Vinyl flooring is on a high at the moment, something in no small measure due to the sort of emerging technologies that have strengthened the hands of the manufacturers, resulting in vividly realistic tiles and planks that can recreate natural looks and the way they are using these advances to create the sort of unique, decorative designs unheard of a few years ago. Such innovations and such realism is partly behind the fact that, globally, the LVT market, valued at E300.98 million last year, is predicted to grow with a CAGR of 11.74 per cent by 2027. Importantly, as we are in an age where natural surfaces are so soughtafter, modern vinyl is more than up to the task; wood-look vinyl is now every bit as realistic as wood-look laminate. Many experts in the design world now regard wood-look flooring and wood accents as the new neutral, not least because of their versatility. And the technology is making ground in other areas. Belgium’s IVC Commercial, for example, has updated its Optimise 70 collection of multi-layered vinyl flooring which includes a special acoustic backing that can deaden the sound of footsteps and movement, reducing impact sound by 19 decibels. The range now features 54 colours and material effects, backed by a durable finish that is suitable for high-footfall areas from schools to shopping malls. It is finished with IVC Commercial’s own Hyperguard+ technology which maintains a smooth finish and guards against scuffs and marks. Antibacterial and anti-mould treatment is also built into the flooring, improving its hygiene performance. And the UK manufacturer Forbo has released its Tessera Earthscape carpet tile collection, which takes design cues from textures found in nature. The likes of forest green, sage and terracotta feature in the loop pile carpet tile collection.

LVT gets busy in the busiest areas

The series, which is particularly suited to office environments, was driven by the desire to incorporate biophilic design into interior spaces, which Forbo believes promotes employee wellbeing. Its value was summed up succinctly by AllAmericnflooring.net that described LVT as "one of the most famous flooring options for many household, commercial premises, offices and cafes that are usually busy". It went on: "Innovations and improvements over the previous years have it favourite with homeowners. Nowadays, it is not just an option that is chosen just because of its affordability. It is an option that will bring out a contemporary and charming feel and still last long with a reasonable budget. Additionally, it is a great option for those who want a luxury of choosing from varieties".

And then there’s nostalgia. When it comes to creating a surface designed to, for example, evoke memories from those heady formative years, there’s little to match something that takes us back to school.

That’s why there’s such a thriving collectors’ market in ageing desks and chairs, original blackboards and everything from brass bells to vaulting horses and those heavy doors that lined the corridors of learning. Vintage desks have exploded in popularity of late. Home improvers and interior designers see them as iconic, statement pieces to add charm, character and intrigue to a range of rooms, from lounges and home offices to children’s bedrooms and playrooms.

Science lab tables tend to be highly durable, made as they are from hardwoods such as iroko. Popular too are tubular steel stools, those large wooden cupboards from the art studio, old oak cupboards; pigeon holes and bookcases.

Add to that wire mesh footlockers with solid teak seating, sports hall climbing ropes, changing room coathooks, which are all extremely well made, designed as it is has been to withstand the rigours and demands that come with school life.

Even those who don’t appreciate the aesthetic, tend to agree, they’re designed to last and ooze functionality, with simple functional straight lines strong joints.

Floors have a particular place in the collective memories, especially if they used to belong to the main hall or, better still, the gymnasium. Many reclaimers are often openly advertising them these days as still bearing the original markings that denoted either where pupils sat in assembly, how tables were set for exams or how a five-a-side pitch had been laid out. They’re the sort of sights that evoke the sounds and smells of bygone days and a reason why there are companies specialising in finding surfaces with that sort of history.

Now, it’s possible to get the look and to some extent the feel, thanks to a company that has designed a range of tiles that resemble those from the parquet floor of a school gym that has been taken up and has been rearranged to create abstract patterns. It’s all part of the comeback vinyl has been experiencing in the past few years at least. For a long time relying on its ease of installation as a selling point, the sheer range of design options have raised its profile. The tiles featured here are from Forbo.

They comprise an aged wood profile finished with a series of colour blocks, and form part of their expanded Allura range. The look suggests former court markings on a floor that has been lifted and broken up into separate geometric shapes during the reclamation.

The importance of managing student space

Each tile features a different selection of colour blocks that can be arranged to form bespoke patterns to accentuate different spaces. The Allura range is large and varied. It includes 120 other patterns that can be endlessly mixed and matched. The colours range from "solid" corals and azur blues to textures such as terrazzo, veiny black marble and speckled graphite. The company boasts a selection of “more than 50 different wood imitates – from charcoal to white autumn oak”, which can be used separately or combined to create a more realistic look.

The company insists: "The revitalised range enables designers to create beautiful floor spaces and better indoor environments, no matter what the project requirements or budgets may be."

