How to make your business more energy efficient

We consider ways to make your business more energy efficient, including one you don’t always think about.

There are a number of ways you can make your business more energy-efficient, including investing in energy efficient lighting and heating methods, using renewable energy sources, and making the right flooring choices.

Cutting costs wherever possible is a vital part of running a successful business, and this includes the cost of running your office space. According to Freelancer, the average business uses 20% more energy output than it actually needs, so there are huge savings to be had.

Making your business’s office space more energy-efficient doesn’t have to cost as much as you’d think either. Let’s take a look at a few simple ways to make your business more energy-efficient and decrease your overall spending.

Heating

One of the most effective ways of lowering your energy bill is by ensuring you invest in energy-efficient heating units, making sure they are maintained regularly so they are functioning at the best of their ability.

Keeping on top of the management of your thermostats is also a great way of saving energy. Labelling your thermostats according to which area of the building they regulate the temperature for enables you to keep on top of your energy output in these areas. Adjusting your thermostat so it increases by 1° in summer and decreases by 1° in winter can save up to 10% of the energy used.

Lighting

Incandescent light bulbs are still used often in commercial premises, but they use a lot of energy and emit a lot of heat, so it’s a good investment to replace them with energy-efficient bulbs, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). LEDs are known to not only last longer but also use 80% less energy than an incandescent light bulb. CFLs are known to use 75% less energy than standard bulbs. Although these light bulbs seem like an expensive purchase, in the long run, they can actually save you money.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy sources are also an investment you should consider looking into. Solar panels only require a minimal amount of maintenance and, while they are an expensive initial purchase, they will have a huge impact on the energy efficiency of your business and you will receive a return of your investment in a few years’ time. Not to mention, there are also potential tax credits to be had by investing in solar energy.

Flooring

Flooring is an often-overlooked but essential factor to consider when assessing your business’s overall energy efficiency. Carpet tiles, for example, can better insulate commercial premises compared to other alternatives once laid, and are known to produce less waste than sheet carpet. Carpet tiles are are easier to transport than many other options and many have a very high degree of recycled content, so there are some strong sustainability arguments for the choice as well.

If you’re looking for carpet tiles or other flooring options to save money on your energy bills, browse our collection here or get in touch with our team at Duraflor today.

Choosing the best flooring for a business

The importance of choosing the best flooring for a business

Whether you are building a brand new office space, renovating an existing space, or simply looking for a new aesthetic, choosing the best flooring for a business from both an appearance and usage perspective is an essential part of the equation. Considerations can include the need to design a business that is welcoming to visitors and great to work in, whilst also being practical and resistant to everyday use.

Whilst vinyl may be more suited against frequent spillages than carpet, it may not always be the best flooring for a call centre for example, where acoustics is a major priority – in this case carpet tiles might be a better alternative. We previously covered how sound impacts on productivity in another one of our Practical Design articles. Carpet can reduce the sound of walking by 25 to 34 decibels (whereas laminate flooring for example reduces surface sounds by only 1 to 6 decibels). Worth mentioning however, using underlayment with Vinyl Tiles, significantly reduces sound transmission between floors.

The use of vinyl is very common in office kitchens and in relaxation and eating areas, as these have high footfall and tend to face the most spillages. Vinyl flooring allows spillages to be easily mopped up and is often resistant to long-term staining. It is important to check the wear rating and also top coating to ensure the vinyl is scuff and scratch resistance. For speedier installation, looselay LVT (such as Axis) is the perfect solution. It offers both style and ease of installation, and can be easily moved around if future plans require some flexibility.

In order to comply with employer standards, bathroom facilities must be available to all members of staff, and within this, there are certain factors that come into play when choosing the correct flooring. The floor must be hygienic and easy to clean due to the nature of use. In this case a Safety Flooring is usually the best option from a cost, safety and hygiene perspective. Attractive Wood & Stone effect is possible just as much with sheet vinyl as Luxury Vinyl Tiles – take a look at our Cienna range for inspiration.

