With the restaurant industry being one of the most fiercely competitive business ventures in the world, it’s vital that your branding and theme are consistent and powerful. One of the most important and underrated pieces to this puzzle is the furniture; using the right restaurant furniture can set the mood in your restaurant perfectly.
High-end restaurants and minimalist design furniture
Modern high-end restaurants should embrace minimalist design with their furniture to draw attention to the exceptional taste of the food and the scenery. Leather chairs could be used instead of more traditional wooden restaurant chairs; leather restaurant chairs are often largely covered in one singular block colour making them extremely versatile to any colour scheme. Cream or white leather chairs can be used to open up the room with their light designs, whilst darker greys or blacks can fit in with the typically dark interiors of high-end establishments.
Metal restaurant table legs fit superbly within a modern high-end restaurant, when combined with either a chrome or granite coated table top they can add character to the dining experience. The granite coating in particularly provides an easier to clean solution over more traditional wood tables.
Lighting, colour scheme and music for setting the tone
Aside from the furniture: lighting, colour scheme and music are all important factors to take into account for public eating environments. With a higher end establishment you should use your location as a main factor for your design. If you can offer impressive views you’ll want natural light from windows and light colour tones such as creams or whites. Natural wooden chairs may work better than leather chairs in this example.
If you’re down a city street with nothing exceptional in front of your restaurant then you’ll have to use dark colours inside to create an intimate atmosphere. In higher end restaurants music should be subtle, with the atmosphere primarily being created by your colour scheme and cuisine.
Casual dining tips and advice for business
For a laid-back casual themed restaurant you must embrace comfort with homely furniture and a friendly dining atmosphere. Old fashioned large armchairs, wide coffee tables and booths providing areas that customers can relax in for longer than the usual restaurant experience. Using soft brown colours for the restaurant chairs and surrounding them with wooden tables and panels will provide a warm, casual atmosphere similar to that in coffee shops.
Casual restaurant chains such as Frankie & Benny’s do this superbly. Within the restaurant you’ll find large amounts of booths and comfortable and convenient seating options such as double sided padded leather seats. By separating the restaurant into sections like many successful casual restaurants you’ll allow free flowing conversation between guests and a happy customer experience.
Music should be used, with some casual dining chains even having their own radio stations to be used nationwide to ensure their theme is kept consistent. It helps add atmosphere to restaurants that are often distracting with their busy turnover of tables and high levels of waiting staff. Particularly in family friendly restaurants this should be embraced as a useful distraction for children. Selected Buddies restaurants have a train track running around the restaurant with portable TVs playing children’s shows on, a novel idea that attracts families to their restaurant.
When family friendly is your main concern there are lots of crossovers with casual restaurants. Comfortable booths and restaurant chairs are a must, with kids known for their unlikeliness to sit still in public places. Colour scheme is also important for family friendly furniture, bold colours (such as red) should be used to draw attention and provoke a fun atmosphere. Family friendly restaurant tables need an easy-to-clean top, such as laminate, to prevent any damage, as accidents easily happen in family friendly restaurants.
Bistro restaurants
When bistros are mentioned, elegance, modesty and remarkable home cooked meals spring to mind. In terms of design simplicity is vital; whereas modern restaurants embrace fully bodied leather chairs, bistros tend to prefer traditional wooden chairs and small wooden tables. Known for their rustic looks and small spaces, bistros have to make the most of their furniture so you’re unlikely to see long banqueting tables taking up the corner of the room. If you’re trying to style a bistro, stick with dark wooden furniture and you can’t go wrong.
With bistros the use of natural light should be embraced as much as possible, wooden furniture works better with sunlight as opposed to artificial lighting. Similar to high-end dining, music should be subtle or non-existent. In small restaurants you don’t want overpowering or loud music ruining the dining experience.