In order to remain competitive, we have had to rapidly adapt to the new modes of working and learning that have emerged over the past year. As the corporate world has begun to embrace remote working arrangements, employees have spent thousands on additions to their home offices.
A well-equipped home office is essential to productivity and privacy in your home. In addition, you will also be seeing several clients there, so your office will need to radiate a professional look, and a fair share of that comes from the flooring alone.
This blog will guide you about home office flooring, a one-time investment. Since it is a time-consuming process and not to mention the vast amount of expense involved, there are certain things you should consider to make the best of it.
Planning the Right Location
Before you plan the flooring for your home office, you must first choose an appropriate place. Your home office has to be located in a quiet, comfortable, and convenient area of your house. It’s best to choose a calm, extra bedroom or any other spot in the house that has been recently remodeled (like the basement or attic).
There are several benefits to having a home office in the basement, such as an entrance for visitors and clients. It can also be a potential for a small kitchenette equipped with a coffee maker, refrigerator, and other small appliances.
Some homeowners may need to get inventive because of space constraints. Explore your home with an open mind to find unused rooms or nooks. A workstation may be set up anywhere, even a little area like a dining table or a stair landing.
Choosing the Best Flooring
The ideal home office flooring complements standard office furnishings and comes in various styles to help you establish the mood you want for your workspace. As a result, if you host guests frequently, it must be sturdy and easy to clean.
Furthermore, a home office can rapidly become noisy due to the prevalence of conference calls and online video chats. Consequently, it’s essential to get flooring that can muffle the sound so that it doesn’t wake up your toddler from their slumber or bother your neighbors.
The most outstanding floor for your home office will be attractive, inviting, functional, pleasant, and long-lasting. Depending on requirements and preferences, office flooring alternatives might include tile, carpet, laminate hardwood, and vinyl.
Hardwood Flooring
Both solid and engineered hardwood are excellent options for home office flooring since they provide a timeless base upon which to build any design. The added benefit of an increased home’s resale value is icing on the cake for its durability and class. In addition, it is simple to disinfect and maintain an allergen-free environment. You may get solid and engineered hardwood in a diverse range of wood species, surface treatments, stains, and plank sizes so you can use it in any interior design scheme.
Hardwood flooring is beautiful and durable, and it’s a good idea to continue that trend in the home office. Although wood flooring is one of the more expensive alternatives, it provides a beautiful, natural, and long-lasting surface. Hardwood floors, both solid and engineered, are long-lasting, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. In addition, you may have either one in a vast array of hues, wood tones, and surface finishes.
But remember that solid hardwood is ideal for higher floors of a home in moderate climates. For this reason, a home office located in a basement is not a good place for solid hardwood flooring. Select engineered hardwood instead, as it can be laid on any subfloor. If you have a hardwood floor, you should protect it by placing a rug or mat at the base of your swivel chair and using wool pads on any heavy items of furniture.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is an excellent, long-lasting choice for a home office and can be used in various settings. This floor covering is perfect for those looking to save money without sacrificing style by mimicking the look of natural hardwood. In addition to being scratch- and dent-proof, laminate flooring can also withstand high foot traffic and may be used in homes with dogs and children.
Because of the thick wear layer that protects laminate flooring, it is impervious to scratches, dents, and spills and is a breeze to keep clean. They may be set up in a short amount of time by the homeowner.
Laminate flooring has the potential problem of making a hollow sound. The swiveling of seats, the ringing of phones, and the entry and exit of clients might all add up to an annoying level of background noise. The use of a high-quality underlayment, however, can mitigate this issue by dampening noise and improving the feel of the floor beneath your feet.
Vinyl Flooring
Home offices might benefit from vinyl or PVC flooring due to its resilience and low upkeep requirements. They can survive the constant pounding of feet and the movement of swivel seats. Additionally, a protective top layer makes vinyl flooring less likely to show scratches or stains.
Some vinyl flooring options include a cushioned backing that makes them quieter and more comfortable to walk on than others. This option is both calming and practical since it muffles potential customers and phone calls. Vinyl also offers excellent thermal qualities, so you may be comfortable while working on the floor year-round.
Sheet vinyl is a cheap alternative for flooring in home offices, and it can be made to look like hardwood, stone, tile, or even stained concrete for a modern art studio feel. In addition to its acoustic benefits, a vinyl sheet with a textile backing provides a comfortable surface to work on (especially in chilly basements), and a soft feel underfoot.
Additional Flooring Considerations
Before committing to a floor for your home office, it’s a good idea to do some comparison among different flooring types. Check how they look next to one another in the intended setting and under different lighting conditions. This will give you a decent idea of how your office space will look when it’s finished.
If you need floor replacement for your home office, you’ll need a detailed floor plan and precise dimensions of the space. It’s the most crucial step, so expect it to take some time. One wrong inch of measurement might derail a whole project, so take your time. In addition, it’s recommended to buy 5-10% more tiles than you need to account for errors and defective samples.
Also, make sure they have the proper certifications in place. Purchasing flooring for your home office should only come from a seller or vendor who focuses on selling certified floors. To be deemed safe for you and your family, flooring must comply with rules and standards. This is because some flooring contains hazardous substances that can irritate.
Overall, the ideal flooring for a home office may help create a serene and productive environment. A home office with the best flooring will be crucial for several facets of our lives, including working and studying from a distance, reading critically essential texts, and doing tedious administrative tasks.