10 Outdated Flooring Choices That Are Turning Away Potential Buyers From Your Home

There are some cardinal rules people follow to sell their house faster. Personal touches like pictures or travel mementos get packed up before the first showing, and bright, eccentric paint colors are swapped for mass-appealing neutrals. Cluttered spaces are often cleared out and simplified in order not to detract from the home's bones. Some people even go as far as staging the space to attract a wider net of buyers. However, if you did those swaps but your house isn't getting any offers, it might be time to take a closer look at your flooring. That might be the reason potential buyers are turning away from your home.

That's because flooring is a permanent fixture in your house, and not something as easy (or cheap!) to alter as wall paint. If it's outdated or unkempt, it will feel like a massive project the potential buyer will need to undertake upon moving in, and most people don't want to saddle themselves with such a task. "Flooring is one of those essential elements that will make or break that initial impression," Fred Loguidice, real estate expert and the founder of Sell My House Fast Virginia, exclusively shares with House Digest. "It's no longer strictly about fashion; it's about perceived value, maintenance, and whether the area will be seen as current." To find out what flooring is turning away potential buyers, we asked real estate experts for their professional opinions. From outdated gray laminate floors to builder-grade tiles, here is what to consider updating if your showings have slowed down to a crawl — or what to avoid putting in during your renovation.

Gray might have been the look du jour a few years ago, but it's definitely slipped from favor. With millennial gray becoming something of a recent cliché and there being an overall move toward warmer, richer colors in interior design, features like gray floors have become much less desirable. It's the once-trendy floor color that will make your house look dated. "Gray wood floors used to be trendy, but now they feel cold and lifeless because buyers are leaning toward warm, natural tones like oak or honey brown," Charissa Bright, owner at Bright Buys Houses, exclusively tells House Digest. Those warm wood tones are much easier to match with today's rising design trends, which focus on coziness and color rather than muted minimalism. For example, nostalgia decor, which combines antiques and vintage pieces with contemporary designs, is a reigning trend, as well as Pantone's 2025 Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, a rich brown color. A cool-toned gray floor wouldn't mesh well with these aesthetics.

If you're open to updating your flooring, look for woods in warm tones. "Instead, I recommend wide-plank wood in warm tones as these choices feel fresh, timeless, and help buyers fall in love with a home," Bright explains. A neutral shade like white oak or mahogany will blend with a wide range of design styles, which means it will appeal to a wider net of buyers, helping you capture more offers. If you don't have the budget to renovate, there are ways to revamp your outdated gray floors without replacing them, like covering them with large area rugs.

Carpet might feel comfortable underfoot, but it no longer holds the appeal it did a few decades ago. Nowadays, if your house is covered in wall-to-wall broadloom, buyers calculate how much it will cost to replace it with a wood alternative. "One form of flooring that discourages increasingly more purchasers is wall-to-wall carpeting, especially if older or found in the most used living areas, like dining rooms or living rooms," Sain Rhodes, real estate expert and customer success manager at Clever Offers, exclusively tells House Digest. They don't just dislike it because of aesthetics, even though it's no longer stylish to have beige carpeting throughout the house. "Purchasers mention the issues with carpet cleaning, how it holds all odors from pets or cigarette smoking, and how it traps allergens such as dander and dust," she notes. "On tours of homes I've seen, clients will subconsciously subtract value when they see carpet, especially if it's a patterned, bold, or dirty one." 

Instead, replace your flooring with hardwood flooring for the highest ROI. "Gold-standard hardwood floors are most often a sure bet and always a safe option. They exude ageless beauty, are durable, and low maintenance," Loguidice explains. According to a 2022 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of Realtors, installing new wood floors gets you 118% ROI. And if you want to go the cheaper route of LVP, that can net a 70% to 80% ROI. "I strongly recommend homeowners swap carpet for Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP), which has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity," Rhodes shares. "LVP mimics the look of hardwood, is waterproof, scratch-resistant, and easy to install, so a practical as well as visually appealing alternative." Some buyers might even prefer LVP over hardwood since it's sturdier and requires less maintenance.

What if you have carpeting on just your staircase? The polyester-covered treads are still a turnoff to buyers, especially since carpeting in that particular area often requires extra TLC. "Carpeting on stairs is considered a maintenance headache," Loguidice explains. Since stairs are a high-traffic area, the carpet pile gets a lot more wear and tear. This can lead to a flattened and matted look or its colors or patterns fading. This, in turn, makes the carpeting look much older than it is. It can also be a pain to clean if dust and dirt settle into corner crevices where vacuum attachments can't easily get into. Because of this, some buyers might back out of the purchase or offer less than the asking price.

