FMJ.CO.UK FLOORING FOCUS
FEBRUARY 2019 33
Shading and complementary patterns
can also make a huge di erence in terms of
how the colour is perceived and the impact
it makes. Colours don’t have to be bold
or block to leave an impression. However,
there will always be variables – di erent
workers will react to colours in di erent
ways, and visitors will have their own take
on the décor.
Most businesses start by considering their
branding: the logo and its colours. Although
many companies will have specific brand
colours, there will be various shades that
can make up a colour palette, along with
contrasting tones that can be selected to
reflect the intended use of specific areas.
Di erently coloured floor tiles can be used
to break up spaces and create an impact.
FINDING A WAY
The act of navigating a path through a
space – wayfinding – should inform the
design of an o ice layout. There are clear
benefits in creating a smooth flow, reducing
the number of navigations necessary to get
from one point to another and making a
space more engaging and interactive.
Floor coverings can support wayfinding
by creating a pattern to identify the best
path through the o ice, particularly as
the o ice becomes a more blended space,
with workstations not always so easy to
distinguish from social spaces. Again,
flooring can be used to highlight certain
areas and provide visual clues to remind
workers of where they are headed.
This can be extended to cover whole
teams and departments. For instance, a
whole department can be allocated one
colour, starting from the floor and working
up so that it becomes its own community,
with social spaces and meeting rooms all
defined by that colour.
The issue of sound should also impact on
flooring choices. There are many noise
issues attached to open-plan spaces,
and flooring can be used by designers to
counter such problems. Carpet mu les
sound, for example, while hard floors
tend to echo and add to surrounding
noise, acting as an irritant and distraction.
(Also, carpeting can be a good sustainable
solution as many carpet manufacturers
include recycled elements.)
However, although carpet and carpet
tiles might seem the most natural choice,
vertical and suspended acoustic solutions
are available to counter the noise issues
associated with a hard floor surface.
Of course, it’s not all about the
psychology and the aesthetics. If o ices
have high tra ic, with certain areas more
likely to incur heavy footfall than others,
this has to be taken into account when
floor coverings are selected. Not all floor
coverings are suitable for all locations, and
that has to be considered in the planning
stages.
Ease of repair, maintenance and footfall
all have to be measured, and the lifecycle
of the floor must be prioritised. That
said, there is a huge range of materials to
choose from, and there’s no reason why
style shouldn’t coexist with practicality.
Materials such as polished concrete and
patterned vinyl are considered the most
durable options. However, there are now
many high-quality carpet brands that can
stand up to considerable wear and tear,
making them suitable for inclusion in
those heavy tra ic areas.
When it comes to freedom of expression
and creativity, there is more choice than
ever before. Tiles can be configured into
a multitude of designs, and colours can
be matched and customised. Added to
this, a mix of materials can be used to
complement certain areas. For example,
wooden floors for social areas and carpets
for open plan.
There’s a trend for using flooring to
create a more homelike, residential feel in
a bid to move away from the corporate. It
certainly fits with the new way of working,
which is all about removing boundaries
and taking a more collaborative approach.
Ultimately, all factors considered,
flooring is one of the most important
items on the specification list. If the choice
of flooring can play any part in keeping
workers more motivated and productive, it
makes sense to give it every consideration.