Discover how tile is being used in creative ways to enhance the ambiance and functionality of cafes, coffee rooms, and dining spaces. The places where people gather for food, drink, and conversation often become the heart of our communities and homes, and for a lifestyle-focused designer like John Merola, these are places that deserve special attention. In this blog, John talks about the benefits of using tile in dining spaces, then serves up deliciously creative ideas for expressing your taste and style with tile.
Part 1: Creative, Clean & Durable Dining Areas – The Benefits of Tile
Beyond the food and drink being offered, the aesthetics and function of dining areas play a pivotal role in the guest’s overall experience. Think about the difference between sharing a meal with a friend in a rundown, dirty diner versus a bright, clean, and stylishly decorated bistro. Tile is ideal for eating spaces because it offers endless decorative possibilities as well as the cleanliness and durability required in high-use areas.
Aesthetics
Tile can creatively convey a restaurant’s cuisine or theme, whether it’s an urban restaurant that serves organic food in a lush bamboo tiled atmosphere, a hip Mediterranean café tiled in terracotta, or a coffee shop rich with the aroma of dark roast and the look of stone and wood grain tile. There are tiles available in a multitude of colors, textures, and shapes to enhance the appeal of your dining area and appetite of your guests.
Health & Safety
In today’s health-conscious world, maintaining a clean and hygienic environment is more important than ever. Fortunately, tile offers several benefits in this regard, due to a non-porous surface that resists moisture, stains, and bacteria. Many people don’t realize that tile surfaces are antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, and they can easily be cleaned without the use of harsh or toxic chemicals.
An often-overlooked benefit of tile is safety. Specific floor tiles are manufactured with surfacing that improves traction and helps prevent slippery conditions when wet, a feature that is especially helpful in cafes and coffee rooms where spills are common!
Durability
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are incredibly durable, making them ideal for high-traffic floors, walls, and countertops of dining areas. Whether it’s enduring the hustle and bustle of a busy morning rush or standing up to the occasional spill or mishap, tile maintains its beauty and integrity over time, ensuring lasting performance and value. And with regular cleaning and maintenance, tile surfaces retain their color and appearance for years.
But beyond their practical benefits, tiles also have the power to transform the aesthetics and ambiance of dining spaces.
Let’s explore some innovative ideas for using tile to create an atmosphere that appeals to the senses and elevates the overall dining experience.
Part II: Ideas for Using Tile to Enhance Ambiance and Express Style
As you explore and envision tiles in your dining spaces, it helps to remember that tiles are an excellent choice for floors, walls, counters, and even tabletops. These areas are exposed to all kinds of foods and liquids where eating and food preparation is active, and tile is an option that is both easy to clean and attractive.
A Warm Welcome
The entrance of your eating area sets the tone for the entire dining experience, making it the perfect place to make a statement with tile. Consider upgrading your entryway with a striking mosaic wall mural, elegant marble or warm terracotta flooring, or an accent wall featuring your restaurant’s logo. You can use tile creatively to greet guests and set the atmosphere from the moment they arrive.
TIP: For more unique ideas for tiled entries, see John Merola’s blog Welcome to Your Foyer: Ideas for Using Tile to Elevate Entryways.
Inspire Creativity and Conversation
We love the idea of a tile wall with a chalkboard inset for menus and messages! Another thought is to create a mosaic mural that tells your culinary story or features elements of the food and drink being served. Imagine tiles decorated with ocean and marine life in a seafood restaurant, or graffiti and pop art tiles in a vibrant urban eatery.
Embrace the Art of Mixology
Mixing and matching different tile types is an art form unto itself, offering endless opportunities for creative expression. Checkerboard is one example that is a timeless favorite for retro style diners and eateries. Another trending idea is mixing different sizes and styles of terracotta to form quaint floors, backsplashes, and countertops. Or try an organic and sustainable combination of wood grain, stone, and bamboo style tile. By mixing different tiles, you can create a space that is as eclectic and dynamic as the flavors on your menu.
Artistic Transformation
Who says that walls and countertops have to be ordinary? With a dash of creativity and the exciting new artistic tiles in Merola’s collection, you can reimagine your eating areas. Explore urban art tiles, geometric tiles, SoHo style tiles, and more to create vibrant and colorful gathering places. Transform everyday surfaces into works of art with 3D tiles and tiles embossed with leaves, cartoons, and flowers. Add whimsy and personality to your dining experience.
Alfresco Ambiance
Nature has a way of stimulating the appetite as well as conversation, making it the perfect source of inspiration for your dining design scheme. Create your own rainforest bistro with lush botanical print tiles. Or have the tea room or garden café of your dreams using the beautiful new floral design tiles that are popular right now, from sweet and petite strawberry flowers to colorful and vibrant tropical blossoms. There are even tiles made from natural shells that bring the ocean indoors.
Playing with Patterns and Colors
Infuse energy and interest into your dining areas by incorporating patterns and colors. Consider using bold, geometric tiles to create eye-catching focal points or opt for a more subtle approach with soft pastel hues that evoke a sense of serenity and calm.
Illuminate and Reflect
Illuminate your dining space in a truly unique way by incorporating illuminated tile features. Install LED lights behind translucent glass tiles to create stunning accent walls that cast a warm, inviting glow throughout the room. Whether used to highlight artwork or create a dramatic backdrop for your bar area, illuminated tile features add a touch of modern elegance to any dining space.
Indulge the Senses with Texture
Texture plays a crucial role in engaging the senses and adding depth to a space. Experiment with textured tiles, such as relief tiles, which add dimension to walls and countertops. Imagine running your fingers over a wall adorned with intricately patterned relief tiles, each contour telling a story of craftsmanship and creativity.
Experiment with Unexpected Applications
Think outside the box and experiment with unexpected applications of tile in your dining space. From ceiling tiles that add visual interest and texture to suspended light fixtures adorned with mosaic tiles, the possibilities are endless. Embrace the element of surprise and delight your guests with innovative design elements that defy convention and elevate the dining experience to new heights.
Final Thoughts
Restaurants and dining rooms serve as gathering spots, places of respite, and hubs of creativity. They’re places where people come together to savor food and companionship, collaborate on business, or celebrate special moments. Therefore, it’s especially important to create a comfortable, welcoming, and sanitary atmosphere for guests, and tile provides all of these ingredients. With tile, you can toast your restaurant’s brand or your family’s food traditions and add style, taste, and function in a way that keeps guests raving and coming back for seconds and thirds.
