Bolon flooring is a Swedish manufacturer of woven vinyl flooring that has carved out a unique niche in the commercial design world. Unlike traditional vinyl plank or sheet, Bolon products feature a woven textile surface made from vinyl yarns — creating a floor that looks and feels like a high-end woven fabric but performs like commercial-grade vinyl.
Found in hotels, airports, offices, retail spaces, and restaurants around the world, Bolon flooring bridges the gap between the warmth and texture of carpet and the durability and hygiene of hard flooring. This guide covers everything from the product construction and design collaborations to sustainability practices, pricing, and where Bolon makes the most sense.
What Is Bolon Flooring?
Bolon is a woven vinyl flooring product — a unique category that combines the aesthetic of woven textiles with the practical performance of vinyl. The flooring is manufactured by weaving vinyl-coated polyester yarns on industrial looms, then bonding the woven surface to a vinyl backing. The result is a floor covering with visible textile texture that is waterproof, stain-resistant, and extremely durable.
Woven vinyl occupies a space between carpet and traditional hard-surface vinyl. It provides the visual warmth, acoustic absorption, and underfoot comfort associated with textile flooring, while delivering the hygiene, moisture resistance, and easy maintenance of vinyl. This combination makes it especially popular in hospitality and corporate environments where both aesthetics and practicality are critical.
Brand History
Bolon was founded in 1949 in Ulricehamn, Sweden, as a traditional rug-weaving company. For decades, the company produced conventional woven rugs and textile floor coverings. In the early 2000s, the brand underwent a dramatic transformation under the leadership of the third-generation family owners, Annica and Marie Eklund.
The Eklund sisters repositioned Bolon from a traditional Swedish rug maker into a design-led, innovation-focused flooring brand. They shifted the product line to woven vinyl, invested heavily in sustainable manufacturing, and partnered with world-renowned designers and architects to create products that pushed the boundaries of what commercial flooring could look like.
Today, Bolon is sold in over 60 countries and has been specified in some of the world’s most prestigious commercial interior projects, including hotels by major luxury chains, headquarters of global corporations, airports, museums, and high-end retail stores.
How Bolon Flooring Is Made
The Weaving Process
Bolon flooring starts as vinyl-coated polyester yarns that are woven on industrial looms at the company’s factory in Sweden. The weaving process creates distinct patterns — from tight, uniform weaves to open, textured designs with visible depth. The type of yarn, the weave pattern, and the density of the weave all determine the floor’s final appearance, texture, and performance characteristics.
Backing and Finishing
The woven vinyl surface is bonded to a dimensionally stable backing layer using heat and pressure. The backing provides structural integrity, cushioning, and the flat underside needed for adhesive installation. Some products include additional acoustic or cushion layers for enhanced sound absorption.
Quality and Consistency
Because Bolon controls the entire manufacturing process in-house at their Swedish factory — from yarn production through weaving, backing, and finishing — they maintain tight control over quality and consistency. This single-factory approach also supports their sustainability initiatives.
Collections Overview
Bolon organizes its products into collections, each with a distinct aesthetic direction. Collections are updated regularly, but the following represent the brand’s main categories.
Botanic
Inspired by natural plant textures and organic forms. Earth tones, greens, and warm neutrals predominate. Botanic designs bring a natural, biophilic quality to commercial spaces.
Artisan
Handcraft-inspired weaves that reference traditional textile techniques. Artisan collections feature complex patterns with visible depth and texture variation. Popular in hospitality and boutique retail.
Flow
Gradient and tonal designs that create visual movement across the floor surface. Flow collections are often used in large open spaces where the floor becomes a design feature in itself.
Diversity
Multi-coloured weaves that combine contrasting yarns for bold, graphic patterns. Diversity collections work well in creative offices, co-working spaces, and youth-oriented environments.
Silence
Collections specifically engineered for enhanced acoustic performance. The Silence range features thicker construction with sound-absorbing layers, reducing impact noise by up to 22 dB. Ideal for offices and hotels where noise control is critical.
