How flexible is wood flooring in mixed-use buildings?

We’re developing a mixed-use space with residential flats above and retail below. I’m considering going with wooden flooring throughout but worried it might not work for both types of use. Some areas will get a lot of foot traffic, others will be quiet and private. Can wood flooring really adapt to those different needs without compromising on design or durability? Anyone here dealt with a similar layout?

 

That’s actually one of the strengths of professional-grade wood flooring. It can be tailored for various settings — from high-traffic shops to quiet home interiors. We handled a similar project and used the same type of engineered wood for both spaces, just with different finishes. The wood flooring shop in Edinburgh helped us match plank styles and durability to each zone. Everything was installed seamlessly, and it still looks great a year later.

 

I walked through a building like that recently — shop on the ground floor, flats above — and didn’t realize it was all the same wood until someone pointed it out. What impressed me was how the finish changed just slightly depending on the space: matte in the homes, more robust coating for the commercial part. That kind of consistency really ties a whole property together while still being practical for daily use.