Also, whilst there are many practical aspects to consider, the style of the flooring is also important, as this is the image of the business. Not just from a visitor perspective but also from how the company engages with its employees. That employee engagement reaches further into office design in itself, whether that includes ideas around resimmercial space, which might lean towards heavy pile carpets or Activity Based Workspaces that might need a mix of floor coverings, choosing flooring to suit a design concept is an essential element of overall success.

Have you considered hexagonal floor tiles?

Hexagonal floor tiles. Hexagon carpet tiles in office design

The benefits of hexagonal floor tiles

This article outlines the advantages which using hexagonal floor tiles can bring to your floor space, including the benefits which the shape offers over traditional square or rectangular variations.

Although most designers are on board with using colour contrasts in commercial flooring, the traditional square or rectangular tile has remained a perennial favourite. Popularity of hexagonal tiles is however on the increase: not only does a six-sided carpet tile open up a whole new selection of flooring design possibilities, but it also has a number of practical benefits. If you’re considering a carpet tile refit, or flooring for a new-build, here are four reasons why hexagonal tiles could work really well.

Modern, attractive design

There’s little doubt that hexagonal tiles have a stunning aesthetic. In a contemporary workplace or public space, a softer, wavy line adds a beautiful feature to the floor area, without compromising on performance or practicality. See our latest case study that demonstrates how attractive these feature tiles can look.

Superb for awkward spaces

Because of the shape of hexagonal tiles, they offer a more flexible flooring solution in smaller areas or those which have an awkward shape. There is potential to work the design out from the centre of the room, drawing the eye away from any unevenness or partial tiles which are laid at the perimeter of the space.

Differentiate floor use

Hexagonal tiles can be laid to show anything from directions to various parts of a building through to the positioning for furniture, the area where the lift is or to differentiate space for various purposes. Because of the novel shape of hexagon tiles, boundaries are defined without being harsh. Their use results in a highly practical space which is also attractive and soothing.

More pattern permutations with hexagons

Because a hexagonal tile has six sides, there is greater potential to design different patterns in the floor surface. This not only enables greater visual appeal, but it also provides added opportunities for isolating areas for a specific use, drawing the eye to a particular point in the room or creating a floor space that gives users information about the building in an accessible manner.

The versatility of hexagonal tiles is one of the reasons that they’re growing in popularity as an alternative to more conventional carpet tile options. Ideal for office and commercial space, they also work well in reception areas, educational facilities, libraries and similar spaces which experience high traffic. Designed with durability, low maintenance and cost-effectiveness in mind, hexagonal flooring tiles are a flooring solution that delivers exceptional value.

Get in touch to find out more about our hexagonal tile range and how it could work in your interior space.

Considerations for an inclusive workspace

Trend carpet tiles case study. Shows an inclusive workplace design approach.

Interior design considerations for an inclusive workspace

We considers how lighting, flooring, furniture, signage, fixtures and fittings can be adjusted so that they are more user-friendly for all, regardless of disability or physical impairment.

5 key design components that can make a difference.

There are a number of important choices to be made when it comes to deciding on a commercial flooring design as well as fixtures and fittings that are going to enhance accessibility and ensure that an indoor space is welcoming and accessible to people of all abilities. If you’re considering a refurbishment, here are five key design components which could make a difference.

1. Lighting

Ideally, there should be an area just inside the main doors which is lit more brightly than the interior. This acts as a transitional zone, enabling people who are visually impaired to gradually get used to the change in brightness. Check that the lighting is positioned to minimise the risk of unwanted reflections or glare. Make sure there is access to good lighting at the reception area and to highlight signage or other vital information.

2. Flooring

The use of clearly demarcated flooring is ideal to indicate the presence of specific features. For example, a differently coloured area of vinyl outside the lift gives a clear indication of where it can be found. Similarly, you may wish to consider colour coding flooring to match signage in specific areas of the building or even include zoning for different activities. It goes without saying that flooring needs to be hard-wearing and in excellent repair. Non-slip surfaces are important, as are surfaces which provide sufficient grip for wheelchair users to progress with minimal effort. A level floor is also essential for optimal accessibility and consideration should be given to light reflective values.

