Floor is the most expansive interior element and can either make or break the look of a room. The right type of floor can complement the theme of your home perfectly or stand out like a sore thumb.
BY : LEANDRA MONTEIRO
Flooring trends change continuously as per homeowner’s shifting tastes and new technologies. Millennial generation today prefers modern interiors that fit with their aspirational global lifestyle. The foremost considerations at present are the environmentfriendly and cost-effective flooring solutions that are easy to install. In keeping with the consumer demands, the floor covering industry is flooded with novel developments that has made options like bamboo, rubber and reclaimed hardwood, popular options.
But, adapting to changing trends and new age ideologies is a challenge for the flooring sector. Chirag Shah, Head of Operations, choice range from natural stones like Jaisalmer, Kota and Shahabad to coloured cement tiles and terrazzo. Also micro concrete floors are gaining huge popularity.”
“The core technology that is disrupting flooring is interlocking floating vinyl floors. This means that precise lock systems are profiled on the edge of floors which helps put together the entire system as a grid.” added Rishabh Agarwal, Non-Executive Chairman, Responsive Industries.
The ceramic tiles industry too has adopted eco-friendly manufacturing processes as well as high-resolution printing technology for natural stone finishes, thereby eliminating need of natural stone excavations. Giving an example, Kamlesh Patel, Chairman and Managing Director, Asian Granito India Ltd said, “Technology in tiles segment has evolved manifold to enhance not only sheen and colour, but also to make them resistant to stains, dirt and bacteria. For instance, nanotechnology ceramic sealant creates a very thin protective layer which provides these properties increasing the hygiene quotient.” Mukesh Patel, Managing Director, Asian Granito India Ltd added, “High Definition digital printing technology is gaining ground as it offers a diverse variety of designs and shades on any tile surface. With 300 dpi resolutions resulting in finer and natural textual patterns, these tiles are becoming style statements.”
Tiles industry in India is likely to grow around 8-10 percent over a period of next 2-3 years. (40% organized and 60% unorganized segment).
Mukesh Patel, Managing Director, Asian Granito India Ltd added, “High Definition digital printing technology is gaining ground as it offers a diverse variety of designs and shades on any tile surface. With 300 dpi resolutions resulting in finer and natural textual patterns, these tiles are becoming style statements.”
Sanjay Kalra, President and Chief, Bath Products & Tiles, Brilloca Limited shared, “Advancements in technology have enabled tiles manufacturers to make very large tiles which can cover large areas of walls and floor in pure color or textured finish with very few grout lines. The super thin tiles of 5mm size introduced by us under our brand Neom are eco-friendly and are also great for remodelling homes as they can easily be installed over the old tiles. Thus, making the whole process convenient, less messy and time consuming.
Xylos India elaborated, “New technologies help cater to the fast changing mind-sets of consumers. But is the flooring sector ready to invest in advanced manufacturing systems to keep up with demands? We expect, the changing consumer lifestyles to drive the demand for innovative flooring products going forward.”
Indrajit Kembhavi, Chief Architect and Managing Partner, Kembhavi Architecture Foundation agreed, “Globally, technology has enabled a multitude of options in flooring solution. In residential spaces the trends are transiting from the popular Italian marbles towards subdued earthy hues.
REINVENTING FOR SUCCESS
The Indian real estate industry’s slump has taken its toll on the flooring industry as well. Be it tiles, vinyl, laminates or wood, the flooring sector as a whole has suffered a setback. However, the floor manufacturers are confident of future growth. “Potential of the flooring industry is tremendous. India still has a huge requirement of both residential and commercial spaces and each floor covering manufacturer can expect excellent demand as the construction sector starts picking up. We are hoping that timely government intervention in policy will help start this shift in this quarter itself,” stated Rishabh Agarwal.
Ar. Akshay Selukar, Principle Architect, H&A Consultants on a positive note added, “Because of the influx of newer materials and specialized machinery, India is producing wide range of materials for other countries around the world at competitive costs. As a result many countries are exporting from India. That itself will be a growth driver for Indian flooring sector in future.” As a matter of fact, the flooring market across the world is highly competitive with a number of companies offering innumerable flooring solutions across commercial, industrial and residential. The flooring market in India too is seeing all-round innovations at par with global markets, making it a strong contender in the segment.
Trending in Style
- Digital technology has transformed the ceramic tile industry, opening up new avenues for home interiors. Adoption of new age printing techniques, where data and images are printed from the computer onto the tiles, has led to the manufacturing of tiles that resemble natural materials like marble and granite.
- Today’s consumers are eco-conscious and thus, gravitate towards products that are stylish yet eco-friendly and sustainable. As a result, wood replica tiles will continue to be popular since they offer a quick and convenient way to achieve luxurious flooring finish.
- Each year brings new flooring trends, styles and finishes. While classic may always remain in style, experimenting with textures is the new in-thing.
THE FUTURE FORWARD
The positive growth story of Indian flooring industry can be attributed to the government’s push towards affordable housing, smart city projects, and creation of new industrial corridors, coupled with rapid urbanisation and rising income levels. “Rapid urbanization is set to be a key growth driver for premium and super premium flooring segments in India. Aligned with this, we do expect high impact, accessible and easy-to-install flooring to be in vogue in 2020. Bold looks in living spaces will be on the rise, giving prominence to darker hues, such as black in offices and homes,” commented Sanjay Kalra. Indeed, flooring market in India has seen a strong demand, driven by innovation and adaptation of distinct flooring techniques. In addition to being the second largest tiles producer in the world, India is also fast emerging as a leading consumer market, with domestic consumption predicted to grow at a healthy 5-6% CAGR. In the last decade, the Indian ceramic tile industry recorded a phenomenal growth in terms of capacity, technology advancement, product portfolio and its structure. India ranks second in the world and produces 12.90% of global output. Also India is the 3rd largest tiles market and among the top five fastest growing markets in the world. Moreover, India is becoming a huge export hub for countries like US, Canada, Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and China.
