Consideration for student accommodation

How to choose the best student accommodation

When parents and students are considering which accommodation is a good fit for them, they will go through a series of questions to help them make the decision:

• Location

  • Students don't necessarily have their own transport and may rely on public transport or even have to walk to get to their desired destination so it becomes crucial that the facility that is chosen is in an ideal location for their needs
    
    

• Resources

  • During the stage of life when one is a student it is so important to be in an environment that is equipped well to enable the student to achieve their best. Can you imagine trying to study in a room that is shared with 10 others or where there is no Plan B for an electricity supply during load shedding?
    
    

• Security

  • This is a significant factor globally. When parents have their children leaving the nest for the first time, they want to ensure that they are going to be safe and protected in this 'home away from home'. 
    
    

• Amenities

  • Internet connection has fast become a basic need and critical to enable learning.
    
    

• Environment

  • Environment is so important in producing a happy student and the culture, ambience, look and feel of the space, cleanliness, homeliness, safety and comfort are elements that we are going to address in this article.
    
    

Student accommodation as a living space

Young adults will likely spend between 3 and 5 years in student accommodation so the facility that they choose to live in for this time needs to provide them with a sense of safety and comfort, becoming more than just a place to rest their heads. 

A common area, living room or lounge should encourage conversation and interaction of our future leaders whereas a bathroom should be a clean, calm, peaceful space where a student can relax and process thoughts from the day. 

So what can be done to achieve these varying aesthetics, and to maintain the standard from when the facility's doors first opened for generations of students? Student accommodation is an asset, a revenue stream for the owner so their core interest is to protect their asset. This can be done simply through selecting the right floor covering as well as the right wall protection.

Why is the floor covering important?

The floor covering is an all important element in any building, be it commercial or residential but why? Here are the 6 core factors to focus on when considering which flooring option is right for your project:

1. Visual aesthetic

   Before entering a room, a person will love or hate the space based on how it looks. What needs to be taken into consideration visually is what  you want people to feel when they are in that space;  are you looking to create a calm environment or to improve energy levels?
   
   

2. Comfort

   On first stepping into a room, the feet make contact with the floor. People have more contact with a floor of a room than anything else in it;  comfort is an important factor.
   
   

3. Durability

   Is the space a high traffic area in need of a heavy duty covering or is it a quieter space where there will not be as much risk of wear and tear over the next few years.
   
   

4. Maintenance & cleaning

   Is the floor covering easy to keep clean or will it require additional resources in the form of labour, water and specialised cleaning materials?
   
   

5. Safety / Slip resistance

   Is there a possibility that someone could sustain injuries when walking on the floors? Is the environment wet or dry? It is critical to ensure the safety of all who will come into contact with the floor.
   
   

6. Sustainability

   It is so important to think of our planet in all of the decisions that we make, this doesn't exclude the decision of which floor covering to use. We all have a responsibility to protect our environment.

Why is wall protection important?

1. Protection

   It's right there in the name. Wall protection prevents damage to walls and as such reduces the need for ongoing repairs and maintenance. 
   
   

2. Visual aesthetic

   Wall protection doesn't have to be an eyesore to be effective.  There are many colours and designs that can improve the overall appearance of an interior.
   
   

3. Safety

   Wall protection can significantly reduce the risk of falls by providing support along walkways or stairs.
   
   

4. Communication

   Living in a country with 11 official languages, wall protection can be used as a global language to create way-finding and ‘emoji type communication’. solutions.

Vinyl flooring in student accommodation

We have identified that there are varying needs (and budgets) when it comes to student accommodation. So which options are the right ones when it comes to your specific project?

Directional Sheeting

• XL PU

  • By combining optimum style and high performance, XL PU enables you to transform any environment through the use of vibrant colours.
  • Annual maintenance is required on these products. 

• Standard XL

  • With top-selling shades and a duotone marbelized design, Standard XL is a hard-wearing and practical floor covering available in a variety of shades.
  •  As with the XL PU annual maintenance is required for this range.

Non-Directional Sheeting

• Classic Mystique PUR

  • For a perfectly balanced combination of neutral and warm tones, Classic Mystique PUR maintains the uncomplicated, clean aesthetic of subtle neutrals.

  • A low maintenance option.

• Palettone PUR

  • Our hero range, Palettone PUR, enables you to bring a special brand of style and elegance to any commercial environment.  Featuring a solid colour base with complementary toned highlights, Palettone PUR is available in a palette of 50 contemporary colours. Demonstrating outstanding durability and abrasion resistance,
  • Another low maintenance offering.
  • If biophilic design principles are being incorporated into the project, this is a good  choice for you.

• Luxury Vinyl Tiles PUR

  • This is the product offering to explore for a higher budget project.
  • Offers designers and architects endless possibilities to create sophisticated, natural-looking floors that are both beautiful and highly resilient. 
  • If biophilic design principles are being incorporated into the project, this is another good choice.

We have more ranges that are ideal for student accommodation.

Click here to view our full Product Range.

Due to its water-resistant nature, durability, ease of cleaning, aesthetics, acoustic properties, slip resistance and comfort, vinyl is often the product of choice for many of student residences today.

We have put together a Student Accommodation Portfolio which includes the reasons why vinyl is such a good fit for student accommodation and some projects where Polyflor products have been used. 

Download your copy of this portfolio today.