3. Furniture

Ideally, furniture should be laid out so that there is plenty of space for wheelchair users and people with walking aids to safely navigate around furniture items. Chairs need to provide adequate support and ideally have armrests. Remember that people come in different shapes and sizes, so a bariatric chair is always a sensible option. Make sure that furniture is solid and of a distinctly different colour to flooring. For employees, innovations such as ergonomic chairs, sit/stand desks, tilt tables and similar options enable everyone to work in comfort.

4. Signage

A vital element in any building, it should be possible for everyone to easily recognise where the fire exit is, where the toilets are and where they can obtain further assistance. Signs are available in a variety of different formats which satisfy disability legislation and which can be customised to suit your organisation.

5. Fixtures and fittings

Lastly when it comes to considerations for an inclusive workspace, it is important that fixtures and fittings are robust and do not require a high degree of fine motor control to operate. Grab rails and handrails are an important addition, whilst light switches, privacy locks and door handles need to be as simple to operate as possible.

Providing an inclusive workspace isn’t just about complying with legislation: it’s an opportunity to show employees, customers and partners that they are valued and welcomed in your workplace, no matter who they are. Our as Forbes put it in an interesting article that we found -“inclusive design is all about putting the users at the heart of the design process, and it is about usability and efficiency. Reducing effort and segregation creates a happier workplace.”

5 reasons for an office redesign in 2020

Office redesign - soft furnishings, breakout area and Momenta flooring

Is it time for a change? 5 reasons for an office redesign in 2020

When a client pays a visit to your business, you want to make sure you create a great first impression. The decor is a key part of your office environment. However, you don’t want to just make it a welcoming environment for visitors to your business, you also want to make sure that your staff find the office an enjoyable place to work.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at 5 reasons why you should renovate your office in 2020. These also tie in with the key expectations from the modern office geared around wellbeing and sustainability.

1. Boost office morale

A welcoming environment has the power to boost morale amongst your staff. Even providing something as simple as a comfortable break room can have a huge impact. An inviting space encourages staff to leave their desks at lunch and enjoy each other’s company. This will recharge their batteries and provide the motivation they need to power through the afternoon.

2. Retain top talent

Generation Z (those born in the mid- to late-1990s) are now entering the workforce. Having grown up with technology at their fingertips, you’ll need to ensure your office is as inviting to them as possible if you want to retain and even attract the very best employees. Unified communications, collaboration tech and resimercial furniture are good starting points to consider.

3. Reduce your environmental impact

Public concern over the environment reached new heights in 2019, so do as much as possible to ensure your office is greener than ever before. A greener office can translate to a smaller environmental footprint as well as a healthier and happier work environment. To get started, opt for better office products, try going paperless and maximise natural light. You might be surprised by how much money you could save by making these small changes.

4. Think about the future

Are you looking to expand your company in the future? If so, planning for growth now is essential. Redesigning your office with this in mind means that once you have the resources to hire more staff, you can accommodate them straightaway.

5. Improve brand perception

You want clients and customers to feel comfortable when visiting your business premises. If you’re ashamed of your office or believe it’s not a welcoming environment at the moment, having it redesigned could elevate the customer experience, in turn strengthening your brand image.

Don’t forget about commercial flooring!

The right commercial flooring can make a strong impact on any office redesign. Duraflor has a range of carpet tiles, vinyl flooring and entrance matting to suit your business environment and make a great first impression.

Choosing an office colour scheme for employees and clients

Choosing an office colour blue office contrasts with grey

Four tips on choosing an office colour scheme

Here are four tips on how to choose an office colour scheme and commercial flooring to both satisfy employees and impress clients when you bring them in for meetings.

