FLOORING THAT WORKS
Jeremy Broadhead, Commercial Manager at Heckmondwike, considers why good design in the workplace has never been more important.
Organisations are finding it increasingly difficult to attract and retain good people. The design of an office or workplace can often influence whether a candidate chooses to work for a particular company or not, just like when we’re deciding on a new home. Not only this, but workplace design can also have an impact on retaining staff for a longer period and on their levels of productivity whilst they are there.
Office designers now use research into how certain colours provoke psychological and physiological responses within a workplace setting to aid their floorcovering selection. A study by the University of Texas revealed that grey, beige and white offices induced feelings of depression, especially in women. White was found to create a cold, isolated feeling; yellow is linked to more positive emotions of happiness, optimism and excitement, accents of reds and orange were identified as creating an energetic environment, whilst blue and green were revealed to have the more calming effect on office workers and to ease anxiety.
The use of warmer colours has also been shown to maximise productivity levels, minimise fatigue and create the right environment for productive team-working. This has led to a move away from purely neutral colours for meeting areas to the use of vibrant borders that not only provide demarcation but also add an element of style into the office space.
Accents of colour are increasingly being introduced into flooring in breakout or communal areas, with solid blocks of colours being used to zone these areas.
Clean lines continue to dominate in office flooring design, with many new styles of carpet featuring linear effects, like Array from the Creative range. This method of breaking up large blocks of colour creates endless design possibilities.
26 | OFFICE & WORKPLACE
The latest trend is for the use of planks of coloured carpet that replicate the appearance of wooden flooring, but with better comfort underfoot and acoustic properties. Array is often integrated with complementary colours in Broadrib planks, which creates a contemporary, eye-catching aesthetic. Planks are frequently laid in a variety of formations, including the on-trend Herringbone or Monolithic layouts, which are proving popular.
Fibre bonded carpet is being recognised more and more for its aesthetics and durability. The Supacord range, which has been around for over 40 years, offers a very comprehensive selection of colours in carpet, whilst being renowned for its durability and the fact that it will not ravel or fray.
According to studies of workplace productivity, the most significant factor in determining an employee’s ability to focus is their physical environment. A well-designed workplace can have an impact on employee health and happiness and can increase productivity by 12%.
Floorcoverings therefore play an important part in creating a work environment that is both comfortable and motivational. Fibre bonded carpet offers great acoustics, which has been found to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety at work.
As is the trend in the home, flooring is being changed more regularly in the workplace and good design is helping to attract and inspire the best talent. The careful consideration of floorcoverings is extremely important, especially when you recognise its impact not only on attracting staff, but also on maintaining the productivity, health and happiness of those working within the business.
www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk www.tomorrowscontractfloors.com
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