Flooring Focus: Designer choices


Oliver Heath and other leading designers take us inside their projects and reveal why flooring is so important.


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Oliver Heath, Interior designer and Biophilic design ambassador for Interface

Oliver Heath

'The way we think about flooring solutions in offices and commercial environments is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Nowadays a floor covering is much more than a functional product; it's a key component of interior design.

We are increasingly seeing the use of colour and texture as a design tool to help create a focal point through flooring. Modular flooring, with its extensive design creations and colourways, provides the ideal solution for this. For example, bright colours might be used for creative, break-out areas, whereas natural, soothing colours and texture can be used to create space optimised for individual work and focus.

'I follow the principles of biophilic design (design inspired by our instinctive love of nature) when creating spaces, and I look for products...that emulate natural materials, such as stone or wood. Biophilic design is proven to have a positive impact on our well-being, inspiring creativity and making us feel more productive.

'Interface's latest global Human Spaces report - the Global Impact of Biophilic Design in Workplace - suggests that workers in offices with natural elements, such as greenery and sunlight, report a 15 per cent higher level of well-being, are six per cent more productive and 15 per cent more creative. Flooring with nature-inspired colours, textures and designs helps to create spaces that have a positive impact on our state of mind. I take a human-centred approach when designing spaces and would always choose materials that provide tangible benefits for the users, such as those that have biophilic elements. I would also always opt for flooring solutions that have minimal waste and strong environmental credentials.' oliverheath.com

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