Flooring Options for Restaurants and Pubs

Restaurant flooring is prone to spills and moisture. Therefore, you should choose a floor type that is slip-resistant, water-resistant, and easy to clean. The safety of both customers and workers is also an essential factor to consider. 

When choosing a flooring type for a restaurant or pub, you need to think about hospitality design. The flooring type, design, and color are part of other interior aesthetic elements of a restaurant like interior colors, wall design, furniture, sitting plans, and lighting. The combined effect of the aesthetic elements should create a relaxing and comfortable environment.

Branding Needs of a Pub & Restaurant Flooring

The floor of a restaurant or pub contributes to the overall food and beverage branding experience. Therefore, the floor type should be part of the restaurant branding plan.  A customer in a restaurant has psychological and social needs. The bar should provide the environment to meet those needs. The flooring type should have a subliminal effect and make the customer want to stay long whenever they are around and want to keep coming back.

You need not be design-savvy to get this right. There are professionals ready to offer the services. Your target market or niche market will also play a big role in the flooring type you choose. The following restaurants will most likely have different flooring types: a Chinese restaurant, a pizzeria, or an international sandwich bar.

Noteworthy, since the color and floor pattern should sync with the restaurant and pub branding,  you can contract a qualified interior designer. The designer can provide several 3D plans, and then the restaurant managers can choose what represents their brand.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Flooring Type for a Restaurant

A restaurant or pub flooring should consider several factors. These factors include aesthetic elements, safety, security, waterproof, and slip-resistance. In addition to that, durability because restaurants are high-traffic areas. Moreover, the floor should be easy to maintain because the high traffic means it gets dirty easily.

People will drag mud into the restaurant if the area experiences winter and snow. The cleanliness of the floor in a restaurant or pub impacts the customer experience. Likewise, the floor should be slip-resistant to avoid slips due to rain, snow, and spills. You should also consider your budget and the ROI you expect from the business.

The Best 5 Restaurant & Pub Flooring Options

There is a wide range of flooring options to suit different restaurant and pub interior decors, styles, different budgets, and needs. The type of flooring for the customer contact points; the food service area, eating area, dance floor and restrooms should be different from the kitchen flooring, even if the color is the same.

Here are flooring types you can consider when opening a new restaurant or pub or renovating an existing one. Each of the flooring types has its pros and cons.

1. Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) Flooring Options

As the name suggests, luxury vinyl tile is a luxurious flooring type. Besides, technological advancements have introduced models that are comfortable, luxurious, relaxing, sturdy and waterproof. This flooring type is easy to clean. What’s more, it is slip-resistant, therefore, safe for your customers and playful kids. It is sturdy, and it can withstand high traffic. The floor also requires low maintenance and durability.

There are LVT flooring types available in different patterns and colors. While hardwood floors have a timeless beauty, LVTs are good imitators of wood and tiles in terms of aesthetics. Hardwood floors are much harder to maintain and more expensive to install.

2. Laminate Flooring Options

Laminate flooring has various layers, and the top layer can be customized to your needs, including printing your business logo or colors. It is also durable, water-resistant, and suitable for high-traffic areas like pubs and restaurants.

3. Vinyl Flooring 

Vinyl has become a popular flooring option because it can hold up to the challenges of a high-traffic area. It is water-resistant, low maintenance, and it is durable. You can also get the color and pattern you want because it is available in a wide range of styles, textures, and colors. It can also simulate stone or hardwood. When purchasing, insist on a commercial-grade vinyl flooring type.

4. Hardwood Flooring

You can use both solid hardwood and engineered wood in high-traffic areas. Engineered hardwood flooring is ideal if you want to install underfloor heating. Wood is sturdy, and if well maintained, it can withstand the demands of a high-traffic area. However, wood is sensitive to moisture and is not 100% water-resistant. Therefore, you should not install it in the kitchen or washrooms. If you choose to install a hardwood floor in a restaurant or pub, then choose the hardest wood varieties in the market.

5. Carpets

Cleaning carpets is a daunting task that makes them a high-maintenance flooring because they are not water-resistant and get stained easily. If it is a high-end restaurant or pub, then the high maintenance costs of a carpet are justifiable. Alternatively, you can install a carpet in a restaurant but away from the entrance. It can be in a kids’ corner or near the foyer. In such a case, choose a sturdy commercial carpet.

A pub and restaurant should be a relaxing and comforting place. It is also a high-traffic area. Popular restaurants put a lot into designing their spaces, including flooring types for especially all the contact points. All the design elements should set the restaurant apart and create a unique identity and persona while at the same time being functional. The interior design should reflect the restaurant or pub’s brand, value, and culture. It should leave a lasting impression on the customer.