Milliken 5 Commercial Flooring Trends for 2025

Commercial flooring plays a foundational role in shaping the spaces we work, learn, and heal in. In 2025, flooring continues to do more than support foot traffic—it supports flexible work, celebrates emotional wellness, and speaks to the growing need for purpose-driven design.

At Milliken, we believe material science is a springboard for design innovation. Our flooring collections are guided by evolving end-user needs and grounded in our deep knowledge of how space impacts people.

We spoke with designers and customer experience associates across team Milliken to uncover what’s next in commercial design—and how those shifts are showing up on the floor plane.

The Drivers Behind Milliken’s 2025 Trends

The way we use space continues to evolve. Hybrid work models and repurposed real estate are reshaping the workplace. Designers are seeking flooring that meets not just performance standards, but deeper human needs—calm, creativity, clarity, and control.

"Even with return-to-office headlines, we’re seeing fewer new builds and more remodels," shares Jess Herring, Creative Manager, Product Design. "Designers are adapting existing spaces with greater intention. They want to make the most of what they have, without compromising comfort or style."

This year’s trends reflect that mindset: future-focused, but deeply human.

How flexibility and inclusivity are reshaping flooring design.

Today’s workspaces must be more than functional—they must be inclusive, adaptable, and emotionally aware. From neurodiverse design principles to flexible layouts that support hybrid schedules, commercial flooring is part of a broader push toward autonomy in the workplace.

"There’s a huge emphasis on choice and control," says Herring. "People want to decide how and where they work, and flooring helps support that experience."

Milliken’s collections for 2025 are designed with neuroinclusive and trauma-informed design in mind—supporting diverse work styles and wellness needs across sectors. When it comes to neurodiversity and design, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, successful flooring solutions offer choice, sensory variety, and intentional design cues.

Milliken Products That Support This Trend:

1. Collective Mind| With organic patterning inspired by nature and a warm, versatile palette, Collective Mind brings a sense of calm and familiarity to workspaces. Its flowing striations and subtle textures make it ideal for low-stimulation zones.
2. Sound of Color| Inspired by sound waves and designed for visual and emotional resonance, Sound of Color offers a spectrum of hues and gentle gradients. Its color-driven flexibility helps create environments tailored to either calming or energizing effects—supporting a variety of sensory preferences.
3. New Ground| Rooted in earthy hues and minimal patterning, New Ground offers visual simplicity with high-performance resilience. It’s particularly well suited to spaces where visual clarity and low distraction are key, such as focus rooms or transition areas.

COLLECTIVE MIND

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SOUND OF COLOR

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NEW GROUND

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Design rooted in memory, reinvented for modern spaces.

Designers today are drawing on a rich tapestry of history and culture to create spaces that feel both comforting and meaningful. This approach goes beyond nostalgia—embracing reconciliation through design and honoring diverse cultural stories. Influences span far beyond mid-century motifs or early 2000s trends, reaching back to ancient traditions and Indigenous histories reinterpreted in contemporary contexts.

“We’re seeing a blend of eras in every design element,” shares Senior Designer Holly Nguyen. “It’s not just a 70s revival or a 90s comeback—it’s all of it, mixed with new context.”

Nostalgia connects people emotionally to their environments, grounding them in familiar patterns and palettes. Meanwhile, collections like Nibi: A Reconciliation Through Design represent a powerful new narrative—one that honors Indigenous culture, history, and resilience. Designed by First Nation interior designer Destiny Seymour, Nibi draws inspiration from ancient Indigenous ceramics and bone tools, reinterpreting intricate patterns in a fresh, modern way. Its name, derived from the Anishinaabemowin word for ‘water,’ reflects a spirit of renewal and restoration.

Through patterns rooted in ancient Indigenous motifs and colors drawn from personal memory, Nibi offers a layered approach to design—one that balances remembrance with renewal. It’s a reminder that honoring the past isn’t limited to nostalgic decades but can also mean reconnecting with histories that have long been overlooked.

