Is this the return of linoleum?

Linoleum is one of those materials that is reminiscent of an era, bringing to mind instant images of 1920s patterned kitchen floors. Invented in the 1860s by an Englishman named Frederick Walton linoleum was such a success that within the space of 15 or so years it became so commonplace in homes and workplaces that the word linoleum became the first trade name to become a generic term.

Linoleum is made from a mixture of renewable raw materials. Linseed oil is pressed from the seeds of the flax plant. This oil is then heated together with pine resin to make a paste. Then depending on the manufacturer a mixture of wood flour, cork, and limestone is added. This mixture is then pushed through a calender machine and combined with a jute backing for strength to create a flat flooring surface. The combination of these materials makes for a pretty low-impact product.

In the 1950s the introduction of plastic-based vinyl products meant a decline in linoleum production. These vinyl products were seen as more durable, could offer brighter colour choices, and were retailing at a cheaper price. However, as consumers start to become more conscious of how their material choices affect the planet and our own health we are seeing people turning back to linoleum once again.

Forbo is currently leading the way with linoleum production and has created their Marmoleum range which they market as being carbon neutral. The colour palettes might not be what they once were in the 1920s, but they offer a big range of options.

Projects coming out of Design Academy Eindhoven are often a glimpse into the trends we are going to see in the coming years and recent graduate Lina Chi has created a simple yet beautiful collection of furniture highlighting the qualities of linoleum. Her collection of tables, benches, and stools shows the strength and flexibility of the material when manipulated into particular forms. This collection does a wonderful job of highlighting the beauty of what can be seen as a mundane material, as well as bringing to our attention the need to ask questions about the materials around us, linoleum can be easily mistaken for its petroleum-based counterpart but their effects on the planet are very different.

Linoleum by Lina Chi