Study / Home Office Flooring

Home Office Ideas Flooring

If you work from home, it is important you have a space you are comfortable with. After all, you are going to spend a great deal of time in this one space, so make sure you make the right choice of flooring. When looking for home office ideas, don`t just go for the option you think you should go for, rather than the one you would prefer.

What do we mean by this?

Some people consider a laminate or engineered wood floor covering is the only choice for a home office and it is easy to see why. Engineered wood and laminate flooring is durable and does not retain static from electrical equipment. It is also smart in its appearance and requires minimal cleaning. A quick sweep once a week should sort out any accumulated dust. This is good if you regularly have business associates over for meetings. Your home office will always look smart and ready for business. It is also a good surface if you have an office chair that is on castors. Engineered wood and  laminate flooring is a good all round option for a home office.

Carpets – A Homely Choice

However, you may want your home office space to be less formal. If no work colleagues come to your office for meetings, perhaps you would prefer to go for something a bit warmer. Maybe other members of the family will be using the space for doing homework, or for hobby projects for example. A slightly more homely feel to your flooring is sensible in this case. You may also wish to think ahead to how the room may be used in future. Are you planning always to work from home, or is there a chance that the room will be needed for a guest room or nursery in a few years time?

There are practical considerations of course. A durable surface is important in all cases, whether formal or informal. There is no point in buying a deep pile woollen carpet if you end up leaving marks on it when you wheel your chair away from the desk. If you opt for a carpet, make sure it is a short pile one and not one made from 100% man-made fibres. The reason for this is that man-made fibres will retain static more readily than natural fibres. Make sure you chose a mixed fibre carpet, or ensure that a man-made carpet has been treated for static in the manufacturing process.

Short pile carpets will minimise the problem of wheel marks and creases and you can always place a desk mat or rug underneath your chair wheels if you are concerned about appearance. Carpets should be fixed by adhesive. If you choose a carpet that requires underlay, a double stick system will be used to fix both the underlay and the carpet. Do take advice from your carpet retailer on which carpet will be easiest to maintain and the suitability of your choice for an office space.

Coffee does get spilled in offices and you need to bear flooring maintenance in mind. Light coloured carpet is, of course, going to show marks and dirt more, so think carefully before making a colour choice. This is particularly true if children will be playing in the room at any time.

Home Office Flooring – Other Options

Aside from carpet and wooden laminate flooring, your other option is a vinyl floor. Whilst this is more traditionally used in kitchens and bathrooms, there is no reason why it can`t be used in a home office. Karndean is a high quality vinyl product, which would be perfect for a home office environment. It can have a range of designs, including a wooden floor appearance. If you prefer something softer and warmer than laminate wood flooring but like the look of it, then Karndean could be the right choice for you. It is extremely durable and easy to maintain. It does need to be fitted by an expert, but provides a classy finish for a workspace.

Cost plays a part in your choice of flooring and you need to consider which option is going to fit in best with your budget. Home Office Flooring

If you work from home, it is important you have a space you are comfortable with. After all, you are going to spend a great deal of time in this one space, so make sure you make the right choice of flooring. Don`t just go for the option you think you should go for, rather than the one you would prefer.
What do we mean by this?

Some people consider a laminate wooden floor covering is the only choice for a home office and it is easy to see why. Wood laminate flooring is durable and does not retain static from electrical equipment. It is also smart in its appearance and requires minimal cleaning. A quick sweep once a week should sort out any accumulated dust. This is good if you regularly have business associates over for meetings. Your home office will always look smart and ready for business. It is also a good surface if you have an office chair that is on castors. Wooden laminate flooring is a good all round option for a home office.

However, you may want your home office space to be less formal. If no work colleagues come to your office for meetings, perhaps you would prefer to go for something a bit warmer. Maybe other members of the family will be using the space for doing homework, or for hobby projects for example. A slightly more homely feel to your flooring is sensible in this case. You may also wish to think ahead to how the room may be used in future. Are you planning always to work from home, or is there a chance that the room will be needed for a guest room or nursery in a few years time?

There are practical considerations of course. A durable surface is important in all cases, whether formal or informal. There is no point in buying a deep pile woollen carpet if you end up leaving marks on it when you wheel your chair away from the desk. If you opt for a carpet, make sure it is a short pile one and not one made from 100% man-made fibres. The reason for this is that man-made fibres will retain static more readily than natural fibres. Make sure you chose a mixed fibre carpet, or ensure that a man-made carpet has been treated for static in the manufacturing process.

Short pile carpets will minimise the problem of wheel marks and creases and you can always place a desk mat or rug underneath your chair wheels if you are concerned about appearance. Flooring should be fixed by adhesive. If you choose a carpet that requires underlay, a double stick system will be used to fix both the underlay and the carpet. Do take advice from your supplier on which carpet will be easiest to maintain and the suitability of your choice for an office space.

Coffee does get spilled in offices and you need to bear flooring maintenance in mind. Light coloured carpet is, of course, going to show marks and dirt more, so think carefully before making a colour choice. This is particularly true if children will be playing in the room at any time.

Aside from carpet and wooden laminate flooring, your other option is a vinyl floor. Whilst this is more traditionally used in kitchens and bathrooms, there is no reason why it can`t be used in a home office. Karndean is a high quality vinyl product, which would be perfect for a home office environment. It can have a range of designs, including a wooden floor appearance. If you prefer something softer and warmer than laminate wood flooring but like the look of it, then Karndean could be the right choice for you. It is extremely durable and easy to maintain. It does need to be fitted by an expert, but provides a classy finish for a workspace.

Cost plays a part in your choice of flooring and you need to consider which option is going to fit in best with your budget. You will need to budget for your furnishings, Blinds Accessories and a desk, but don`t leave flooring till last when deciding on a design. Flooring can make a huge difference to the feel of a room and will set the tone for the look you are going for. Think about the first impression you want to create when you, or others, walk in. Don`t be afraid to ask for advice from a knowledgeable supplier, who will have plenty of experience in helping people choose the perfect home office flooring.

 

Take a look at our blog for a range of information about carpets, vinyls and wood flooring.