One of the few unpleasant aspects of our mid-century home is the icky gray 50-year-old linoleum that occasionally interrupts our otherwise lovely hardwood flooring. In our search for an inexpensive alternative we keep stopping at plain old vinyl tile used creatively to form interesting patterns.
There’s something comfortingly familiar about the tiles — maybe because they remind us of practically every elementary school hallway. But forming them into colorful patterns elevates them from institutional humdrum to unique and retro.
Vinyl is very cost effective, but unfortunately it's not especially eco-friendly, though it is certainly more so than it used to be when it was often made with asbestos — as you can see in the 1957 ad above (for that reason be very cautious when removing old vinyl or linoleum and better yet, consult a professional). However, natural and sustainable linoleum tiles could be used for many of the same effects.
To find vinyl and linoleum tiles, try Armstrong, Marmoleum, Linoleum City, and, of course, Home Depot.
(Images: 1,6,8: Domino; 2,9: Plan59; 3,5,7: Forbo Flooring; 4: Vanessa Holtgrewe; 10: Armstrong)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
There are some really nice vinyl composite tiles out there. These are mostly used in commercial and instutional settings because they're so durable and inexpensive. The downside is that they have to be installed over a perfectly smooth substrate with adhesive, which also has to be very evenly applied. And then you have to use a roller over the finished tile. And then you kinda have to wax and buff the floor because it scratches easily! But the colors and patterns can be worth it.
True linoleum is becoming easier to find. It costs about 4x as much as vinyl composite but is easier to maintain.
view spanky's profile
If you want to go eco-friendly, natural linoleum is a GREAT choice. I know that retailers like Green Depot have tons of color options, too.
view Aaron's profile
Love these!
view sally305's profile
I just got really excited to see the Red Room floor.
view thecynthesizer's profile
Vinyl is EXTREMELY toxic. Please try to use real linoleum if you can.
view HazelStone's profile
"True linoleum is becoming easier to find. It costs about 4x as much as vinyl composite but is easier to maintain."
Not just that - but it has natural anti-bacterial properties and is biodegradable since it's made from Linseed Oil (from the flax plant) wood and/or cork powder and backed w/ Jute.
Vinyl is gonna last a few thousand years in landfill after it's useful life...
view bepsf's profile
Armstrong now manufactures BioBased tile and Mohawk has StoneWalk which is PVC free. Both are currently being used commercially in the place of VCT.
view Bonz's profile
I love the patterns. Does anyone know if it's possible to buy colored cork (or other eco-friendly material) that can be used in designs like the ones above?
view Lisa (Montreal)'s profile
So funny to see my floor featured in an apartmenttherapy post.
Picture #4 is from when my ex and I redid his kitchen. You can read about how Susie's kitchen (the awesome kitchen featured in Domino, picture #1) inspired our patterned floor on Decor8 - http://decor8blog.com/2006/11/02/the-fab-floor/
Sarah wrongly credits my floor and picture to Armstrong; I'm pretty sure we didn't use their flooring products to create this project. We picked up our linoleum dirt-cheap from a place in LA; I think it was Linoleum City in Hollywood (www.linoleumcity.com).
-Vanessa
view Nesser's profile
LOVE all these. I would love to use linoleum someday if I ever own a home.
view michpc's profile
Vanessa,
My apologies for the image mix-up, I updated the image credits. Great job!
Sarah
view sarahlr's profile
Thank you, Sarah :)
view Nesser's profile