LVT gets busy in the busiest areas

The series, which is particularly suited to office environments, was driven by the desire to incorporate biophilic design into interior spaces, which Forbo believes promotes employee wellbeing. Its value was summed up succinctly by AllAmericnflooring.net that described LVT as “one of the most famous flooring options for many household, commercial premises, offices and cafes that are usually busy”. It went on: "Innovations and improvements over the previous years have it favourite with homeowners. Nowadays, it is not just an option that is chosen just because of its affordability. It is an option that will bring out a contemporary and charming feel and still last long with a reasonable budget. Additionally, it is a great option for those who want a luxury of choosing from varieties".

And then there’s nostalgia. When it comes to creating a surface designed to, for example, evoke memories from those heady formative years, there’s little to match something that takes us back to school.

That’s why there’s such a thriving collectors’ market in ageing desks and chairs, original blackboards and everything from brass bells to vaulting horses and those heavy doors that lined the corridors of learning. Vintage desks have exploded in popularity of late. Home improvers and interior designers see them as iconic, statement pieces to add charm, character and intrigue to a range of rooms, from lounges and home offices to children’s bedrooms and playrooms.

Science lab tables tend to be highly durable, made as they are from hardwoods such as iroko. Popular too are tubular steel stools, those large wooden cupboards from the art studio, old oak cupboards; pigeon holes and bookcases.

Add to that wire mesh footlockers with solid teak seating, sports hall climbing ropes, changing room coathooks, which are all extremely well made, designed as it is has been to withstand the rigours and demands that come with school life.

Even those who don’t appreciate the aesthetic, tend to agree, they’re designed to last and ooze functionality, with simple functional straight lines strong joints.

Floors have a particular place in the collective memories, especially if they used to belong to the main hall or, better still, the gymnasium. Many reclaimers are often openly advertising them these days as still bearing the original markings that denoted either where pupils sat in assembly, how tables were set for exams or how a five-a-side pitch had been laid out. They’re the sort of sights that evoke the sounds and smells of bygone days and a reason why there are companies specialising in finding surfaces with that sort of history.

Now, it’s possible to get the look and to some extent the feel, thanks to a company that has designed a range of tiles that resemble those from the parquet floor of a school gym that has been taken up and has been rearranged to create abstract patterns. It’s all part of the comeback vinyl has been experiencing in the past few years at least. For a long time relying on its ease of installation as a selling point, the sheer range of design options have raised its profile. The tiles featured here are from Forbo.

They comprise an aged wood profile finished with a series of colour blocks, and form part of their expanded Allura range. The look suggests former court markings on a floor that has been lifted and broken up into separate geometric shapes during the reclamation.

The importance of managing student space

Each tile features a different selection of colour blocks that can be arranged to form bespoke patterns to accentuate different spaces. The Allura range is large and varied. It includes 120 other patterns that can be endlessly mixed and matched. The colours range from “solid” corals and azur blues to textures such as terrazzo, veiny black marble and speckled graphite. The company boasts a selection of “more than 50 different wood imitates – from charcoal to white autumn oak”, which can be used separately or combined to create a more realistic look.

The company insists: “The revitalised range enables designers to create beautiful floor spaces and better indoor environments, no matter what the project requirements or budgets may be.” The new colourways also come in updated, smaller tiles, which can be arranged into intricate chevron or herringbone patterns. Unlike cold, hard surfaces such as stone or concrete, the company emphasises, the Allura collection is comfortable to touch.

It also includes the Allura Decibel range, one that re- emphasises the educational link for 2021. Made for student halls, and recognising the need to reduce distraction, it has sound absorption properties said to make a room up to 19 decibels quieter than normal. The tiles are produced using 100 per cent renewable electricity, while the backing is made from up to 60 per cent recycled waste.

Elizabeth Bushell, Key Account Manager Student Accommodation, says the company recognises the importance of managing and improving the environments in which students live and appreciate the important role that floor covering solutions play.

"With our wide range of acoustically engineered solutions, we’re helping those designing and specifying such buildings to go further than ever before and achieve levels of performance considered previously unimaginable,"” she said, adding: "Whilst we might never be able to make students quiet, with our exciting solutions, the days of loud, disruptive accommodations could be over."

Elsewhere, stories abound of the re-use of reclaimed school gym floors; with random lengths and thickness of maple, worn varnish, damaged tongue-and-groove, nails still in place and cut flush, sanded, unsanded - the key selling point is always rustic authenticity. Harlan Price is one of several recipients of the flooring removed from Lincoln High School gym in Portland, USA. When asked about what attracted him, he said that he fell for the almost random-looking coloured lines that mark out each plank – the scattered markings of a basketball court. Now installed in his kitchen, the colours mixed-and-matched to his new design, he summed up the appeal when he said: "It’s not perfect, but it’s consistently imperfect. It has rhythm."

There are downsides, of course. It’s often more expensive than virgin wood because of the process it undergoes – one reason buyers often undertake the deconstruction themselves – the risk of latent toxins or pests. But for all this innovation, it should be remembered that for years, a widely held staple for school, classrooms was - LVT. Not surprising, given that such premises were built on a budget. One of the attractions of luxury vinyl is that, while it can create a floor that resembles hardwood it comes at a fraction of the price.

Author: Richard Burton / Worldshow Media