Long gone are the days of somber linoleum flooring like the kind they had in my grade school cafeteria (if I had to attempt to describe the color, it would be called something like greige). Nowadays, schools and other institutions can enjoy the health and environmental benefits of linoleum without sacrificing color or style. Colorette by Armstrong is a commercial grade line of linoleum flooring available in “20 fresh, uncomplicated colors.”

Colorette Linoleum. Manufactured by Armstrong.

Lively Linoleum Earns Eco Points

With vibrant colors such as Cherry and Cremecicle, Colorette offers a “design punch” underfoot. Use the available hues to create patterns and floor art, anything from checkerboards to figurative murals. For a fun grade school classroom, make an underwater scene with octopi floating in water—Armstrong offers Deep End and Shallow End in their line of blues. A college dormitory might benefit from hallways in respectable neutrals like Half Baked or Lighten Up.

Besides the fun colors in Armstrong’s Colorette collection, the commercial floor covering is made of linoleum, which is a good choice for sustainable design. The material, whose name comes from the Latin linum (flax) and oleum (oil), is made from renewable, organic materials (linseed oil, pine rosin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and others) that are also considered non-allergenic. Linoleum will earn points for being a rapidly renewable resource that is low-VOC and contains recycled content. These characteristics make it an excellent choice for educational uses.

About the Manufacturer: Armstrong celebrated its 150^th anniversary in 2010. A global leader in the design and manufacture of floors, ceilings, and cabinets, the company offers a wide range of floor products: hardwood, laminate, linoleum, vinyl sheet, and tile. With 90% of its business in commercial flooring and 10% in residential, Armstrong serves the needs of both large and intimate spaces.