When talking about branding, restaurants offer more than food. They offer guests the chance to indulge in an experience, immersing themselves in art and culture. We recommend restaurant owners consider these exciting and practical interior design ideas to create their brand of ambience to attract more customers. Restaurant interior design tips for all budgets
Decide a theme Top of the list when thinking about your restaurant's interior design, top of the list is choosing a theme that you love that makes sense alongside your overarching concept. If you have already decided what food to serve, that should be your starting point – but do not limit yourself. Embrace industrial chic. Turn your dining room into a European park. Whatever theme you choose should carry through or inform every other idea on this list. Give focus on the entrance/lobby area There's an adage that says you never get a second chance to make a first impression. This advice can be attributed to your lobby and front entrance areas. Elements such as your décor and color scheme will set the tone for general aesthetics. Other aspects – such as the seating available for people waiting for a table and the practicality of your lighting – are more about functionality and comfort. All are of paramount importance.
Plan for a lighting scheme
Lighting can be powerful. Just think of how your mood changes when you switch your home's overhead lights for the flicker of a wood-burning fireplace. Lighting can also reinforce a theme. Those popular Edison bulbs are an iconic part of industrial décor, while chandeliers are suitable for a classic, French, fine-dining establishment.
However, lighting must be practical, too. Guests need the proper lighting to safely navigate outdoor areas and use the restrooms. It is imperative to that you want transitional lighting to provide a streamlined experience as guests move from space to space. Go for greenery/plants as part of the decoration One of the most affordable restaurant decoration ideas is incorporating plants into your design. Think beyond a budding case on your dining room tables and explore plant options that are a little more outside the box: · Succulents on the bar and communal tables · An indoor herb garden or a living wall · Vines covering the perimeter of your outdoor spaces Some restaurants in the U.S. have live trees growing in the middle of the dining room, so the possibilities are only as limited as your imagination. Showcase the location What's unique about your location? Perhaps your building used to be a bread factory, or maybe your street is the oldest in the city. Use design elements such as light fixtures, tiles, and vintage photos and signs to give nod to the history of your town and location.
Utilize efficient but creative seating options Most restaurants have two- and four-tops with regular straight-backed chairs. What can yourrestaurant do differently? Switch up your seating options by outfitting your dining room with mismatched chairs or go for handmade stools with quilted backs throughout your bar area. Bench seating, communal tables, comfortable club seats – they can all work brilliantly if you incorporate them into your restaurant floor plan in a way that makes sense. Create a communal experience/seating area Speaking of communal tables, restaurants are all about shared experiences. Consider offering large tables where strangers can gather in groups. This works well if you provide organized and timed seating for each service, but you can also have guests order A-La-Carte. Feature local art
One of the best restaurant interior design tips is to use your space to feature local art. This establishes a symbiotic relationship that can prove helpful for years to come. It is possible to get an rt to decorate your walls so that artists get to showcase their talents and maybe even sell some paintings or sculptures. Consider rotating displays monthly or quarterly to allow more artists to display their pieces. It is also earlier to hold unique art and food events; the artists stick to a theme, and your culinary crew comes up with a menu to match. Highlight your kitchen and/or bar Put your bar on a pedestal – literally. Or take down the wall between your dining room and kitchen. Food TV is all the rage, and chefs are celebrities. When you highlight the people behind your food and beverage programs, you create an immersive experience that can delight guests and entice them to return. Consider minimalist concepts Minimalism is not just trendy; it is also one path toward achieving impressive restaurant interior design on a low budget. Minimalist décor means less is more. Think clean lines, a lot of neutrals, simplicity over eye-catching patterns, bold textures, and drama. To go minimalist, extend the concept beyond your décor. Consider your staff's uniforms, the layout of your menu, and even core design choices such as your logo and signage. The potential downside of minimalism is that each choice you make will stand out more and is, therefore, of enhanced importance. There is nowhere for a single piece of wall art to hide if it is the only piece in your restaurant. Here's more:
Include mirrors in your layout. Mirrors can bring light into your space and make smaller rooms seem more prominent. It is also plausible to create a statement wall using dozens of smaller mirrors sourced from thrift stores and flea markets or install one huge mirror and essentially make an entire wall disappear.
Draw attention to typography
Whether your team is scrawling that day’s menu on a chalkboard at the start of service, or you have printed menus for every meal, you should use typography to draw your guests' attention – and keep it. This word art can be memorable and is also a stellar way to reinforce your restaurant's theme.
Interior design plays a significant role in how your restaurant is perceived. Using a restaurant POS system that is not only sleek but powerful can also help you manage all aspects of your operation as your restaurant attracts more and more customers.
Book a demo today to discuss your options for payment processing, inventory management, employee scheduling, and more.
