Yes, by choosing lighter tones, slimmer planks or smaller herringbone blocks we can open up compact rooms without losing warmth.

Will herringbone still be in style after 2026?

Yes, herringbone is a classic pattern, and careful choice of board size and colour keeps it timeless rather than tied to one season.

Can I mix different trend floors in one property?

Yes, many clients mix wood, LVT and tile, and we keep tones consistent so rooms connect visually even when formats change.

Do 2026 trend floors work with underfloor heating?

Yes, provided compatible products and build ups are specified, and we explain temperature limits, expansion gaps and control settings before fitting.

For more day to day questions you can visit the Alba Flooring FAQ section.

Plan your 2026 project

Whether you are a homeowner planning a new living room floor or a business owner updating a reception or showroom, starting early helps you secure the best products and fitting slots. Alba Flooring combines insight into 2026 flooring trends with practical experience in London homes and commercial spaces, so you can make confident, future ready choices.

Visit our Shirley showroom to explore options in person as we offer 10 percent off for walk in clients,

or browse our news and blog and complete flooring catalogue for ideas.

Get a Free Quote with Alba Flooring,

Call 02087775958 · Email sales@albaflooring.co.uk