Working with a commercial general contractor on creating an atmosphere for a new retail business, the construction of an office or the creation of a new restaurant inevitably means dealing with flooring concerns. Things like the finish, texture or patterns can all play a role in the final decision, so it’s important to have a grasp on current concepts.
For 2017, some trends in both commercial and retail flooring are already taking shape. Listed below are the areas where these are very relevant.
Colors
While some prefer basic approaches for commercial wood flooring, all signs point to a year of livening things up. That means that creating the image of a larger flooring plan that exudes brightness should make a blonde floor the right choice.
Another option is sticking with gray, which has remained popular for many years. The reason is that it gives off the impression of a more serene atmosphere, which may be the vibe that a business is seeking.
Choosing to go in a different direction with dark stained floors can offer deeper hues that grab someone’s attention right off the bat. One fly in the ointment of this selection is that it has a reputation for making dirt more visible and the room itself seem smaller.
Type of Wood
Retail flooring is about providing ambience that welcomes a customer. That means traditionally strong options like bamboo remain a good choice, while cork continues to make inroads. In the latter case, cork is the more environmentally-sound choice.
Wood that’s either been engineered or reclaimed is also clamoring for attention. Messier places will prefer the easy cleanup that engineered wood offers, while those who believe in recycling will lean toward the reclaimed option. Given the pending change in the White House, American-made wood also figures to strike more of a chord with affected audiences.
Finish
Nice shiny floors might represent a commitment to cleanliness but in some atmospheres, drawing attention to the floor can be counterproductive. In their place, flat options are now more in vogue.
The two most popular in 2017 are expected to be matte and satin. Matte is the trendier of the two, if only because it’s currently on an uptick that could last for the next decade. That popularity is in contrast to its previous image of being drab and uninspiring.
Going with satin is safer, given its continuing popularity, with the shiny nature of the key reason. For the commercial general contractor that’s tasked with making such decisions, knowing the overriding philosophy of the business makes the choice easier.
Layouts
The straight look is out, since commercial wood flooring that’s angled gives off the impression that the investment was much more than the final number. Businesses looking to set themselves apart could lean toward this consideration. With herringbone wood now using longer planks, it helps give the illusion of a larger room, while also offering a unique presentation.
Wood with larger planks has also become a more popular choice, with those in charge of producing it now jumping on the bandwagon. Wide plank or mixed width again boils down to safe versus daring, but either way, this trend is in no danger of fading any time soon.
The Choice
At Stovall Construction, our commercial general contractor is well aware of all trends in this ever-changing industry. Working with them for any commercial wood flooring or retail flooring job will help ensure that the image sought is what will emerge when a job is completed. Contact Stovall today.