Hotel lobbies or foyer are the entrance of any hotel which consists of a seating area and receptionist’s desk, where the interiors of the place are extremely rich and opulent. The entrance of the hotel gives away the first impression of the hotel and is thus designed in a beautiful and alluring manner.
A hotel lobby has many elements within it which on the whole enhance the beauty of the lobby. The first element which is the basic of a good lobby is the use of material for the flooring. Flooring of a hotel lobby must be attractive and eye appealing. There are various kinds of material used for the flooring including;
- Travertine Tiles: The use of these tiles is extensive due to their versatility as well as utility. These tiles have great absorbing properties and weather resistant. Being highly durable they are extensively used in high- traffic areas such as hotels, buildings etc. The modern version of these tiles are bright and reflect a lot of light, thus they are an apt choice for hotel lobbies. Some of the varieties in this tile include filled, unfilled, polished and unpolished tiles. The polished variety is extensively used as they are present in many tones and hues along with beautiful patterns. The tones of the tiles are usually earthy and soothing. This material even though resembles marble; it is harder than limestone but softer than marble. Many manufacturers polish this natural stone to resemble marble Due to its versatility, it is used in luxurious hotel lobbies.
- Marble tiles: The natural venation on this stone and its sheer luster makes it a preferred choice for flooring in opulent hotel lobbies. The stone has a natural shine and glaze to it and when used as big tiles, it adds charm to the hotel lobby. Marble is an elegant and sophisticated stone and is an apt choice for lobby flooring. There are natural patterns formed on the stones which give a beautiful floor design in the lobby.
- Slate: This is a versatile material which is being used extensively for hotel lobby flooring. This natural stone is one of the strongest and solid forms of stone and is tougher than marble, which is a soft stone. This material is not prone to external factors and is thus able to resist crumbling, cracking and daily wear and tear, thus they are extensively used as floorings for high traffic areas such as hotel lobbies. Stones used in hotel lobbies are prone to stains and dirt, naturally multicolored slate is solution for staining problem. These naturally multicolored stones, due to their formation, help to disguise dirt and stains as no two tiles of slate are matching. Another benefit of slate is that unlike marble and travertine, it does not suffer from chemical problems. Fashionable and unique, slate has become a preferred choice of flooring for hotel lobbies.
Thus for a hotel lobby to look beautiful and graceful, use of proper flooring material is important. The right material can transform the look of the lobby entirely.