Instead, remedy the situation by eliminating the carpeting. "Removing the carpet and refinishing the original wood treads and risers is almost always an investment worth making. It gives [a] much more open, clean, and elegant look," Loguidice notes. However, if you don't want to completely get rid of the tactile feel of carpeting, a good compromise is to install a runner on the stairs. "If extra grip is needed, a fashion runner rug can be installed over the finished wood treads, creating safety as well as design," Loguidice shares. "This simple upgrade can really add the feel of value and elegance to an entryway. I have had homes receive quick offers following this specific upgrade." You can also make it feel more designer by installing stair rods, which help keep the runner in place. An example of a popular option is the Ball Finial Stair Rod, available on Rejuvenation.

While dark hardwood is considered elegant, the same isn't true for laminate copycats, especially those installed decades ago when planks didn't look as realistic as they do today. Seeing dark planks with flamboyant wood grains seems overly fake, making the house appear less architectural and more budget-conscious. This can turn away a wide net of potential buyers, especially those who place a premium on aesthetics or quality. "While laminate has come a long way, some of the original versions, particularly those with very dark, nearly black, wood-grain designs or those that try to mimic unusual, highly variegated wood species with an overly shiny finish, are now regarded as outmoded," Loguidice explains. "Consumers tend to think of them as a lower quality item, although they are long-lasting."

If you want to replace your flooring with new vinyl, go for options in softer styles. "Look for lighter, more natural wood tones with a matte or lower-sheen finish and genuine grain patterns," Loguidice says. When it comes to the best hardwood floor colors, experts recommend lighter shades like white oak and maple. But if you want to go dark, try mahogany or walnut instead. However, keep in mind there is a difference between sheet vinyl and LVP. While both are made from vinyl, one is of much better quality than the other. Sheet vinyl, also known as "standard vinyl," is more affordable, but it's also much thinner and offers a less authentic-feeling underfoot. When asked which flooring would be best to upgrade dark vinyl floors, Loguidice notes that the "best option would still be luxury vinyl plank (LVP) for the added water resistance and typically more realistic texture, or a mid-tone engineered hardwood if the budget provides a bit more."

There are certain tiles that buyers love, such as well-maintained Victorian tiles that are full of history or mid-century terracotta tiles that speak of warmth and class. However, builder-grade '90s tiles don't inspire the same excitement. "Old ceramic or porcelain tiles, especially 1990s and early 2000s ones with dense patterns or brown/beige color, are another common complaint. Consumers often complain that these kinds of floors feel cold, institutional, or dated," Rhodes notes. "Aged darkened grout only continues to accentuate the visual effect of wear and tear. I've seen homes not selling because tile from the kitchen through the hallway made the house too 'builder-basic.'" These tiles can feel permanently dirty and grimy, much like old carpeting, making it hard to feel at home with them and necessitating a replacement. They can also be hard to style due to their dated colors, especially in main areas like the kitchen and living room.

Instead, update them with new but budget-friendly tiles. "Updating these with modern large-format porcelain tile in neutral hues like light gray or warm cream can make a space look larger, brighter, and newer," Rhodes explains. However, large-format tiles are often seen as the 2020s version of builder-basic, so if you want to avoid that, try LVP. "LVP in imitation of stone can yield the same look at less expense and effort," she notes.

Remember how we mentioned sheet vinyl earlier? If your house is covered in it, you might be losing potential buyers. This is especially true if you have the type of vinyl that tries to mimic stone rather than hardwood. "Who would forget that glossy, off-white or beige sheet vinyl flooring of the '90s and early 2000s, oftentimes trying to mimic ceramic tile or stone? They're definitely on the 'out' list," Loguidice confirms. "They lack the texture and authenticity that consumers are looking for today, and tend to wear out patterns quickly." These sheets were often the hallmark of a budget renovation, so the home could potentially be perceived as lower value.

If you want to keep the tiled look for wet spaces like bathrooms and kitchens, then it's best to upgrade to LVT. "For kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) ... is a great, affordable option that's far more water-resistant and has much more realistic appearances than older sheet vinyl," Loguidice recommends. It will feel more current and will increase the overall quality of your home. It's also better to invest in LVT rather than LVP if you want to mimic tiles, since the former comes in shorter, tile-like pieces, whereas the latter presents as planks, making it look more realistic. However, if you have some wiggle room in your budget, you might want to upgrade to real tiles. "If there's enough money to be spent, ceramic tile or porcelain tile in classic, bigger sizes (12x24 or 24x24 inches) with less grout lines is always a better idea for wet areas, for a more luxurious appearance," Loguidice confirms.

