Floors, once treated as an afterthought, are now seen as an opportunity to personalise and elevate a space. It is now a key player in the look and feel of modern Indian homes. “Flooring elevates the overall aesthetic of any space. I want to love the ground that I walk on,” says Rouble Chhabra, a Mumbai-based chef and lawyer. In her newly designed home, Chhabra opted for a timeless black-and-white broken box pattern.

Credits – Rouble Chhabra

Why flooring is the new main course in interior design?

For Surabhi Trivedi, an entrepreneur from Ghaziabad, social media played an important role in helping her choose a rug that would suit her needs. “I added a few thoughtful pieces, like an earthy, handwoven rug under the coffee table, a soft vintage runner in the hallway, and a textured mat in the kitchen,” she says. Designers note that flooring is no longer the last step of a home makeover. It’s being planned alongside, or even before, paint colours and furniture. One reason is its sheer visual impact. Bold flooring can break the monotony of minimal interiors or help define zones in open-plan homes. Anuj Ramchandran, Associate director of design and build, Livspace, explains, “In contemporary interior design, floor art refers to the deliberate use of materials, patterns, textures, and finishes that go beyond function to shape a space’s aesthetic.” He also sees this as a return to cultural roots. “Interestingly, the use of floors as decorative elements has deep historical roots, from the ornate mosaic floors of Roman villas to the intricate marble inlays of Mughal architecture. Floors were once crafted to impress and tell stories.”

Types of floor designs

One of the biggest trends right now is mixing materials, such as pairing terrazzo tiles with wooden borders or using jaali-style floor cut-outs to separate zones. In apartments with minimal colour palettes, designers are recommending bold patterned floors to break monotony and add character. Think Moroccan tiles in kitchens, chequered black-and-white patterns in bathrooms, or even layered dhurries and rugs with tribal or Persian motifs to create a warm, textural story. If you’re designing a new home or renovating, start by picking your statement floor element first. It can be a central rug, a tile pattern, or a stone finish. And build the rest of the room around it to let the floor do the talking. For Gunjan Goel, director of Goel Ganga, rugs in particular are having a moment. “Today, everything from bold rugs and fancy tiles to hand-painted inlays gives homeowners another big spot to show their style… Floor art also invites people to walk around and touch what they see, which adds a warm, lived-in feel,” Goel adds.

Raghunandan Saraf, Founder and CEO of Saraf Furniture, clarifies that today’s floor art comes from a deeper need to increase the aesthetic value of the house. He says, “Although modern homeowners are inspired by traditional forms of decorative art and motifs and patterned tiles or carved rugs, the desire for permanence is a contemporary change blending culture into diverse design styles.”

Tiles

Popular Styles: Moroccan, terrazzo, jaali-style, chequered black-and-white, floral motifs

Aesthetic Appeal: Whether it’s a striking Moroccan design in the kitchen or a chequered pattern in the bathroom, these tiles can turn any floor into a visual centrepiece. Designers also use them to define zones in open-plan homes, making tiles both functional and decorative.

Rugs

Popular Styles: Handwoven dhurries, Persian themes, tribal motifs, vintage runners

Aesthetic Appeal: Layering textured rugs in neutral-toned rooms brings in warmth and depth. A well-placed rug can tie together scattered furniture pieces and serve as a focal point. Earthy tones or bold colours, depending on the palette, add character and movement to a room.

Marbles

Popular Styles: Intricate inlays, geometric layouts, classic white with veins, Mughal-style patterns

Aesthetic Appeal: Intricate detailing in marble adds a touch of luxury, and geometric designs can make even small spaces appear more refined. Whether it’s a grand foyer or a modern bathroom, marble elevates the aesthetic value without overwhelming the décor.

Flooring Market on the Rise

What Will It Cost?