With the Summer school fit-out period fast approaching in Ireland, we take a look at how flooring can play an important part in a student’s development, from early learning to university, and what flooring solutions are most suited to create an environment in which they can thrive.

‍Primary focus

The careful use of colours, differing textures and patterns can all help to stimulate young pupil’s senses, foster creativity, and improve concentration, as well as make them feel safe and encourage them to engage with their surroundings.

The space needs to provide a soothing environment for the young to feel comfortable, so carpet, carpet tiles and vinyl floors are good choices. Affordable designs with slip-resistance and ease of maintenance deliver a practical floor covering, while a broad range of colours, texture and patterns can be used to create a supportive environment for young users.

Secondary school interiors

As children enter their teenage years, classroom design matures too. It needs to deliver a calming environment that encourages social interaction, but which also allows for focus and concentration. The clever use of floors can create zones in classrooms and communal areas to do just that, designating spaces through colour, texture and floor type. Again, sheet vinyl can be used as an affordable solution, although carpet is often the floor of choice for these busy spaces.

Designing for higher education

Colleges and universities provide a springboard to a successful career and as such often reflect a professional working environment that delivers a mix of spaces to encourage collaboration, concentration, and contemplation. A well-designed space that allows for cooperation and provides areas for individual tasks is key, with carefully considered flooring playing a role in establishing these areas within the design. The acoustic values offered by carpet tiles are an ideal choice for concentration and contemplation, while luxury vinyl tiles give a high-performance finish for collaboration. The natural wood and stone effects of LVT also support wellbeing through a connection to the natural world.

A helping hand from Flooring Providers‍

Choosing the best flooring for a school requires careful consideration.  Durability, safety, ease of maintenance, and cost-effectiveness are all key decision drivers, and here are few of the popular options to consider, and available through Flooring Providers:

1. Carpet & Carpet tiles: Carpet and Carpet tiles contribute to the well-being and productivity of pupils through comfort, design and improved acoustics.

Both broadloom carpet (or sheet carpet) and carpet tiles offer an extremely durable and easy to maintain option for schools, colleges and universities.

Such is the breadth of designs and colours available in carpet tiles, schools can also incorporate identity in its scheme, adding another clever design touch that will resonate with students and staff alike.

Supercoriale, Academy, go to and Tivoli from our partner brand Burmatex are proven favourites in education projects.

2. Entrance Matting: The key for any school project is to maximise the lifespan of floors within a building to as long as possible. Entrance matting does just that. It stops dirt and moisture entering the building and thus protects the flooring finishes. There is a wide range of standard systems available from Flooring Providers that ensure that any project’s entrance can benefit from a solution that traps dirt and moisture while meeting the budget challenges and aesthetic requirements of any school environment.

Explore our entrance matting solutions provider Emco

When choosing the best flooring for schools, it's essential to consider the specific needs of the school, including the level of foot traffic, maintenance capabilities, budget constraints, and aesthetic preferences.

Contact our team for more on flooring in your Irish education project.

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