A large part of how an interior space feels comes down to the colour scheme chosen. Different colours schemes are used to create different atmospheres. Bright and bold colours may be used to inspire and spark ideas, whereas pastel tones are more calming and stress-relieving.

The difficulty comes when you are trying to choose an interior colour scheme to suit several different needs. So what tips should you take on board if your office space is also where you meet and work with clients?

1. Divide your rooms up

There’s no need to choose one colour scheme for every space in your office. While you don’t necessarily want to use every colour under the sun, you can definitely vary your colour schemes in different rooms.

White, for instance, works really well in kitchen areas because, psychologically, we associate it with cleanliness. Yet white in a main office area or meeting room might come across as boring. We found an interesting article on the subject.

You could pair the white colour scheme with a distinctive vinyl flooring for maximum impact, as the kitchen is somewhere that spillages are likely to happen. White walls can easily be lifted with the use of multi-tonal luxury vinyl planks, see this beautiful case study.

2. Use a little black

Black is a powerful colour that people associate with strength and control. It can be a very smart choice in a meeting room, but we suggest you only use a little bit and ensure you pair it with a bright colour.

Too much black can create a sinister, cold feel, especially as it absorbs light. We especially like this very contrasting use of black with white and real pops of colour – it is perhaps one of our favourite case studies.

3. Professional but interesting

The perfect balance when you’re trying to please both employees and customers is to go for a colour scheme that looks both smart and professional but is also interesting. The colour scheme you use creates a certain atmosphere and ensures everyone in your office feels happy with the space they’re working in.

This can be achieved quite simply by choose a neutral main tone such as cream and adding in whatever pop of colour works with either your brand or the atmosphere you want to achieve. One technique which works well in offices is to have neutral flooring paired with pops of colour in the walls. A pale vinyl flooring that’s made to look like wood can be a great choice. Or maybe go for a carpet with interesting patterns like this great case study, then keep the walls fairly plain.

4. Think about the vision of your business

What is your business trying to do? Why not try to match your interior colour scheme with the ambitions behind the business?

If your company is something to do with mental health, you might choose blue as your main colour, a shade reminiscent of peace and inspiration. If your brand is more to do with luxury, whether it be luxury furniture or clothes, you might go for a more royal shade, such as purple.

Of course you may even decide the Pantone colour for 2020 is for you. Interesting that we have moved from Coral Pink to Classic Blue. The colour is meant to recognise a period of uncertainty as we enter 2020 and to offer that all important calming influence to staff and visitors – a choice you probably can’t go wrong with, if that is what you want to achieve.

Image Credit: Kirsi Goldynia/CNN

Changes in commercial office design

Changing office design greys with pop of colour

Millennials driving changes in commercial office design

It’s true to say that commercial layouts have changed beyond all recognition in the past few years, and much of this is down to the influence millennials are having in driving changes in commercial office design.

A decade ago, bland, uninspiring office layouts with banks of desks or cubicles were the norm; but that’s no longer the case. Loads of light, strategic use of colour, biophilic designs, breakout areas, in-office lounge areas, quiet workspaces, and collaboration zones are fairly commonplace for modern office layouts. So much so that new hires for 2020 might even reject a great job, if the workplace environment doesn’t meet their needs.

2020 commercial layout trends

There are lots of ways to upgrade offices and workspaces of any size, and this doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg.

Monochromatic colours and pops of colour make a bold statement

Many organisations are making use of monochromatic expression within their office layouts. Although monochrome means use of just one colour, these layouts are anything but boring. Different shades of the same colour create an explosive palette which embraces different tones, hues, and textures.

What’s more, designers are unafraid to experiment with bold colours in this day and age. Whether its lemon and mustard, paprika tones and fuschia pinks or greys mingled with blues and blacks, using pops of colour is one of the key changes in commercial office design we are seeing and is definitely popular with employees and clients.

Biophilic design for enhanced wellbeing

The trend towards integrating the natural world into office layouts has been popular for some years, and this won’t change through 2020. Making the most of daylight, combining lots of plants into office designs, and using flooring materials that are inspired by nature all combine to create office layouts that promote wellbeing.

