If you're in the hospitality business, you probably recognise the effect that interior design can have on your customers' first impression - but that extends beyond the bolted-down fixtures and fittings to include restaurant furniture too.
The right restaurant furniture can support and even improve that first impression, as well as keeping guests comfortably seated throughout their meal.
And it's an expression of yourself too, not only of your personal style and the character of your restaurant, but also of your preparedness, your ability to seat groups of guests in a way that allows them to enjoy their meal with sufficient space, while being close enough to their friends to socialise without raising their voice to a shout.
So what types of furniture are there, and what do they mean to your customers?
The Michelin Star
OK, you might not actually have a Michelin star, but that doesn't mean you can't create the kind of environment that might win you one.
These days there's a lot more relaxed dining environments earning the accolade, but if you want your customers to really feel as though they're in a 'posh' restaurant, go formal.
High-backed straight leather chairs and dark wood tables are a good combination if you want to give a sense of luxury.
The American Dream
This is slightly niche, but American diner-style furniture creates a very clear first impression that can give walk-in customers an idea of everything from your style of service to the items on your menu.
If burgers and hot dogs are your thing, a diner-style interior can give an impression of legitimacy to your menu, making it feel more like true Americana cuisine and less like fast food.
Anything Goes
At the far end of the scale from formal dining, you might want a really relaxed seating plan instead, and you can take some inspiration from the flexible chairs and tables used in pubs for this.
Give your diners a choice of seating - including tall tables with stools, if it suits your type of dining - and they can choose a table to suit their mood.
This might mean perching on a stool for a quick lunchtime bite, low-slung sofas and armchairs for a light snack, or selecting one of your more traditional table-and-chairs setups for a 'proper' meal.