Top 3 Colour Trends in Hybrid Flooring for 2025

📖 12 min read

Floor colour might seem like a simple choice, but it's one of the biggest design decisions you'll make. Your flooring covers more visual space than any other element in your home – get it right and everything else falls into place. Get it wrong, and you'll notice it every single day.

After helping thousands of Australian homeowners choose their hybrid flooring over the years, I've seen trends come and go. Some stick around (hello, grey – still going strong), while others fade faster than expected. For 2025, we're seeing some clear directions emerge that balance style with practicality – exactly what Australian homes need.

This guide covers the colour trends dominating Australian interiors right now, plus practical advice on choosing shades that'll look great for years to come. Because the last thing you want is flooring that feels dated in three years.

2025 Colour Trends at a Glance

Before we dive deep, here's the quick overview of where Australian flooring colours are heading this year:

What's notable about 2025 trends? They're all grounded in natural, timeless aesthetics rather than bold or unusual colours. Australian homeowners are prioritising longevity over trend-chasing – a smart approach given flooring is a 15-20 year investment.

Let's explore each trend in detail, including which specific shades work best and where to use them.

Trend 1: Warm Earthy Tones

Earthy tones are absolutely dominating in 2025. After years of cool greys ruling the market, there's been a clear shift toward warmth – honeyed oaks, natural timber looks, soft beige sand, and warm walnut tones.

This isn't surprising. Interior design trends are cycling back toward natural materials and organic aesthetics. Dulux's 2025 colour forecast emphasises earthy, grounded palettes, and flooring is following suit.

Why Earthy Tones Work So Well in Australian Homes

There are practical reasons earthy tones resonate in Australia:

• They complement our natural light: Australia's bright, warm sunlight makes cool colours look stark. Earthy tones work with the light rather than against it.
• They hide dirt brilliantly: Sand, dust, and debris blend in rather than standing out – a genuine advantage if you've got pets or kids tracking through.
• They connect indoors to outdoors: Earthy floors create visual flow with Australian landscapes, gardens, and outdoor living areas.
• They're timeless: While grey had its moment, natural timber tones have never truly gone out of style. Your floors won't look dated in 10 years.

Earthy tones also pair perfectly with the natural materials trending in interior design right now – rattan furniture, linen textiles, timber accents, and abundant indoor plants.'

Where to use earthy tones: Living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas, hallways – they work virtually anywhere. Particularly effective in open-plan spaces where you want continuous warmth throughout.

Browse our light and neutral tone flooring collection for options in this colour family, or explore our timber-look range for realistic wood aesthetics.

Trend 2: Cool Grey Hues

Grey isn't going anywhere. After dominating Australian interiors for the past decade, it's evolved rather than faded. The greys of 2025 are softer and more nuanced – less cold concrete, more weathered driftwood.

From light ash to mid-tone pewter to deep charcoal, grey remains the go-to for modern, minimalist, and contemporary spaces. Its staying power comes from incredible versatility – grey genuinely works with almost any colour scheme and décor style.

Grey's Enduring Appeal

Why has grey dominated for so long? A few reasons:

• Incredible versatility: Grey works with Scandi minimalism, industrial warehouse, coastal Hamptons, and contemporary luxury. Few colours have this range.
• Practical perfection: Mid-tone greys are arguably the best at hiding dust, pet hair, and everyday wear. They're remarkably forgiving.
• UV stability: Quality grey hybrid flooring resists fading better than some other colours in our harsh Australian sun.
• Neutral backdrop: Grey floors let your furniture, art, and décor take centre stage without competing.

The 2025 evolution? We're seeing warmer grey tones (sometimes called "greige" – grey-beige hybrids) gaining ground. They offer grey's versatility with a touch of warmth that feels less sterile.

Where to use grey: Apartments, contemporary homes, rentals, anywhere you want a clean modern look. Grey is particularly effective in smaller spaces where lighter tones open things up.

Browse our full hybrid flooring range to see grey options, or check our SPC flooring collection for durable grey choices.

Trend 3: Bold Dark Shades

Dark flooring is making a strong statement in 2025. Charcoal oak, deep walnut, rich espresso, and near-black tones are appearing in luxury renovations and bold contemporary homes across Australia.

This isn't for everyone – dark floors demand the right space and confidence. But when done well, they create drama and sophistication that lighter floors simply can't match.

The Case for Dark Floors

Dark floors aren't just about aesthetics – there are practical considerations too:

• Hides scratches well: Contrary to what you might expect, dark floors actually hide scratches better than light floors. The scratches blend into the colour variation.
• Creates anchoring effect: Dark floors ground a space, making light walls and furniture pop. It's a tried-and-true interior design technique.
• Feels luxurious: There's a reason high-end hotels and restaurants often feature dark flooring. It reads as premium.
• Makes spaces feel cozy: Large, echoing rooms feel more intimate with dark flooring. Perfect for open-plan living areas that feel too cavernous.