Wood and laminate floors aren’t always the best choice for offices, and many people prefer the warmth and comfort offered by carpet tiles. It’s still possible to create a natural appearance within offices using carpet tiles. Examples of this is the Freedom Bark range, or Natural Terrain Collection.

Call us to discuss more ideas

Legal and environmental considerations for flooring

good office design with legal and environmental considerations

Legal and environmental considerations for commercial flooring choices.

We look at those all important legal and environmental considerations for commercial flooring decisions, some are a must and others reflect your ethos.

Health and safety

According to the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, floors must be suitable for the activity taking place, in good condition and free from obstructions. People should be able to move around safely, so choosing the correct flooring is key to this.

Even if you’d prefer to have carpet in the area where your desks and meeting rooms are based, it is worth thinking about safety flooring for bathroom areas and also busy kitchen areas. Seeing as slips, trips and falls are the most common cause of workplace injuries, avoiding risk has to be a major consideration.

Sustainability

In 2016, the world’s cities generated just over 2 billion tonnes of solid waste, amounting to a footprint of 0.74 kilograms per person per day. To do your bit for the environment, choose a type of flooring made from recycled materials and manufacturers that make sustainability a key part of their ethos and the standards they adopt.

Reusing what we make is how we’re going to keep our planet from being totally destroyed, so start from the ground up.

Your employees and other people who come into your office or client’s premises, will probably spill drinks or tread in mud at some point. You need a flooring that can withstand this. In addition, a suitable and sustainable cleaning and maintenance regime needs to be part of a company’s green ethos.

This also includes thinking about the footfall levels in your commercial spaces, and how that will affect aspects such as how quickly it wears out and how much maintenance it will need. Thinking about entrance matting and barrier tiles is one solution, as well as making choices around the durability expectations of the flooring you purchase from the outset. Placing durability as a key criteria is not only and environmental option, it can also directly affect the safety of the flooring, since any areas that are worn out may become a hazard.

Design ideas for hotel interiors

Natural looking wood floor in restaurant setting

We consider flooring and a few more design ideas for hotel interiors

We know how to create that all important ‘guest experience’ is key when proposing design ideas for hotel interiors. In the hospitality industry, being satisfactory is not enough, because there are so many other hotels that people can choose to go to next time. Here are a few ideas that might help:

1. Consider biophilic design

The concept of biophilic design isn’t just the domain of the commercial office. This approach refers to a design idea that improves connectivity between the inside space and the natural world. When you consider hotels are often places where people want to relax, or where events are run to bring out creativity in staff, this concept makes perfect sense. Biophilic design is often attributed to increasing productivity and creativity, and of course being closer to nature also has a relaxing side to it.

Considering natural light is important but where there are restrictions a lot can be done with glass. Natural materials and living walls, even a small water feature will go a long way to creating the right ambience as well as pictures of the natural world.

For the flooring, it may not be practical to have wooden floors, this may even portray the wrong image. While broadloom carpet is always popular in the hotel industry, there is a lot to be said for luxury vinyl tiles in wood effect to give the feel of a natural environment, but with all the maintenance advantages of vinyl flooring.

Carpet tiles are obviously very practical for corridors and bedrooms, as they can be easily moved around, of course there are a number of designs here that keep to a more biophilic theme.

2. Perhaps be bold

If there are no restrictions based on brand guidelines, it is worth remembering that guest may decide on a hotel they know little about, based on the images they see on a website. Guests want to be wowed when they walk into a hotel. Boring designs won’t help with that, so being brave, and choosing a theme that’s memorable, could be a great way to increase guest bookings. We recently did an article on how important bold colours are in an office, stimulating positive reactions from employees – the same could be said for a hotel lobby.

3. Pick the right flooring

Hotel guests, whether staying there for work or leisure purposes, want to feel at comfortable when they return for the day. Choose flooring that is comfortable and inviting, but also practical is key. It will need to be cleaned every day and made to look spotless.

