When Milliken launched the Pattern Play collection at last year’s Clerkenwell Design Week, it was a moment of excitement and a massive shift in possibilities for what could be achieved in modular carpet design. As well as winning the CDW 2025 Carpet Product Award, it also won the hearts of interior designers who could see the collection’s enormous design potential.
Fast forward to 2026, in this blog, we go beyond the outstanding visual aesthetics of Pattern Play to explore the quietly impressive ‘performance as standard’ and functional features that this (quite literally) ground-breaking carpet collection is offering for interior project management. Starting with the order process...
What are the lead times for Pattern Play modular carpet?
Product availability can often make or break a project, particularly where lead times are tight and when pressed to complete a project on time to avoid delay penalties. From a project management perspective, not knowing whether a key interior finish is going to be delivered on site, precisely when you need it, can also cause unnecessary stress!
Pattern Play - Wisteria, Angora, Parfait, Eucalyptus and True Transitions
In this respect, it’s comforting to know that Milliken’s entire Pattern Play collection, all 132 SKUs of its soft textures, subtle transitions and bold shapes, are available as part of its standard 10-Day Delivery Programme. For design project managers, this means they can reliably expect delivery of up to 1000m2 per design within 10 working days from placing their order.
Easy, efficient and safe modular carpet installation
Once on site, the project-friendly benefits of Pattern Play continue. The modular, lightweight nature of the 50x50cm carpet tiles makes them inherently simple to handle compared to many other flooring products. With the option of TractionBack® glue-free installation, they are also less-wasteful and healthier for the installer to work with. With floor preparation time minimised, they become incredibly easy and efficient to install.
Pattern Play - Elderberry and Glaze
Creative carpet design freedom at your fingertips
As the name suggests, the Pattern Play collection has been created for designers to play and have fun with. As a flexible ‘pick n mix’ of design components, the collection allows them to use the full floorplate as a canvas to create a uniquely composed, co-ordinating scheme.
When it comes to installation on site, particularly with glue-free installation, there is a uniquely freeing element of the interior design process with Pattern Play that allows designers to create and adjust their scheme. Design is more dynamic and agile spaces become much easier to get right.
How does Pattern Play modular carpet perform in high traffic areas?
Post-installation, the performance features of Pattern Play start to come into their own for the user.
Underpinned by Milliken’s WellBAC® Comfort cushion backing, the Pattern Play carpet tiles have performance ‘built-in’ to their very construction. Unlike any other carpet tile product, this 95% recycled open-cell polyurethane cushion layer is included as standard and provides some crucial performance features:
COMFORT - As designers continue to blur the lines between commercial and living spaces, Pattern Play’s cosy underfoot feel gives that essential sense of comfort so important for today’s interiors.
ACOUSTIC PROTECTION – Reducing unwanted noise in our increasingly open, agile work and living spaces is a constant challenge. Pattern Play carpet tiles help to address the problem by absorbing up to 30dB of sound helping to keep spaces quiet, calm and free from distraction.
ADDITIONAL WEAR PERFORMANCE – The product’s cushion layer also plays an important role in keeping the carpet looking good over time. By absorbing wear from foot traffic and reducing pile crush, Pattern Play’s cushion helps retain the appearance of the product throughout its life on the floor. This is supported by Milliken’s standard 15-year wear warranty.
Pattern Play - Marshmallow
What makes this modular carpet product “low impact”?
At one time, creating a design scheme, identifying your preferred interior finishes and knowing that they are available when you need them was half the battle. Today however, knowing the products you have specified meet all the necessary sustainability standards is a priority. For many interior projects, sustainable materials are no longer the cherry on the cake but the very starting point for product and material specification.
For designers, the Pattern Play collection comes with the assurance of being fully carbon offset, fully recyclable and designed for disassembly. The option of TractionBack glue-free carpet installation also means that it can be uplifted for re-use efficiently and cleanly at any time.
Finally, for the user, wellbeing is also assured. Pattern Play is certified CRI Green Label Plus and TUV Proficert for indoor air quality.
Pattern Play - Valley, Hay, Marina Transitions
While the fanfare for this showstopping carpet tile collection of 2025 was understandably focussed on its arresting design, its functional performance and sustainability credentials are just as responsible for how Pattern Play will continue to redefine floors in 2026.
Learn more about the Pattern Play collection in our related blog: PATTERN PLAY: FROM CONCEPT TO CARPET TILE
