Designing and opening a restaurant no doubt requires thoughtful decision-making and an intentional aesthetic vision. While the to-do list is long, and you may wonder how you’ll ever choose the right combination of wallpaper or light fixtures to achieve your interior design goals, one decision you can easily feel confident about is your restaurant’s flooring.

Flooring says a lot about a business and is a key contributor to a customer’s first impression. The right commercial flooring for a restaurant should create a welcoming environment while also being durable, safe, resistant to water damage and easy to clean.

Luxury vinyl flooring offers all those benefits, and it can realistically mimic more expensive flooring materials like natural wood or stone.

What Are the Most Popular Types of Commercial Flooring?

1. Luxury vinyl – Its durability is great for high-traffic areas and everyday restaurant operations. With luxury vinyl, there is no heavy maintenance or polishing required. It stands up to spills and is easy to clean. It’s also resistant to mold and mildew, so it can be installed in rooms with moisture. Business owners are often drawn to luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) because it is an inexpensive alternative that replicates the look of wood or stone floors.
2. Laminate – It is stain-resistant, easy to maintain and can be cleaned with a mop. Laminate is less susceptible to scratches than natural materials and it may help prevent slipping. It comes in different textures and colors, offering a variety of looks and aesthetics.
3. Stained concrete – Stained concrete is known for being cost-effective and long-lasting. Concrete can be stained to any color and customized to fit any style. It’s a great option for outdoor spaces and it will resist fading, cracking or chipping. Buildings or properties may already have a concrete foundation, which can make stained concrete appealing to restauranteurs who want to keep renovation costs to a minimum. Although the style works great with some aesthetic designs, concrete is not necessarily the ideal fit for many restaurant decors.
4. Rubber – Usually found in commercial kitchens, schools, gyms and hospitals, rubber flooring reduces injury and fatigue due to its comparative softness. It’s slip-resistant and comfortable to stand on for long periods of time.

Why Is Luxury Vinyl the Superior Choice for Restaurant Flooring?

You have options when selecting flooring for your restaurant, but one choice stands out from the rest — luxury vinyl flooring. More and more businesses are using luxury vinyl for their restaurant flooring because it checks off the boxes they truly care about:

• Easy to install
• Meets all sanitary requirements
• Water-resistant
• Holds up in heavy traffic areas (i.e., hallways and entryways)
• Energy efficient (i.e., helps with warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer)
• Stands up to humidity (i.e., mold/mildew resistant)
• Slip-resistant
• Extremely easy to clean
• Long-lasting

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) vs Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)?

When selecting luxury vinyl flooring, you have two primary size and style choices: luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP). They both are ideal for restaurants and have the same key benefits, it simply comes down to personal preference and style.

Many luxury vinyl flooring styles are designed to replicate the appearance of natural materials, whether it be hardwood plank or natural stone tiles. This makes LVT and LVP cost-effective choices for businesses that want the look of luxury flooring without the installation cost or upkeep headaches of authentic natural materials.

Think about what style you have in mind and what will compliment your restaurant’s aesthetic the best.

Equip Your Floors with Metroflor Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Metroflor offers a selection of commercial flooring designed with flair and style to upscale your restaurant business. Choose from an array of unique patterns or create your own using our Metroforms Sketchbox Designer.

Not sure how to choose? Metroflor’s FLORVisualizer can give you a digital mockup of how a floor will look in your space. All you need is a photo to upload and voilà — you can visualize any flooring style or type in your restaurant.

Learn more about our magnetic flooring options and why more restaurants are choosing Metroflor LVT and LVP for their commercial flooring needs by browsing our website.