Best Flooring Options for Modern Contemporary Homes

Picking the right hardwood floor can bring your modern contemporary home to life.

Interior floor design might sound daunting—but it doesn’t have to be. Finding the right hardwood flooring, whether full of organic knots or striking color variation, can completely transform a room. We’d argue that flooring is one of the most critical elements in bringing a specific design aesthetic to life.

If you love clean lines and creative spins on past trends that blend old and new, a modern contemporary design might be right for you. We’ve laid out some of the best flooring options for a modern contemporary home that will bring subtle sophistication, sleek design, and a lot of luxury.

Characteristics of Modern Contemporary Home Design

Many design elements contribute to the overall effect when curating a modern contemporary home—from flooring choices to colors, textures, and more. Here are a few design elements to keep in mind when developing one.

1.     Minimalist, clean lines

Many aspects of contemporary flooring and design are influenced by minimalism. Minimalism is all about clarity, intentionality, and simplicity. When considering décor, avoid clutter or tchotchkes on surfaces and select each item with intention. Pick out flooring with clean lines and reduced seams by using longer and wider boards.

2.     Neutrals with accents

Whether it’s the finish of your floor or the patterns of grain within each plank, a neutral palette is a must for any contemporary design home. Opt for a blend of browns, beiges, taupes, or greys, and don’t be afraid to layer warm and cool neutrals together for a balanced, interesting look and feel. Rugs, pillows, and other accessories can add pops of color throughout a room for additional visual interest and character.

3.     Modern textures

Modern interior design can sometimes run the risk of feeling too sterile and cold. That’s where textures come into play in a modern contemporary home. Mixing and matching many textures in pillows and rugs adds edgy, contemporary style and complexity. From silk to shag to wool and woven, tying together multiple textures juxtaposes against sleek, clean hardwood floors creating a delicious feast for your eyes.

Hardwood Flooring Ideas for Modern Contemporary Homes

Hardwood floors are a great choice for creating a contemporary home aesthetic. The options are limitless: Hardwood floors can come in various finishes, sizes, and installation styles to bring any vision to life. For a truly modern contemporary home, follow these four tips when picking out hardwood flooring.

• Choose wide plank wood floors. Wide plank floors reduce the number of visible seams for a more minimal look. Use a single width across your home for best results so that seams are consistent. Our boards reduce seams by over 50% compared to more commodity-style dimensions, creating clean lines that create sleek openness.
• Use neutral, timeless finishes. Several different neutral hardwood floor finishes can fit contemporary design styles. When properly cared for, hardwood floors can be an heirloom piece that lasts for generations, so keep timelessness in mind. For instance, although whitewash is a very popular choice for contemporary homes, a medium-to-darker tone can minimize the underlying color variation of the wood and offer a neutral option that will look great for decades.
• Opt for high-grade floors. While knots and visual imperfections can give floors a unique, one-of-a-kind character, those going for a contemporary flooring aesthetic may prefer a more consistent wood grain for a minimalist look. By choosing specific wood grades, you can create a custom floor with fewer knots and variations from plank to plank. Carlisle’s proprietary flooring grades can help make this easy—our heirloom grade can eliminate visual interruption and offer polished consistency.
• Pick Quartersawn or Rift-sawn wood planks. Most hardwood floors use a cutting style known as “plainsawn” when cutting boards from timber. Plain sawn boards are cut like loaves of bread in slices. This technique results in a range of grain patterns that vary within each plank. In contrast, “quartersawn” refers to cutting the wood at an angle to the outer surface, which produces a more stable plank with very straight grain lines and unique ray flecks that add to the dramatic beauty of the wood. Like quartersawn, “rift sawn” cuts every board at a 90° angle from the surface for consistent grain patterns. Selecting quartersawn or rift-sawn planks will create grain lines parallel to the board’s edge, eliminating the cathedrals seen in plainsawn floors. The result: clean elegance perfect for a modern contemporary home.

Choosing Your Dream Hardwood Floor

Ready to bring your modern contemporary home to life? Take our Flooring Quiz to hone in on the best options for you. Clean lines, sleek neutrals, and timeless elegance are just a click away. Finding your perfect hardwood floor—the one that will bring you joy and inspiration for decades—just got much easier.  Want some more inspiration?  View our project gallery, where our clients have brought their Carlisle flooring visions to life.