By You
Bolon’s custom programme allows architects and designers to create bespoke colour combinations and patterns. The “By You” service offers access to Bolon’s full range of yarns and weave structures for truly one-of-a-kind flooring designs.
Design Collaborations
Bolon has collaborated with leading designers and architects to create limited-edition and signature collections. These collaborations have been central to the brand’s positioning as a design-forward flooring company.
Notable Collaborations
- Jean Nouvel: The Pritzker Prize-winning architect created a collection inspired by brutalist architecture and raw materiality
- Missoni: The Italian fashion house brought their iconic zigzag patterns and bold colour combinations to Bolon’s woven vinyl
- Doshi Levien: The London-based design studio created patterns inspired by their Indian and European design heritage
- Studio Gang: Chicago architects translated their organic architectural forms into floor patterns
These collaborations elevate Bolon beyond a standard flooring product and position it as an interior design material on par with premium furniture, lighting, and architectural finishes.
Commercial Applications
Bolon flooring is primarily a commercial product, though it is occasionally used in high-end residential projects. Here are the main applications.
Hotels and Hospitality
Bolon is widely specified in hotel lobbies, corridors, guest rooms, restaurants, and conference areas. The woven texture adds warmth and luxury while the vinyl construction handles high foot traffic, spills, and rolling luggage without damage.
Corporate Offices
The acoustic properties and design versatility make Bolon popular in open-plan offices, meeting rooms, and executive spaces. The Silence collection is specifically designed for office environments where noise reduction is a priority.
Airports and Transportation Hubs
Several major international airports have specified Bolon for terminal flooring. The material handles extreme foot traffic, rolling luggage, and heavy cleaning regimens while maintaining its appearance.
Retail and Showrooms
Fashion retailers, car showrooms, and luxury brands use Bolon to create distinctive floor surfaces that reinforce brand identity. The custom “By You” programme is especially popular in retail applications.
Healthcare and Education
Bolon’s hygiene properties (non-porous surface, easy cleaning, low bacterial growth) make it suitable for healthcare waiting areas and educational facilities. It provides the comfort of carpet without the hygiene concerns.
For a broader overview of vinyl flooring options including residential applications, see our vinyl flooring guide.
Sustainability and Environment
Sustainability is a cornerstone of Bolon’s brand identity, and the company has made significant investments in reducing its environmental footprint.
Recycled Content
Bolon products contain up to 33% recycled content, and the company has a goal of increasing this percentage over time. They accept old Bolon flooring back for recycling through their take-back programme.
Energy and Emissions
The Ulricehamn factory runs on 100% renewable electricity. Bolon has reduced its carbon emissions per square metre significantly over the past decade and publishes Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for transparency.
Phthalate-Free
Bolon eliminated phthalate plasticizers from their products, using safer alternative plasticizers instead. All products meet strict indoor air quality standards including FloorScore certification.
Circular Design
Bolon is working toward a circular business model where old flooring is collected, recycled, and reincorporated into new products. Their “Bolon Recycled” initiative is an ongoing effort to close the material loop.
Third-Party Certifications
- FloorScore certified for low VOC emissions
- Cradle to Cradle certified (select collections)
- Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) published
- ISO 14001 certified manufacturing
Installation Methods
Bolon flooring is typically installed using full-spread adhesive by professional flooring installers.
Adhesive Installation
The standard method uses a pressure-sensitive or wet-set adhesive applied to the prepared subfloor. Bolon rolls or tiles are then laid into the adhesive. The woven vinyl surface must be seam-welded using a hot-air gun and Bolon’s colour-matched welding rod to create a watertight, seamless surface.
Subfloor Requirements
- Smooth, flat, dry, and clean concrete or self-levelling compound
- Moisture testing required — concrete must be below specified moisture limits
- No curing compounds, sealers, or contaminants on the surface
Formats
- Rolls: Standard 2-metre-wide rolls for large areas with minimal seams
- Tiles: 50×50 cm tiles for design flexibility and easier installation in complex spaces
- Planks: Some collections available in plank format for directional laying patterns
Professional Installation Only
Bolon recommends and typically requires professional installation by trained flooring contractors. The seam welding, adhesive selection, and subfloor preparation are critical to long-term performance and warranty coverage.
