Forbo Flooring spotlights creative possibilities of custom flooring

From digitally printed floral and graphic patterns to photographic images and precision-cut inlays, flooring brand Forbo Flooring Systems offers custom design possibilities to make flooring an “integral part of the identity and story of a space”.

Across Forbo’s Flotex, Vinyl, Entrance Flooring and Marmoleum collections, the brand offers customisation techniques that incorporate graphics, branding and messaging upon a floor.

Each technique creates custom floor designs that introduce graphic messaging in hospitality interiors, direct visitors to a certain space, or help support orientation in education or healthcare settings.

Forbo’s flooring can also be used in a museum setting, distinguishing one exhibition from another, or used to reinforce a brand identity in a retail or workplace environment. 

“The result is a floor that does more than provide a surface,” said the brand. 

“It can contribute to the character of an interior, communicate identity, support zoning and wayfinding, and connect different spaces through a coherent design language.”

The brand’s Flotex flooring has a densely flocked design, allowing detailed patterns, graphics and imagery to be reproduced at high resolution. In comparison, its vinyl collection is digitally printed, making it possible to translate more detailed bespoke patterns, graphics and imagery onto the material.

Across its Marmoleum collections, Forbo uses a specific Aquajet technology that uses high-pressure water to precisely cut material, which can then be combined to form detailed designs.

This enables Forbo to adapt flooring to specific colours and patterns to create individual graphics, imagery, logos or wayfinding.

“The technique makes it possible to translate a wide variety of ideas into the material, from geometric patterns and decorative elements to lettering, logos and intricate artwork,” said Forbo of its Aquajet technology.

“Designers can develop their own concept and work with colours from the Marmoleum palette to create an individual composition.”

Forbo also offers Coral Entrance Flooring, allowing a building’s entrance to connect visually with its identity while helping prevent dirt and moisture from entering.

“Digital printing creates extensive graphic possibilities for Flotex and vinyl,” said Forbo of its process. “Aquajet technology enables precise compositions in Marmoleum, while custom techniques for Coral bring individual design into the entrance area.”

Rather than presenting its collections as separate products, Forbo explained that projects often involve different flooring collections as part of one portfolio.

For example, a project might begin with a customised entrance, continue with an individual floor design and use colour, graphics or patterns to define different zones and destinations.

According to Forbo Flooring, the diversity of its collections allows designers the opportunity to choose the flooring material and technique that best suit both their creative vision and the functional requirements of the space.

“The flooring can therefore contribute to aesthetics, identity, orientation and the overall experience of a space, while different products continue to respond to the functional requirements of each area,” it added.

Forbo Flooring explained that customisation can start at different levels. For example, designers can build on an existing Forbo design, adapting its colours, or develop something entirely new.

“Depending on the flooring type, an original graphic, photograph, pattern, illustration, logo or other visual concept can be translated into the floor,” said the brand.

As a result, this flexibility allows flooring to respond more closely to the architecture, identity and purpose of a space.

To learn more about Forbo’s custom flooring, visit its website.

Photography by Forbo Flooring Systems.

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