Fueled by social media, a hatred for trendy gray flooring is thriving. But for many people, living with gray floors isn’t a choice.
After the first time Anna Beagley saw gray floors, she couldn’t get them out of her mind. “It was love at first sight,” she said. “They’re a nice, neutral color but still give the room a light, airy vibe.” Patterned Vinyl Sheet Flooring
She hasn’t looked back since 2021 when she renovated her home in Utah and installed the vinyl gray flooring. “I can add touches of any color I want without really worrying if it will clash,” said Ms. Beagley, 34, an analyst.
But she began to notice an impassioned discourse about dust-colored floors take place online. Tastemakers have drawn a line, and it’s black and white: You either adore them or despise them.
Gray floors have been a source of vitriol for many people, who’ve expressed their distaste on social media with posts that have frequently gone viral. One user tweeted, “Every time original hardwood floors are replaced by gray plank vinyl a year is taken from my life.” Another labeled them “AirBnbcore.” In an Instagram post that has garnered nearly 170,000 likes, designer Bilal Rehman said that gray flooring “sucks the life out of any space that you have.”
At times, all the hatred directed at gray flooring can feel tiresome, Ms. Beagley said. “Sometimes it’s laughable. They’re floors, people. It’s not life or death,” she said. “Other times I get a little frustrated, if you don’t like them don’t get them, but why does anyone feel the need to loudly proclaim their hate for them?”
In the past few years, gray flooring has become a default option among many developers. Designers and architects think the vast grayness is a result of the past decade’s dominating minimalist aesthetic, as well as developers viewing it as a safe and inoffensive option. Gray flooring in apartments is also often laminate — a synthetic material that gives the appearance of wood and is cheaper than real hardwood flooring.
We are having trouble retrieving the article content.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Spc Want all of The Times? Subscribe.