The hotel industry is big on visual aesthetics. Everything about the inside (and outside too, of course) must look up to a certain standard and attractive to guests. From the windows and the walls, to the doors and most importantly, the floors!
Arguably, flooring plays a bigger role in hotels than any other feature, because it’s not just about the interior design. Floors must also be durable, comfortable, maintainable and safe.
Getting the right flooring in hotels can ensure safety and hygiene, reduce maintenance duties and keep guests happy, which is why we have created this short guide on choosing flooring for hotels!
Things to consider
As obvious as it may sound, it’s important to note that hotel flooring is a lot different from standard home flooring. There is a lot more to take into account when fitting flooring in hotels, like what type of room/area it’s being laid in, the acoustics and how durable and safe it will be.
The area of the hotel
Exactly where the flooring will be fit is perhaps the biggest consideration of all. This will determine a lot of other factors, like how soundproof or comfortable the flooring needs to be for that specific area. Hotels are big spaces, with lots of rooms that serve different purposes, so different rooms require different flooring needs. Bedrooms would require more features than reception areas, for example.
Comfort
Comfort in hotels isn’t just found in beds and pillows, it’s in the floors too! Hotel flooring should be soft and comfortable underfoot, especially in bedrooms and hallways where comfort is vital.
Acoustics
A certain level of silence is required in bedrooms. No guest wants to hear every footstep of their neighbour above, so choosing the correct floor with soundproof qualities can ensure that this doesn’t happen and keep guests happy.
Safety
Safety is key anywhere, but even more so in the hospitality industry. Flooring must also be safe for the staff working in the hotel, just as well as guests. With busy staff rushing about at work, they may be at more risk of slips, trips and falls than guests are.
Durability
Many guests come and go in hotels, so wear and tear are very probable. Many organisations may not have the time or budget to continuously update flooring, which is why they need to consider durability and find a floor that will last.
Hygiene
With such high foot traffic inside hotels, dust and dirt is guaranteed to always make their way inside and onto the floors. Luckily, there are types of flooring that can resist dirt, staining and smells.
Aesthetics
Finally, floors must also still look good. They should look luxurious and inviting, while complementing the rest of the décor.
Floorings
Here is what you need to know about commercial flooring types in hotels.
Commercial carpets
Good quality commercial grade carpets are traditionally used in hotels.They are warmer and more comfortable than other types of flooring, with noise reducing qualities too. Carpets can be used throughout an entire hotel, but are almost always laid in bedrooms and hallways.
Key benefits:
Warmer
Carpets retain warmth a lot better than hard flooring options, like wood or luxury vinyl tiles, for example, thanks to the materials they are made from. This is what makes them the most suitable option for bedrooms.
Noise reducing
According to The Building Performance Centre at Edinburgh Napier University, carpets absorb sounds up to ten times better than hard flooring, meaning that neighbours won’t be disturbed by footsteps.
Comfortable on foot
With carpets being softer than hard flooring, it makes them more comfortable on bare foot. In bedrooms, guests are likely to walk about on bare foot, so carpets can promote comfort and relaxation.
Hospitality carpet tiles
Hospitality carpet tiles differ from traditional commercial carpet rolls as they are installed as small squares of carpet. These can also sometimes be fitted in bedrooms but are more commonly laid in areas like conference rooms or function suites.
Key benefits:
Durable:
Hospitality carpet tiles are designed to last, so they’re built with strong, heavy duty materials that will ensure this.
Quick and easy installation:
With being such a busy industry, hotels usually don’t have a lot of time to spare to close off areas for flooring to be laid. Fortunately, carpet tiles are simply stuck to the floor, quickly and easily.
Cost effective
Hospitality carpet tiles are versatile and re-usable, which makes them cost effective. Even if they don’t suit one room, they are easy enough to lift and reuse in another.
Luxury vinyl tiles
Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) replicate the look of natural materials, like wood, marble and rock, making it an inexpensive way to make flooring look more luxurious. LVT may be placed in reception areas or restaurants/cafes within the hotel.
Main benefits
Range of designs:
With such a variety of designs, LVT flooring can look good and fit into any type of room.
Durable:
LVT is made up of many layers which make it durable, scratch resistant and able to withstand heavy foot-traffic.
Low maintenance:
Hotels already have a lot to clean. But LVT can make cleaning jobs that little bit easier, as all that is required is daily sweeping and mopping.
Safety flooring
Safety flooring is a popular choice in the hospitality industry. Why? The clue is in the name! With this type of floorings ‘safety’ features, it’s particularly useful areas of hotels like restaurants, kitchens, bars or toilets.
Main benefits
Hygienic:
Spillages, bacteria, dust and debris will not be absorbed into safety flooring, making it hygienic and easy to clean and maintain.
Safe:
Safety flooring has been specifically designed to reduce slips, trips and falls, the most common causes of injury in workplaces.
If you’d like to hear more about the services we offer hotels, do not hesitate to get in contact with us today!
Some of our satisfied customers include The Douglas Hotel, where we carried out a full refurbishment and The Leapark Hotel, where we fitted a carpet in the function suite.
Be sure to keep a look out for our next blog, A complete guide to choosing flooring for the hospitality sector part 2: Bars, clubs and restaurants
