Fitting carpet in an office: what are the benefits?
The interior design of an office can have a big impact on how a business performs. The aesthetic can leave a lasting impression on clients, customers and potential new staff members. As employees often spend more time in the office than at home, the design should also be functional and supportive.
A fundamental aspect of office design is the flooring. Carpet is commonly used throughout many different types of workplaces as it can be both extremely practical and visually pleasing.
Previous research found that walking on carpet can even induce lower levels of stress, compared to walking on wood flooring.
But what exactly are the benefits of carpet and is it suitable for your office?
The aesthetic appeal
While hardwood flooring can look sleek and modern, there isn’t a lot of variety in the styles available. Whereas carpet is available in numerous patterns, colours and textures.
The appearance of your workplace can reflect your field of business. For example, fun and experimental decor could represent a creative company, while an accountant’s office may feature understated interiors.
Tahire Khan, head of e-commerce at United Carpets and Beds, said: “Neutral and unpatterned carpets are popular as they can complement minimalist designs or allow surrounding decor such as bold wallpaper to stand out.
“If your office is small, light colours can create an illusion of space, whereas dark colours and busy patterns can make it seem smaller. But dark colours can hide any stains and messes.”
Carpets can also make a statement with a loud design, which could even incorporate company colours to enhance branding.
When using carpet tiles, individual tiles of carpet that slot together, the design could help section off certain areas of the office with different colours or it could direct visitors to a meeting room or reception area.
Reduce health and safety risks
Hardwood flooring can cause slips and falls, whereas these types of accidents are much less likely to occur with carpets. If trips did take place, the soft cushioning of carpets can minimise the impact.
When regularly cleaned, carpets can also improve the air quality inside the office by trapping allergens such as dust particles in its fibres, preventing them from seeping into the air.
Increase thermal efficiency
Thick carpet, in particular wool carpet, combined with a good quality underlay, can help insulate the room and result in energy savings.
Tahire added: “Including pops of warm colours in your carpet design such as red and yellow can help make rooms feel warmer and inviting.”
What does carpet maintenance involve?
To maintain the carpet’s quality and extend its lifespan, hoover it at least once a week and conduct deep cleans twice a year.
“In an office filled with people, food and drink spills are inevitable. Household cleaning products can treat stains,” Tahire continued. “However, stain-resistant carpets, which have an additional protective layer, prevent stains from gaining foothold in the carpet’s fibres.
“A high-quality wool carpet with a short pile height is usually extremely durable, and wear-resistant. As long as regular maintenance is carried out, a thick wool carpet can last up to 25 years.”
Carpet tiles are easier to replace than wall-to-wall carpet. If one tile becomes damaged or dirty, it can be detached without having to remove the entire carpet. However, they are often very durable and don’t tend to collect a lot of dirt.
Tahire said: “Determine how much foot traffic the room will receive. If it’s a meeting room that’s used less, it may not need as much attention, whereas the central space that gets used regularly may need more cleaning and a carpet made from a more resilient material such as nylon.”
Hardwood flooring can scratch easily and having this type of flooring professionally refinished can be costly. As well as hoovering wooden floors, they need regular mopping.
Absorb noise
In a workspace where meetings occur, phones are always ringing, and co-workers natter by the water cooler, noise can distract staff, especially when the office design is open-plan.
While hardwood flooring can reflect sound and cause echoes, carpets can minimise noise levels to help boost productivity among staff. An underlay can also enhance the sound absorption.
The appearance of an office is a representation of the business. It should look professional, show the brand’s image and be fit-for-purpose. Carpeted flooring can enhance the interior style, minimise noisy disturbances, improve the comfort of the workplace and be easily cleaned.