If you run a business in the hospitality industry, then you’re likely to have heard the terms "contract furniture" and "commercial furniture". In this blog we will look at why opting for contract furniture could be the best choice for your venue.
What is contract furniture?
Contract furniture can be defined as furniture intended for commercial use. It is designed and manufactured with durability and commercial safety standards in mind. This makes it perfect for use in settings like restaurants, cafes, bars and similar venues.
Why choose contract furniture?
To go into more detail on why it’s a smart move to opt for commercial quality furniture, it’s necessary to explore the top reasons for doing so.
Durability
Domestic furniture tends to see less use than pieces in a commercial setting. Just think about how many times a chair is sat on, cleaned, and moved in a pub vs your kitchen at home, for this reason, contract furniture tends to be built in a more robust way, with strengthened elements and hardwearing finishes and upholstery. This often includes:
- Weatherproof coatings
- Scratch resistant tops
- High density foam
- Hardwood frames
- UV resistance
- Lacquer coating
A great example of durable commercial furniture is our popular Washington Side Chair which is made from hardwearing beechwood and coated with a hardwearing lacquer. Tables with cast iron feet are also a top pick as they are incredibly sturdy and durable – the Olympic Pedestal Table is a great option. Finally, when it comes to outdoor pieces, opting for furniture like the Plaza Armchair is a good move since it is both UV and water-resistant so can stand up to the elements.
Value
Commercial furniture may seem like an investment at first, but the cost of replacing lower quality pieces over time soon adds up. When buying contract quality, you are investing in furniture that is designed to last and stand up to heavy use. Plus, you can often find savings when buying furniture packages or scooping up sales and offer prices when they come along.
Contract furniture standards and regulations
Furniture used in a commercial setting must meet certain legal standards and requirements. In the UK this is covered by regulations like British Standard BS 7176 and CRIB5 testing.
It’s important to ensure furniture purchased for commercial settings is compliant with these regulations. This is not only for the safety of customers and staff, but also from a business perspective. If your establishment is found to be using furniture that doesn’t adhere to these regulations, penalties could be enforced.
When purchasing commercial chairs from Trent Furniture you can be confident that they meet UK requirements. All of our products are made using fire retardant high-density foam and our upholstery fabrics are all CRIB5.
How to choose contract furniture for your venue
When it comes to choosing furniture for your venue you will want to opt for pieces that are fit for purpose but also look great. At Trent Furniture, many of our commercial furniture pieces can be customised with different finishes, so you can find something to fit perfectly with your existing decor.
You can contact the Trent Furniture team here and they will be happy to help with any queries you have, or begin browsing our contract furniture offers online now.