Trends come and go quickly, so it's no wonder that popular designs from even a decade ago are now looking dated. One such flooring trend was the hand-scraped hardwood from the mid-2000s. Planks were specially distressed with scrapes and dents that look like "waves" to make them appear old. A decade ago, it brought character and charm to a space thanks to its rustic look. But nowadays, it seems overly manufactured and even plastic in some people's eyes, which detracts from the natural appeal that hardwood is supposed to bring. "The grooves collect dust, and the lack of consistency in the 'distressing' can sometimes look manufactured rather than actually aged," Loguidice shares. Rather than resembling salvaged wood, it looks like hardwood forced to look reclaimed, which makes it appear inauthentic.

Instead, replace the flooring with less treated hardwood. "Smoother, matte-finish hardwoods in their natural or mid-tone stains are preferred by consumers today," Loguidice explains. The matte finish makes the wood look more natural and tactile, which fits in with today's nature-inspired biophilic trend that focuses on adding earthy elements to rooms. However, if you want some texture to your flooring, there is a workaround. "Soft wire-brushed finishes are even acceptable, as long as the distressing is not overly extreme. The goal is to make the space light, airy, and truly classic, not fake rustic," Loguidice says.

If you're hoping to get over-asking for your house, then it's time to take a closer look at how many flooring transitions you have in your home. Having multiple flooring materials can feel dated and builder-grade rather than elevated and designer. "Flooring transitions that are inconsistent throughout the home, such as carpet meeting tile, meeting laminate, also create a disjointed look that turns buyers off," Daniel Smith, team lead and real estate salesperson at Smith Realty Team, exclusively tells House Digest.

"Today's luxury buyers expect clean lines, cohesive materials, and a seamless visual flow from room to room," he notes. So, how do you remedy this? If you have an open floor plan, you want as little variation as possible. If you're after even more confirmation that mixing flooring types in an open concept home isn't the move, this is also a flooring option the Property Brothers are tired of seeing. If you have tiles in the kitchen but LVP everywhere else, consider replacing them with the same planks to make it feel more modern and seamless. However, if you own a closed concept home, you have a little more leeway, but you still want to keep the transitions to a minimum. Try to restrain transitions to a maximum of two different flooring types per floor, and ensure that they aren't of the same material. For instance, a transition of wood to tile is fine, but one of white oak planks to mahogany wood looks busy and like the renovation was done piecemeal. This could signal to buyers that you did so to save money, and that you might have cut corners in other updates to the home.

Some people love the elegant look of dark hardwood, and while an espresso finish can look timeless, it can be turning away buyers due to another factor: maintenance. "Dark-stained hardwood floors, once considered upscale, are now dividing buyers. While some still love them, many feel they show every scratch, dust speck, and footprint, especially in bright, modern homes," Cynthia Yannitelli, designated broker at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate BloomTree Realty, exclusively tells House Digest. Not many people have the time or energy to vacuum and mop their floors daily, so a dark stain can be a deal breaker, especially for those who have a hard time relaxing in a messy home.

Instead, consider lightening the stain to something a little more forgiving. "If you're refinishing, consider mid-tone or natural oak shades. They feel lighter, fresher, and pair beautifully with both modern and traditional interiors," she recommends. Some mid-tone examples include hickory, ash, and maple.

Cherry hardwood might be beautiful, but it feels dated thanks to its popularity in the early 2000s. Cherry tones can feel like they go hand-in-hand with Tuscan kitchens and matching bedroom sets, which might make your home feel old-fashioned to buyers. "Ten years ago, cherry floors meant upscale. Today, they read as overdone," Jacob Naig, real estate investor, agent, and owner of We Buy Houses in Des Moines, exclusively tells House Digest. Even worse, cherry flooring is particularly difficult to decorate around thanks to its vibrant red undertones. It's challenging to pair with other wood tones and clashes with many contemporary styles, especially neutral palettes and coastal looks, making it off-putting to many.

Instead, consider restraining your floors to a more contemporary tone. "Light-to-medium oak stains or unfinished-look finishes make a space feel airy and open, which better suits contemporary décor and staging. They're also much easier to decorate around, particularly if buyers are looking to bring their furniture in after close," he notes. Seeing how these light, unobtrusive shades are currently trending, your house will appear remodeled and refreshed to buyers, and thus, more desirable.