Issuu

Design Perspectives In Carlisle’s 2025 survey of interior designers, clear themes emerged around luxury residential design. This report examines the subtle shifts influencing materials, palettes, and design decisions.

DECEMBER 2025

A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT

At Carlisle, we have always believed that the best design begins with listening—to the materials we work with, to the homes we help shape, and to the people who bring these spaces to life. This year, we turned that belief outward, surveying nearly 80 interior designers across the US to better understand how their clients’ needs, values, and aesthetics are evolving. These designers bring remarkable experience to the field; three-quarters with more than a decade of practice, many working on homes between 2,500 and 6,000 square feet, with budgets that reflect thoughtful, long-term investment. They represent every region of the country, from the West Coast to the Northeast, offering a rich and balanced view of residential design today. What they shared with us reflects the spirit of Carlisle: a return to natural materials, an appreciation for quiet beauty, and a desire to create spaces that endure. We are honored to bring these insights to you and grateful to the design community that inspires our work every day.

y S s Chri

DESIGN TRENDS & PREFERENCES

Residential design is embracing quiet beauty—lighter tones, natural textures, and choices made to endure.

Enduring

Insights Shaping Residential Design

Our 2025 survey offers a clear view into how designers are shaping residential spaces today, what clients are asking for and which materials you trust most. The findings reveal a continued preference for calm, natural materials and thoughtful, long-term decision-making. Light and natural wood tones lead client preferences, and White Oak remains the most specified species, chosen by 61% of designers for its versatility and quiet elegance. Engineered wood remains a top choice, valued for its stability in modern building conditions. Project work is evolving as well. More than 60% of designers report that most projects are remodels, where materials must harmonize with existing architecture. And while nearly half say budgets are steady, clients are choosing more intentionally, prioritizing materials that offer longevity and enduring beauty. In the pages ahead, we explore these insights from color and species trends to construction choices, sustainability priorities, and the practical realities shaping today’s residential projects.

AESTHETIC DIRECTION Designers describe a shift toward interiors that feel calm and refined. Modern/Contemporary (27%) and Transitional (24%) styles lead client requests, with Traditional (11%) and Scandinavian/Minimalist (9%) also common. Color palettes reflect this sensibility: warm whites, soft greens, and earthy browns shape today’s homes, bringing a sense of softness and lived-in ease.

Image Credit: Eric Petschek

Image Credit: Matthew Millman

NATURAL LIGHT AND LASTING APPEAL Flooring choices reinforce this calm, grounded aesthetic. Thirty-eight percent of designers say clients prefer light or natural wood tones, while 31% choose mid-tone browns for a more anchored look. Nearly 60% of designers specify planks seven inches or wider, and 52% prefer a matte sheen, contributing to spaces that feel open, relaxed, and timeless. These preferences reveal a design philosophy centered on longevity— materials selected to enhance daily living rather than follow seasonal trends.

Image Credit: Parrish Ruiz de Velasco

WHITE OAK DEFINES STYLE Across all regions and styles, White Oak remains the mostspecified hardwood species, celebrated for its versatility, durability, and neutral character. Designers rely on White Oak because it adapts effortlessly to both contemporary and classic environments. Its consistent grain structure and broad staining potential make it a trusted foundation for spaces that must balance beauty with resilience—a perfect match for today’s homeowners investing in long-term value.

ENGINEERED WOOD IS THE STANDARD Engineered construction has moved from alternative to essential. One-third of designers (34%) specify engineered wood as their primary choice, and another 36% select it based on project conditions such as radiant heat, below-grade installations, or concrete subfloors. Designers value engineered flooring for its stability and versatility across climates and substrates.

WIDE PLANKS SIGNAL LUXURY Wider planks continue to define premium residential interiors. Almost 60% of designers choose widths of seven inches or more, citing the sense of scale, architectural presence, and visual continuity they create. These proportions elevate even modest spaces, allowing the floor to read as an integral design element rather than a background surface. For homeowners and designers seeking timeless impact, wide planks remain a hallmark of luxury craftsmanship.

Image Credit: Chuck Choi

Preference

Image Credit: Brandon Meins

SUSTAINABILITY & PROVENANCE GUIDE DECISIONS Conscious design continues to influence material selection. Provenance, safety, and longevity are becoming essential criteria. Forty-four percent of designers say U.S.-made flooring influences client decisions, and 31% rank sustainability as an important consideration. When asked which attributes matter most, designers highlighted long product lifespan (27%), low- or zero-VOC finishes (21%), and locally sourced or reclaimed materials (13%).

REMODELS DOMINATE Renovation work shaped the residential design industry in 2025. More than 60% of designers report that half or more of their projects are remodels, reflecting homeowners’ desire to upgrade existing spaces rather than build new. Even amid tighter budgets or extended timelines, clients continue to prioritize materials that offer long-term value, architectural harmony, and authentic beauty, making thoughtfully crafted wood flooring a natural choice. That emphasis on renovation is also highly focused. Designers also report that clients are concentrating investment on spaces that define everyday living and the overall character of the home. Kitchens and primary bathrooms lead renovation interest by a wide margin, followed by living areas and primary bedrooms. Together, these spaces represent the core of the luxury residential experience, reinforcing the importance of foundational materials that elevate both function and design across the entire residence.

Image Credit: Mark Roskams

BUDGETS & PURCHASING Budgets for wood flooring have remained stable across the past year. Nearly half of designers (49%) report no change from 2024, while 27% have seen slight decreases and 16% note modest increases. Economic sentiment shows subtle shifts: 31% of designers report tightening client budgets, 30% see project postponements, and 20% note fewer custom selections. Yet pipelines remain steady. Most clients invest between $8 and $17 per sq. ft. (58%), indicating a continued focus on durability and timeless appeal. Even amid caution, the focus remains on materials that elevate the home and stand the test of time.

Designers saw subtle shifts in client budgets across 2025.

Image Credit: Dana Hoff Photography

About Carlisle For more than fifty years, Carlisle has partnered with designers to create handcrafted wood floors that express natural beauty and enduring craftsmanship. Each floor is made to order—designed collaboratively, crafted from responsibly sourced timber, and finished with meticulous attention to detail. Whether solid or engineered, every Carlisle floor embodies the same enduring belief: that luxury is defined by integrity—of material, of process, and of partnership. A Carlisle floor is more than a surface; it is the foundation of a home’s story, crafted to last for generations.

Experience the artistry of a Carlisle floor.

Artistry

Image Credit: Dana Hoff Photography

HEADQUARTERS

SHOWROOMS

1676 Route 9

Boston, MA

Stoddard, New Hampshire 03464 +1 (603) 446-3937 International + 1 (603) 446-3937 M - F 9AM to 5PM (EST) (800) 595-9663 www.wideplankflooring.com

Chicago, IL Dallas, TX Los Angeles, CA San Francisco, CA New York, NY Stoddard, NH