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Modern minimalism and natural Scandinavian style have dominated design for the past few years, but experts have identified 2019 as the year colour is making a comeback in restaurant design.

How to use colour in a dining space

When dealing with colour in a hospitality space it’s important to remember that colour impacts much more than just the look of a location - people have psychological reactions to colours which can go as far as to affect whether or not they choose to eat at your restaurant.

Shades like blue and purple are less commonly found in eating establishments and food branding as they don’t evoke feelings of hunger and are not associated with natural foods. Using shades like this sparingly can add vibrant pops of colour but all blue walls may not be the best idea if you want to create a welcoming ambience to eat in

On the other hand, oranges and yellows promote feelings of the space being fresh and cheerful. Greens and browns are relaxing and associated with freshness, making them ideal shades to use in restaurants and cafes.

Bearing these colour tips in mind, here are two ways that colour is being utilised in the hospitality sector in 2019:

Deep hues set the atmosphere

Deep and luxurious hues like mustard, deep greens and pewters can add an expensive look to any dining space for a low cost. Pairing these colours with wooden panelling, bespoke lighting and plush leather-style furniture creates a truly luxe feel.

We recommend the Munich Retro Faux Leather Chair, Chesterfield Two Seater Sofa and Rimini Dining Chair in Brown Faux to achieve this look.

Bright shades are back

Bright colours are also being adopted in more and more spaces. Klein blue, phonebooth reds and lemon yellows can lift a space and create a fun atmosphere. This trend is not surprising given Pantone’s energizing colour of the year for 2019; living coral. The shade was chosen as Pantone felt it symbolised ‘our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits’, and embodies ‘our desire for playful expression’.

Give your hospitality establishment a more playful feel by adding pops of colour in your furniture, artwork and accessories.

We recommend the quirky Bella Tall Stool, Bella Chair and the Retro French School Chair to get this look.

Love it or hate it, the trend of communal seating in restaurants that has emerged over the past few years looks like it’s here to stay. These large tables that can sit more than one party at once have grown in popularity and can be found in many chain and independent dining establishments. We’ve weighed up the pros and cons of communal dining to help you decide if it’s right for your restaurant.

The benefits of communal tables

The clearest upside for any restaurant owner is the increased number of seats and high turnaround – especially useful in a smaller space. Not only does it mean a higher number of seats, it also saves the additional space that would normally be found between tables. Add to this the logistical reason that you no longer need to pull tables together and move around the furniture to accommodate big groups and the communal table truly sounds like a winner!

There is also a social element to communal dining that can be more enjoyable for some diners. Restaurant Development and Design Magazine said that communal tables are “particularly appealing to millennials, who look for restaurant destinations that can accommodate their desire to socialise, graze and linger.” They can also provide a more pleasant dining experience for solo diners, who can either relax at a table which is clearly not designed for two or engage with other solo diners and parties around them.

The downsides of communal dining

Communal tables are not suitable for every type of dining establishment, and they are not always the best choice on a personal or practical level.

If your restaurant caters for families with smaller children, then communal dining can certainly work but the height of the table and safety of the seating should be considered. Other diners may also prefer not to be seated with families so it’s important to offer alternative seating options if you do opt to go communal. Other groups of customers such as couples on a date, those having work meetings or anyone who just isn’t a fan of eating in close quarters with strangers may also not appreciate a communal space.

If you do decide to try out the communal table trend, it’s definitely a good idea to continue to provide more private traditional seating alongside it for diners who feel more comfortable dining in privacy.