The trade-off? Dark floors show dust more readily than lighter options. You'll notice every particle of dust and pet hair. If you're not a regular sweeper, this might drive you mad.

Where to use dark floors: Large living areas, dining rooms, entertainment spaces, bedrooms (particularly master suites). Avoid small bathrooms or windowless rooms where dark floors can feel oppressive.

Explore our dark tone flooring collection for options, including stunning herringbone patterns that add extra visual interest to dark floors.

What's Falling Out of Favour in 2025

Just as some trends rise, others decline. Here's what we're seeing less demand for:

The overarching theme? Natural is in, artificial is out. Flooring that looks like real timber (even if it's hybrid or vinyl) is what buyers want.

Practical Considerations: Beyond Aesthetics

Colour isn't just about looks – it has real practical implications for day-to-day living. Here's what to consider:

Showing Dirt, Dust, and Pet Hair

This is the biggest practical difference between colour families:

The sweet spot? Mid-tone floors – whether earthy or grey – offer the best of both worlds. They hide almost everything and require the least maintenance to look good.

UV Fading and Sun Exposure

Australia's harsh sun can fade flooring over time, especially in rooms with large windows or north-facing aspects. Quality hybrid flooring includes UV stabilisation, but some colours handle sun exposure better than others:

• Most resistant: Grey tones tend to show fading least
• Good resistance: Neutral earthy tones hold up well
• More sensitive: Very dark floors may show sun bleaching over time

The ATFA recommends using window treatments in rooms with direct sun exposure and choosing quality products with adequate UV protection built into the wear layer.

Room-by-Room Colour Recommendations

Different rooms have different needs. Here's my advice based on how each space is typically used:

Open-plan tip: If you're flooring an open-plan living/dining/kitchen, choose one colour throughout. Breaking up the space with different colours makes it feel smaller and disjointed. Our hybrid flooring is perfect for open-plan because it handles both wet (kitchen) and dry areas seamlessly.

Matching Flooring with Your Décor Style

Your floor colour should complement your overall interior style. Here's a quick guide:

Furniture Colour Considerations

• Light furniture + dark floors: Creates striking contrast, very dramatic
• Dark furniture + light floors: Prevents room feeling heavy, maintains brightness
• Similar tones: Creates cohesive, calm feel – just ensure there's enough contrast to avoid looking flat

If you're not changing furniture, work with what you have. Bring samples home and place them next to your existing pieces to see how they interact.

Australian Climate Factors

Our climate affects colour choices more than you might think:

Natural Light

Australia's bright, warm sunlight is different from northern hemisphere light. This affects how colours read:

• Cool greys can look cold under our warm light – consider "greige" (grey-beige) instead
• Very light floors can look washed out in sun-drenched rooms
• Dark floors absorb heat from sunlight – consider this in west-facing rooms

Room Orientation

• North-facing rooms (less direct sun in Australia): Light tones help brighten
• South-facing rooms (most direct sun): You can go darker without losing light
• West-facing rooms (hot afternoon sun): Consider lighter colours that don't absorb as much heat

Humidity Considerations

In humid areas of Australia, the SPC core in hybrid flooring is more dimensionally stable than traditional vinyl – it won't expand and contract as much with humidity changes. Colour choice doesn't affect this, but it's worth knowing if you're in a subtropical area.

How to Choose Your Perfect Floor Colour

After all this information, here's the practical process I recommend:

Step 1: Consider Your Space

• How big is the room? Light tones open up small spaces; dark tones make large spaces feel cosier.
• How much natural light does it get? Dark floors need good lighting to shine.
• What's the room used for? High traffic areas need forgiving mid-tones.

Step 2: Consider Your Lifestyle

• Pets? Avoid very light or very dark – mid-tones hide hair best.
• Kids? Same advice – mid-tones are most forgiving.
• Hate cleaning? Definitely go mid-tone. Dark floors show every speck.
• Planning to sell? Neutral tones appeal to the widest buyer pool.

Step 3: Match Your Style

• What's your furniture like? Work with it, not against it.
• What's your overall design vibe? Match the floor to the aesthetic.
• Are you trend-focused or timeless? Natural timber tones never date.

Step 4: Test Before You Commit

This is non-negotiable. Colours look completely different on screens than they do in real life. The only way to truly know if a colour works in your space is to see it there.

Order free samples and:

• Lay them on the floor in different spots
• Look at them at different times of day (morning light vs. evening)
• Place them next to your existing furniture and walls
• Live with them for a few days before deciding

Explore the 2025 Colour Trends

Ready to find your perfect floor colour? Browse by tone:

Want to see how these colours look in real Australian homes? Check out our customer gallery for inspiration from homeowners who've already made the choice.

Not sure which direction to go? Give us a call on 0406 304 357 or send us a message – we're happy to chat through options and help you find the perfect match for your space.

Last updated: December 2025 · Written by the team at Hybrid Floors Australia

↑