Work From Home in Style – The Best Flooring For Home Offices

There was a time when remote working was frowned upon – seen as a productivity killer. Today, that’s no longer the case. Around 14% of workers in the UK only WFH, while 26% work on a hybrid basis, operating a few days a week in the office and a few days at home. Compared to just 4% of workers working remotely in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, this represents a significant change to how we view work.

With the WFH trend not going anywhere anytime soon, it may be time for you to jump on the bandwagon, too. At Online Carpets, we have everything you need to upgrade your home office design with some of the best flooring for home office spaces. 

What Makes the Best Home Office?

Generally speaking, what makes the best home office is a space that gets the best work out of you – and that won't be the same for everyone. When designing a home office, a lot of time and effort is placed into finding the right desk, a comfortable chair or a sleek mouse and keyboard; but not enough focus is placed on the best flooring for home offices. Flooring is crucial to setting the tone of any space. Just as soft carpet is best for a bedroom to instill a sense of calm and relaxation, floor covering for home offices is equally important to create a focused environment.

What Floor Should I Use for a Home Office?

When choosing flooring for home offices, you'll need to first establish what you're after from your flooring, be it comfort and noise reduction, durability and easy maintenance, aesthetic appeal, or to withstand high foot traffic.

For comfort and noise reduction, we recommend carpet. With carpet, you get the comfort aspect thanks to a soft underfoot, which can promote a calm and focused environment. It's also great if you're standing and sitting for several hours. Additionally, carpet offers excellent sound absorption, reducing noise levels and keeping your workspace nice and quiet. The Belton Feltback Twist Carpet is a great option and is one of our most popular ranges. 

If you're after durable flooring that lasts and is easy to maintain, laminate or vinyl flooring is your go-to. Laminate flooring is good for avoiding scratches from office chairs, for example, and reducing overall wear. Vinyl options are best for water, stain and wear resistance, making them best suited for high-traffic areas. Both are also cost-effective and versatile alternatives.

If aesthetics is your priority for your home office flooring, opt for luxury vinyl tiles (LVT). We offer a wide range of options for you to choose from, including laminate wooden flooring, patterned vinyl flooring, marble vinyl flooring and Herringbone vinyl flooring to name a few. Herringbone carpet is also a great alternative if you want that striking, classic chevron pattern. 

For all your office ideas for work, look no further than our extensive range of flooring options, from vinyl and carpet to laminate and wood flooring alternatives, allowing you to choose the home office design that best suits your wants and needs. 

Is Vinyl or Carpet Better for Home Office Design?

Choosing between vinyl or carpet for your home office design will depend on a few factors: aesthetics, durability and comfort.

Vinyl Flooring for Home Office

Pros	Cons
Durable Water-resistant Easy to maintain Versatile and offers lots of variety Affordable Allergy-friendly	Harder and therefore can be less comfortable It can be noisier than carpet If poorly fitted, may rip with constant desk chair use

Carpet Flooring for Home Office

Pros	Cons
Soft underfoot makes it a comfortable surface Sound-absorbing Insulating Can be aesthetically cozy and luxurious	Requires regular maintenance as it can stain easily and gather up dust Can more easily wear down over time Not water resistant as it absorbs liquids and can stain Can trap dust and allergens

Overall, if you want the flooring in your home office to be durable, easily maintainable and water-resistant, vinyl flooring is your best bet. If you prioritise comfort, sound absorption and cosiness, carpet is the flooring you need.

What is an Affordable Flooring Option for a Home Office? 

At Online Carpets, we pride ourselves on providing options that suit everyone’s needs, preferences and budgets. We recommend checking out our laminate and vinyl flooring options for affordable flooring without the dip in quality. 

Our Ultimate Wood Vinyl Flooring, for example, is a realistic and inexpensive alternative to wooden flooring that can give your office space a luxury look without breaking the bank. Our wood effect laminate flooring selection is also a great alternative. 

As another option, our collection of Herringbone Effect Laminate Flooring mimics the allure of hardwood. While more affordable than actual hardwood, you still get that sense of sophistication, with the added benefit of durability. 

If you don’t want to change the entire flooring of the room, you can also spruce up spaces with large rugs. Choose from our selection of budget, quality and luxury rugs.  

If you have a desk chair with wheels in your small home office, it's important to protect your flooring. Regardless of the type of flooring you choose, using a desk chair pad or floor protector is recommended. Wheels have the potential to damage certain types of flooring, such as pulling material off carpets and rugs or scuffing vinyl and laminate surfaces.

Check out the full collection of Vinyl Flooring, Laminate Flooring and rug options to find the perfect style for your home office. 

How Can I Make My Home Office More Homely?

Some of the most common complaints of in-office employees revolve around comfort and noise. Thankfully, one of the major benefits of working from home is that you get to customise and personalise your home office space. An office can oftentimes be stylistically dull and uncomfortable, so picking the right elements is key to making your home office more homely. 

Because you have agency over stylistic choices, picking colours and patterns that reflect your personal style is a great way to make your workspace feel more personal. Opt for a calming carpet like the Soft Noble Actionback Carpet or the elegant Orion 50oz Invictus Carpet; or something more luxurious like Woodlike Vinyl Flooring or a timeless Calais Oak Kronotex Herringbone. 

Our flooring options come in different colours and patterns, so you can implement the exact style you’re after and get to smashing productivity levels out of the roof!

Creating the best home office involves careful consideration of the right flooring that balances comfort, durability, aesthetics, and personal style. Whether you choose the warmth of carpet, the durability of vinyl, or the elegance of wooden flooring alternatives, the goal is to create a workspace that feels as comfortable and inviting as home while supporting your productivity needs. We have plenty of home office ideas for work, including large rugs and versatile vinyl, so don’t wait around and start designing your dream workspace today!