Maintenance and Care
Bolon’s woven vinyl surface is easier to maintain than carpet and comparable to hard-surface vinyl.
- Daily: Vacuum or sweep to remove loose dirt and debris
- Weekly: Damp mop or auto-scrub with a neutral pH floor cleaner
- Periodic: Machine scrub with a rotary or cylindrical brush machine for deep cleaning
- Stain removal: Most stains can be removed with a mild detergent. The non-porous vinyl yarns resist stain absorption.
- Avoid: Harsh solvents, bleach concentrates, and abrasive cleaning pads
Compared to carpet, Bolon does not trap dust mites, allergens, or odours. Compared to hard tile or polished concrete, it is warmer, quieter, and more forgiving of dropped items.
Pricing Guide
Bolon flooring is a premium commercial product priced accordingly.
- Standard collections: $8 to $15 per square foot (material only)
- Premium/collaboration collections: $12 to $22 per square foot
- Custom “By You” programme: $15 to $30+ per square foot (depending on design complexity)
- Professional installation: $3 to $6 per square foot
- Total installed cost: $11 to $28+ per square foot
Bolon’s pricing puts it in the premium commercial flooring category — comparable to high-end carpet tile brands (Interface, Shaw Contract) and natural stone. The lifecycle cost is competitive thanks to the product’s 15-to-20-year lifespan and low maintenance requirements.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Unique woven textile aesthetic that no other flooring type can replicate
- Excellent durability for high-traffic commercial spaces
- Waterproof and stain-resistant vinyl construction
- Good acoustic properties, especially the Silence range
- Strong sustainability credentials with recycled content and renewable energy
- Custom design programme for bespoke projects
- Prestigious brand with designer collaborations
Cons
- Premium pricing that is out of range for budget-conscious projects
- Primarily a commercial product — limited residential applications
- Requires professional installation with seam welding
- Limited availability — sold through architectural specification channels, not retail
- Not suitable for wet areas like showers or pools (despite being waterproof, the woven texture can trap water)
- Cannot be refinished — replacement is needed when the surface wears out
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Bolon flooring be used in homes?
While Bolon is primarily a commercial product, it can be used in residential settings. Some homeowners specify Bolon for home offices, media rooms, or entryways where they want the unique woven vinyl look. The cost is the main barrier for residential use — most homeowners find it too expensive for large areas.
How long does Bolon flooring last?
In commercial settings with proper maintenance, Bolon flooring lasts 15 to 20 years. In lighter residential use, it can last even longer. The product comes with a 10-year commercial warranty.
Is Bolon flooring comfortable to walk on?
Yes. The woven textile surface is warmer and softer underfoot than tile, concrete, or standard vinyl. It provides moderate cushioning and excellent sound absorption, making it more comfortable than hard-surface floors but firmer than traditional carpet.
Does Bolon flooring look like carpet?
From a distance, some Bolon products can resemble a flat-weave carpet or sisal rug. Up close, the vinyl yarn construction is visible and distinct from textile carpet. The overall effect is unique — more refined than carpet, warmer than vinyl, and unlike anything else on the market.
Where can I buy Bolon flooring?
Bolon is sold through architectural specification channels — contact Bolon directly through their website to connect with a local representative. Samples can be ordered online. The product is not available through standard retail flooring stores.
Is Bolon flooring eco-friendly?
Bolon has stronger sustainability credentials than most vinyl flooring brands. They use recycled content, renewable energy, and phthalate-free materials. However, it is still a PVC-based product, which has inherent environmental limitations. Bolon is transparent about this and focuses on continuous improvement and circular design.
Can Bolon flooring be repaired?
Minor damage can be patched by a professional installer using matching material. For larger damaged areas, the affected section can be cut out and replaced. Maintaining leftover material from the original installation is recommended for future repairs.
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