Restaurant furniture includes a vast arrangement of seating, dining, decor, and accent items. As they say, the more, the merrier, but in this case, the “more” about restaurant furniture makes it demanding to choose the right one.
It’s not just about selecting chairs and tables with a certain, lavish style that glamorizes the interior. You need to consider all the factors that make your patrons linger for long after the plates have been cleared.
Furniture that combines style and comfort helps create a welcoming interior, one that “remains” welcoming for patrons from the first moment until the last one. But how exactly do you find this flawless restaurant furniture?
Here’s a complete guide that makes it easier to choose just the right furniture for your restaurant:
1. Choose Furniture That Ties the Theme Together
The theme is important, no matter if it’s a casual setting or a more upscale dining experience your restaurant offers. Even the “Free Birds” look for some style when entering the restaurant. They’d look for an Instagrammable corner to capture some images. They might look for the perfect place to sit that offers a great view of the interior. And of course, don’t forget the snaps!
So, the theme of a restaurant is just as important for casual settings as it is for formal, elegant ones. Your restaurant furniture plays a pivotal role in deciding to tie the style together. If your interior theme is minimalist, so should your restaurant table and chair sets. For a more elegant setting, go for classic furniture with a lavish touch to it.
All in all, choose the color and style of restaurant furniture that deeply resonates with your interior theme.
2. Consider Durability As It’s the Backbone
Durability is the most important factor when choosing the restaurant furniture. Having a restaurant in a bustling area like Montreal or Toronto, you surely wouldn’t want your furniture to get tarnished, rusty, or break.
Make sure the furniture you choose is robust and guaranteed by the manufacturer or the vendor. It must withstand constant use in the high-traffic areas of the restaurant. By “withstand”, we don’t mean just to stay firm or intact, but also maintain its sleek, shiny, and polished look.
3. Prioritize Comfort, But Don’t Compromise Style
No one wants to need to shift in their seat midway through eating. Struggling to sit is an absolute deal breaker. Here’s the breakdown of comfort aspects for restaurant furniture:
Seating Ergonomics
When it comes to table and chair sets, make a checklist of:
- Supportive backs to the chairs
- Perfectly positioned armrests
- Tables that don’t make anyone feel like they are Goldilocks
It’s all about balance, your furniture should look great and feel inviting. After all, happy butts mean happy customers (and more repeat visits).
Material Considerations
Let’s talk fabrics and cushions. Luxurious velvet chairs? Stunning, but not really the ideal concept for a family restaurant. If rowdy kids (we see you, toddlers) are part of the crowd, durable leather or stain-resistant upholstery is a saving grace.
Don’t forget the cushions. Ensure enough softness to lure them into staying (and ordering an extra slice of dessert) but enough firmness to prevent post-meal coma sinking.
4. Walk the Line between Trends and Timelessness
If you get tempted by the seasonal trend of furniture, stop yourself right there. Do not go overboard. That neon orange chair that is so hot right now will look dated in a year. Instead, go for classic styles that never go out of fashion and add trend-based accents.
Pair at least some of the traditional elements with a modern touch, classic wooden chairs, and bright, punchy cushions, for example. Even a timeless table complemented by ultra-modern light fixtures can work. This ensures you are able to refresh your space without having to upscale and restyle every piece of furniture with each trend.
$129.99 Original price was: $129.99.$119.99Current price is: $119.99.
$169.99 Original price was: $169.99.$149.99Current price is: $149.99.
5. Plan the Space and Layout
Here is the deal: every single square foot in your restaurant can be profitable. So, your layout must work as hard as you do. Makes sense right? However, sometimes you can huddle too many tables together. Big no-no. So, what’s the solution?
Provide Comfort in Less Space
Customers do not want to feel that they are eating inside a “sardine can.” The goal is to find that happy spot between putting as many people in seats as possible and keeping everyone comfortable.
Think compact, but cozy. Choose tables with a closer fit but sufficient elbow space to allow patrons enough room to eat without hitting the table next to it. Stackable chairs are good to have for saving space and being forward-looking without losing style.
Consider Booth Seating
Never underestimate booth seating, as it stays in vogue no matter what! It’s an absolute space-saver that makes probably anyone stick around for a while. Special: even among the most crowded of areas, booths always feel private and have been a crowd favorite of customers for ages.
Think About Traffic Flow
If your staff can not flow seamlessly through the restaurant, then you have a problem. Having a cluttered layout is indeed torturing for servers. But there’s a lot more to it. Imagine the embarrassing moments for customers who are trying to pass between chairs and constantly bump into the servers.
So, what’s the goal? Paths that get everyone (staff and diners) around the restaurant without feeling like they are in an obstacle course competition.
Leave some distance between tables for a smooth stress-free flow. Servers should simply glide by with drinks remaining in glasses and no one playing bumper cars. The result? Your guests will thank you and your staff will love you.
6. Make Flexible Arrangements
This is the beauty of multipurpose furniture! You entertain a cute couple of friends today, and tomorrow, you host a party of 12. Your furniture must be able to keep pace with that.
Thanks to the modular tables, they can create seating arrangements that connect for larger groups and disconnect for smaller ones with a sleight of hand.
Foldable chairs, stackable options, or even easy-to-move materials make rearranging your setting quick and easy. The name of the game is flexibility!
You will be doing your future self a favor by making your space available to all kinds of individuals. From those who want to grab a bite to late-night comers celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and parties.
7. Balance Cost and Quality
We understand that furnishing your restaurant might be daunting for you. However, here is a piece of advice that works as a savior: “Concentrate on the most notable things”.
Tables and Chairs
These should be your top priority since they are the MVPs of your space. There are gorgeous items out there to help you decorate without going broke (thanks to the upcycled furniture, wood-like materials, and second-hand finds)
Got a tight budget? Start from somewhere and build up extras over time. That’s because your restaurant doesn’t have to look a million bucks on day one. It just needs a good welcoming vibe, and the customer base should slowly build over time.
Low-cost, Reliable Materials
Invest in materials that provide enough value against their cost and longevity. For example, laminated are low-cost and practically indestructible.
Durable wood-like materials, quality metals, or reinforced plastics can withstand all the daily push-and-shove of a busy restaurant without falling apart.
But low cost never means cheap. That cheap-as-chips chair might look appealing right now, but when it starts rocking two months later, you’ll be kicking yourself. If you can’t strike a balance between quality and affordability, prioritize quality and consider it as an investment that keeps on rewarding.
Solid furniture can save you from frequent replacements along with protecting your restaurant image. Nobody wants to stare at an old armchair. So, you must make a place where people feel comfortable and is also long-lasting.
Final Thoughts
Never think of choosing restaurant furniture as a design decision only. It is about building an atmosphere that makes your guests feel safe, comfy, and eager to return.
Balance style, comfort, and practicality, and you will get a space that aligns with your brand and also serves its purpose. Ergonomic seating, flexible layouts, and durable materials, every detail contributes to the overall dining experience.
Want the furniture that ticks all the boxes? Vogue Decor has got you covered. Get modern, long-lasting, and affordable furniture for your restaurant.
We offer everything from trendsetting styles to classic pieces made specifically to match the Canadian vibe. All the collections are done with quality and comfort in mind. Head to Vogue Decor and take your restaurant space from ordinary to glamorous!