INTERIORS 59 THE FUTURE IN FOCUS


Louise Walters at Designer Contracts looks at the future of new build fl ooring, from a shift in colour palettes to sustainable products, the importance of EPDs and how fl ooring materials can help meet the Future Homes Standard.


T


he role of fl ooring as a foundation bloc in a new home is often underestimated rom its


contribution to the overall design of a house to more practical considerations such as heat insulation and noise reduction, fl oorcoverings are a ey ingredient


Increasingly it plays a critical role in sustainability considerations too nd for housebuilders woring to meet nvironmental roduct eclaration  reuirements and the aims of the uture omes tandard, fl ooring can play a pivotal role


he big story for  is warmth hat means fl oors which feel cosy, grounded and connected to nature  a shift from the series of greys that have dominated interiors for years opular tones include honey oa, caramel and amber wood tones along with beige and blonde midtones that balance warmth without feeling yellow reige is still around but with softer, sunnier undertones than cool grey


hat we’re seeing is that fl oors are increasingly part of a holistic colour statement and not ust functional surfaces ‘ard’ fl ooring is also less about a perfect smooth fi nish and more about visible grain, nots and hand scraped effects ustainability also remains at the heart of interior design trends o longer ust a buword, sustainability is becoming a maret standard and a core driver of product development ustomers epect manufacturers to help them mae greener choices when it comes to fl ooring and shared commitment is critical to the success of circularity


ne eample of a revolutionary, sustainable product in our industry is pringond underlay ade by the based hin roup and introduced in , it is made from  recycled fi bres plastic bottles, offering an ecofriendly alternative to  foam, felt and rubber underlay pringond has a certifi ed nvironmental roduct eclaration  certifi cation  something else which is rapidly shifting from a ‘nicetohave’ to ‘musthave’ standard  certifi cation is internationally recognised and provides transparent,


WITH EPDS, DEVELOPERS AND CONTRACTORS CAN COMPARE ALTERNATIVES OBJECTIVELY


verifi ed environmental impact data across the product’s entire lifecycle  from manufacturing to endoflife management eeting  reuirements involves rigorous thirdparty verifi cation of environmental performance provides complete lifecycle assessment data demonstrates uantifi able environmental impacts and meets strict international standards for environmental reporting ith s, developers and contractors can compare alternatives obectively


as they allow fl ooring to be selected on the basis of transparent metrics eople maing specifi cation decisions for new builds want hard data  and s deliver that It’s all part of a wider, environmental and ethical landscape which specifi ers, developers and even the end consumer, consider Increasingly they value and understand the importance of such operations as waste management in the uest for circularity e ourselves wor


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