Your office space defines your brand, integral personality and style, company ethics and image, and working culture. Whether you have a standalone office setup or a multi-level commercial property - choosing the best tiles for an office is quite necessary. Picking the wrong tile for your office can majorly affect your brand image and the overall comfort levels of the space. So, it’s quite important to consider the following 8 factors when choosing office floor tiles. After all, wouldn’t you want your employees to feel safe and comfortable and also encourage them to work together as a team?
Foot Traffic
Foot traffic is one of the most important aspects when choosing floor tiles for an office. A low-grade tile or a tile that doesn’t have a PEI index of 4 or 5 can lead to cracks and look unprofessional in the coming years. So, it’s important that you choose a high-quality tile that can withstand heavy foot traffic at all times. However, the heavy-duty tile doesn’t apply in every corner of the office setup. For instance, the reception lobby and corridors receive considerably higher traffic as compared to the conference rooms and meeting rooms. So,
- Consider high-duty tile like porcelain, ceramic, or natural stone tile in the reception areas
- On the other hand, carpet tiles, hardwood tiles, or wall-to-wall carpeting for conference rooms
Maintenance
Maintenance and cleanability are important factors that define your business’ image. Well, you need to regularly clean and maintain the floors for a refreshed, clean, and crisp look. After all, the visiting clients should be impressed with the level of cleanliness and ‘new’ look of the tiles, right? Well, remember - stained and chipped tiles can truly leave a bad impression on the guests. So,
- Choose neutral-hued tiles for the offices since white or lighter-colored tiles can truly get stained easily
- Porcelain tiles are quite easy to clean and maintain. Hence, just some regular mopping and sweeping can make your tiles look brand new at all times.
Budget
Considering your budget is an important factor, especially if you’re choosing tiles for an office. So, don’t just consider the initial cost but the overall life-cycle cost as well! A cheap tile can be easy to install but can end up demanding dollars and dollars for maintenance. Well, you must prioritize a balance of both - budget as well as aesthetics so you don’t end up making bad financial decisions. So,
- Choose floor tiles that are highly durable and easy to maintain with commendable aesthetics
- Moreover, the tile must last longer and shouldn’t be too fancy so your employees don’t get distracted
Safety
Especially for offices, you simply can’t compromise on the safety of your employees. A safe working environment will result in a positive work culture, greater potential, a progressive mindset, and higher energy. So, you must ensure that the office floor tiles are slip-resistant, anti-skid, and chemical-free. After all, who would want their employees to trip, slip, or slide over, right? So, to avoid this -
- Choose slip-resistant tiles for reception foyers, kitchen, pantry, and washrooms where there’s a higher chance for liquid spills
- You can avoid slip-resistant tiles in the conference rooms and meeting rooms
Size
You must definitely think and rethink the best tile sizes for a commercial office setup. For instance, a large-format tile can definitely make an ideal choice in an office space as compared to mosaic tiles or other smaller tiles. And do you know why? Well,
- For a sense of seamlessness, large-format tiles will show uniformity. And remember, larger tile sizes means fewer grout lines - hence, easier to maintain and easier to clean.
- In general, large format tiles can tend to make an office space look larger, airier, and spacious. Yes, it’s a great way to create an illusion of a larger space
- The large format tiles are quite versatile and can be used for other applications as well. Apart from floor applications, you can choose to cut and use them for countertops and wall applications as well.
Business
So, what type of business do you have? Well, the level of rigorousness of a business can itself define the best type of tiles to be used. For instance, if you have a corporate culture with multiple clients walking in and out on a daily basis, choose a high-traffic tile that can last longer and offer more durability. On the other hand, let’s say you have a warehouse or a manufacturing unit - avoid using softer tiles or even carpet tiles since they can get stained very easily. So,
- If you have more foot traffic and no machinery work - it isn’t a bad idea to install high-traffic tiles in some and carpet tiles in quiet spaces
- Go for a PEI index rating of 5 for the floor tiles for manufacturing units, warehouses, and factories
Comfort
A positive and safe environment is key to a happy and healthy work culture. There’s a higher chance of increased employee working efficiency and potential if the office surroundings are safe and sound. Well, employees do not want to look at bare floors that feel hard or cold underfoot. Rather, they want a comfortable and inspiring environment to work, discuss new ideas, and be creative while crafting business strategies. So,
- Choose tiles with either rustic, matte, or textured finish to create a comfortable ambiance
- Choose comfortable flooring aesthetics that can attract your employees and engage them to work enthusiastically
Aesthetics
And lastly, aesthetics is an important factor to consider! You have to be functional, practical, and stylish at the same time. Especially to make your office space look more lively, engaging, and visually appealing - it’s ideal to choose tiles that can immediately grab attention and yet not be so disturbing! So,
- Choose minimalist and classy flooring tile options that don’t distract the employees when they work. Minimal patterns can often feel calming and relaxing as well.
- Try to avoid geometric or busy patterns on the floor since they can be quite distracting!
At Mineral Tiles, we offer a wide range of porcelain and ceramic tiles for your commercial office setup. From modern to classy, and rustic to patterned - do get in touch with one of our professionals to help you choose the best office floor tiles.
