Q: What are the prominent trends in flooring design for 2021?
A floor has to provide stability, durability to withstand traffic and general wear and tear, should be easy to clean and maintain, and all the while should add to the aesthetic value of the place. Now, when so much is expected out of flooring then, of course, choosing the right floor ought to be an important one. As for the flooring trends of 2021, vinyl is trending along with the good old stone and ceramic flooring in the hard flooring category. The LVTs are ahead when it comes to choices in the resilient flooring category as they are easy and quick to install and come in various designs and shades. Carpets are the all-time favourite for a luxurious and plush look in areas with light to medium footfall. Terrazzo has made a comeback, and even vinyl flooring manufactures have come up with faux terrazzo vinyl tiles and planks.
The bold and vibrant colours are still popular with subtler furnishings for retail stores and the education sector. However, Beige and grey’s timeless shades will always be a choice for offices and healthcare segments. Wood and marble pattern will see an increase in demand this year due to their versatility and timelessness.
Q: Given the needs and requirements for flooring is constantly changing, what are the few key considerations for flooring products in various industry sectors like commercial space, residential, etc?
As already mentioned, flooring has to perform many functions, so the key considerations revolve around durability, ease of maintenance, aesthetics, etc. In a commercial space, the number of footfall and the mood of the room matters the most. For example, in a retail outlet, a floor covering will withstand the traffic and appear clean and shiny throughout the day, since cleaning during the working hours isn’t possible. However, in an office area, the reception area should have a welcoming shade of flooring, the corridors can have resilient flooring and the board room can have a plush carpet as it will have the least number of footfall. Then of course, the overall look and feel of the space come to a play as well. In fast-food joints, bright reds and greens will be the norm, whereas a fine dining restaurant will prefer lighter tones of colours. Similarly, in a residential complex or a house to be precise, the hall calls for resilient flooring, easy to clean and maintain, and the bedroom can have a carpet.
Q: What are some of the latest innovations in the flooring industry?
Earlier only stone and concrete were the options available when it came to flooring, and now there are a plethora of options, right from PVC to Linoleum and cork, carpet hardwood, engineered wood, LVTs, SPCs and what not. The sizes and forms of flooring available also vary a lot. Now, there are tiles, planks, sheets, rolls etc. So, of course, the cutting edge technology has transformed the flooring industry and has provided the consumers with many options to choose from. The installation process is also being improved gradually with a lot of machinery now available. However, majorly it is still manual, but soon that may change too as many organizations have begun to follow
Q: With a diverse range of offerings and services, could you share details of some of the latest flagship products?
Forbo Flooring Systems have been known worldwide for its Marmoleum and Flotex, two products which are one of its kind. Marmoleum (Forbo’s brand of Linoleum flooring) is unique as it has a CO2 uptake in the product itself. Photosynthesis of all plants used in Marmoleum realises a larger CO2 uptake than the CO2 emission caused by transport and production processing. Therefore, Marmoleum is CO2 neutral from cradle to gate. “Every square meter of Marmoleum 2.5mm we produce relieves the environment of 40 grams of carbon dioxide”. Flotex whereas is a textile flooring which has the properties of resilient flooring. It is the only ‘truly washable’ floor covering in the world and is certified by British Allergy Foundation, which makes it suitable to be used in the healthcare segment. These products initially launched in sheet form are now available in tiles and planks formats as well. Apart from these, Forbo Flooring is the manufacturer of Colorex ESD flooring, Allura LVT flooring, Sphera homogeneous vinyl, Sarlon Acoustic flooring and Coral entrance mats. Sustainability has been one of our main focus areas, so all our products use recycled content during the manufacturing process.