Together, nostalgia-driven trends and culturally grounded collections like Nibi demonstrate how the past—whether recent decades or ancient histories—is shaping the emotional and cultural resonance of today’s interiors.

Whimsy, wonder, and color-forward creativity take center stage.

After years of muted neutral minimalism , bold colors and playful design are making their way back into commercial interiors. Flooring becomes a vehicle for emotional impact—sparking creativity, energy, and positivity.

"There’s a playful spirit showing up in our conversations," says Holly Lester, Manager, Customer Experience. "Clients are gravitating toward color-driven, joy-triggering patterns that feel unexpected and energizing."

This trend is more than aesthetics—it reflects a cultural desire for spaces that feel expressive, meaningful, and human.

Milliken Products That Support This Trend:

EDGE LIT

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SIX PACK

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MORAINE

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Spaces that prioritize people.

Wellness in design is evolving. It’s no longer just about visual calm—it’s about psychological safety, material transparency, and multisensory harmony. From trauma-informed design strategies to Red List Free materials, designers are rethinking what it means to create spaces that truly support people.

Milliken’s newest PVC-free and Red List Free resilient collection, En Plein Air exemplifies this trend—inspired by art therapy, natural light, and the idea that creativity can be
restorative.

Milliken’s commitment to wellness spans across product categories. Our entire portfolio of WellBAC® cushion-backed carpet tiles is PVC-free and designed for enhanced comfort, acoustics, and durability. These products can extend carpet life by up to 50% compared to hardback, offering lasting performance and underfoot support.

Wellness also means designing with the planet in mind. Through our N/XT Life™ Circularity Program, we prioritize durability, recyclability, and reuse. More than 1,000 carpet styles incorporate recycled yarns, and our partnerships with local organizations help give carpet tile a second life in commercial spaces and communities.

Timeless finishes that elevate existing spaces.

With remodels on the rise, designers are looking for flooring that adapts easily to existing finishes and legacy materials. Collections that balance fresh design with warm neutrals and classic wood tones are in demand.

"We’re seeing a return to warmer woods and less heavy embosses on hard surfaces, " says Herring. "These materials support durability and cleanability, while fitting seamlessly into older interiors."

Milliken’s latest resilient and soft surface carpet tile offerings are designed for flexibility, beauty, and long-term value.

Milliken Products That Support This Trend:

FORTIFIED FOUNDATIONS

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MESA

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FIRST SIGHT

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Trends Across Markets: From Workplaces to Wellness Spaces

Each of these trends takes shape differently across verticals:

• Workplaces: Embrace joy and flexibility to support hybrid models
• Education: Prioritize trauma-informed design and sensory zones
• Healthcare: Choose Red List Free materials and biophilic palettes to foster calm
• Hospitality: Lean into nostalgic storytelling and artistic expression

Nguyen adds, "There’s overlap everywhere—we’re designing for humans first, not just functions."

Looking Ahead: Flooring as Foundation

At Milliken, we believe flooring is more than a surface. It’s a foundation for well-being, creativity, and connection. Our approach blends material science with meaningful design—so that every square foot supports people and purpose.

Whether you're reimagining an office or creating a space that inspires calm and creativity, Milliken offers flooring collections that meet the moment—and help you design for what’s next.

Explore our flooring collections or connect with a Milliken rep to bring these 2025 trends into your next project.

About Milliken’s Flooring Business

Since 1973, the year we launched Millitron, the first large-scale digital carpet printer, Milliken has worked to provide innovative solutions that align with the latest flooring trends. Our portfolio of cushion-back carpet and resilient flooring highlights design aesthetics that the A+D community gravitates toward and digs deep into Milliken’s materials science expertise. Our industry-leading flooring offers functional benefits including enhanced acoustics, increased moisture management, and mindful material selection, while our commitment to sustainable manufacturing inspires us to seek new ways to develop our products responsibly.