Consider DDA responsibilities throughout the hotel itself but also in the flooring. Obviously think of fire retardant properties and in certain areas it is very wise to think of anti-slip precautions. In summary, we know from research that the key factors that influence decisions on hotel flooring are quality, comfort, acoustic and noise reduction properties, maintenance, price, hygiene and aesthetics. Having considered all these aspects means the choice will be the right one.

4. Is the layout right?

The layout of any room or space contributes hugely to whether it has good feng shui, which, broadly, means the art of placement. This can all contribute to a positive experience and is another aspect when looking at design ideas for hotel interiors.

Consider simple but interesting accessories that get people talking and go for lighting that makes a statement, whether that be an impressive chandelier or a modern floor lamps. Also, create cosy corners. The small elements of a room’s design are just as appreciated as bold features. Finally, stick to the five colour tone palette rule, and maybe include a bit of black to accentuate the colour you go for.

The best flooring for high-traffic areas

The possibilities when choosing the best flooring for high-traffic areas

Choosing a flooring for high-traffic areas is relatively easy, considering the array of commercial flooring available to this specification. It is therefore worth considering the differences, as well as the benefits of different flooring types, beyond the need to be to the recommended standard (Class 33) and how this might impact your decision.

Below you will find some of the best commercial-rated flooring materials for high traffic spaces, offering you longevity, ease of maintenance, and a great appearance.

1. Carpet Tiles

This soft-surface flooring option has always been one of the most popular thanks to the functionality advantages it has over carpets rolls or hard surface floors.

Carpet tiles are ideal for businesses that require noise insulation, and they can help to keep workspaces warm as well. Tiles are more easily and cheaply replaced when damaged and can be more hard-wearing. This obviously makes carpet tiles a more sustainable option over for example broadloom.

They are designed for heavy wear areas such as retail, commercial, and educational environments. Carpet tiles often use dyes and patterns that minimise the visual effects of spillages, and many come with stain resistant properties. The tighter the molecular structure the better defence against staining. For example: due to its lower permeability, antron nylon 6.6 slows down the diffusion of stains, allowing more time to clean up. A good example of this is the Freedom Ranges of Carpet Tiles which use this yarn type – with Freedom Storm being our most popular tile in this range.

2. Safety Flooring

Environments like hospitals, care homes, schools and food-processing areas need to provide safe and sanitary conditions conducive to maintaining health. Duragrip floor is one of the best option for these spaces. This type of flooring gives the space excellent slip-resistance, preventing trips or falls of any kind. Alongside preventing physical damage, it’s also easy to maintain and a hygienic option, due to its antibacterial and fungistatic surface treatment.

The latest addition to the Duraflor portfolio, Cienna goes beyond many designer’s expectation combining beautiful styles with both safety, durability. The range is PTV rated at 36+ and has a R13 slip rating, incorporating an innovative grip technology. It has a high performance wear layer with PUR treatment – all key factors when making decision about flooring suitability for key heavy traffic environments.

3. Luxury Vinyl Tiles

LVT flooring has a vast range of uses and is highly adaptable to many environments. Vinyl flooring is a popular form of commercial flooring due to its longevity and hard-wearing performance qualities. Vinyl Tiles are highly resistant to damage, such as dents from heels or scratches from dragged furniture. Another big advantage is the fact LVT is easy to clean and requires minimal maintenance. The possibilities of creating interesting tonal patterns or simply an authentic looking wood or stone floor also make LVT such a great choice. This is especially the case for areas where there is heavy traffic and you are looking to create a good impression for staff and visitors alike.

4. Entrance Matting / Barrier Tiles

As the main place where people come and go continuously, the entrance of every business is the area that endures the most traffic. So, it only makes sense that surfaces in business entrances are made to be durable and fit for heavy wear. Barrier tiles are arguably the best option for this space. The advantage to including this type of flooring in your plans is that it will protect the other flooring throughout the business by reducing dirt and moisture brought into the building from the outside.

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