Flooring, the general term used to refer to the material covering the bare floor plate, is one of the largest elements to consider when designing a space. Since the floor is under foot and takes up so much real estate in any space, it has a significant impact on the aesthetic of your office.
“It is important to realize that although our first interaction with a space is a visual one, the first physical contact a person will have with the space will be the flooring. The finish that is underfoot will immediately have an impact on our psyche even if it is subconscious.”
Flooring impacts not only the user perception, it impacts your project budget, the productivity of your employees, and the maintenance ease of the office space. Functionality, budget and style need to be primarily factored in while selecting a type of flooring. While your first visual impact of the office space might be generic, your first physical contact will be the flooring of the space. Flooring is one of the most important elements in any building and influences so many factors that will ultimately have an impact on whether the space was a success or not.
Most office spaces use a combination of various flooring types depending on the area they are utilized for. Materials such as wooden floorings, carpets and epoxy flooring are commonly used, their sub-type, style and colour being dependent on the theme and budget of the office and premises.
A “Large” Element
“When someone walks into a room, the floor can affect their impression of a space subconsciously. Since the floor is underfoot and takes up so much real estate in any space, it has a significant impact…” The flooring of any space is one of the largest elements within a space visually as well as cost wise. It is an element which is visually difficult to ignore, is always in view and one of the first elements that the user comes in contact with physically. Cost wise, on a minimum, it constitutes for about 10% of the total project cost, making it an important decision to select the correct flooring.
It “sets the tone” of the space
“It’s an important design element to pay attention to because it will set the tone for everything.” Consider the flooring to be the base of the project. It ties the space together to create coherence in the design. Regardless of the design or style chosen, choosing a complimentary flooring is a must to create a harmony among all the elements within the space.
User/Visitor Impact
When someone walks into a room, the floor can affect their impression of a space subconsciously. The type of flooring, its style and even its color, have an impact on the users of that space. For example, a neutral toned tiled carpet is perceived as a very formal office material while a brightly colored roll carpet is perceived as more casual and fun. Different materials also leave an impression of the company as a whole on visitors as well. Marble and terrazzo flooring is looked at as expensive, rich and luxurious, while epoxy or IPS finished flooring might not be looked at in the same way.