Designing for different types of restaurants

When it comes to designing different types of restaurants, it’s important to create a winning concept for your customer. Whether you want to create an intimate dining experience or a social space for casual dining, the intended ambience holds the key to your design. We look at the various elements that contribute to a successful restaurant design.

Restaurants are much more than just a space where people dine. It’s where people go to eat, spend time together or have important conversations, so decide on the atmosphere you wish to create. Restaurant seating, for example, tends to be functional for fast-food environments, while fine dining settings will have a greater focus on comfort and upholstery.

Lighting, flooring, wall colours and objects need to represent the design concept, creating a clear narrative. Think about the different materials that align with your restaurant design. For more luxurious settings, you could consider high-quality leathers and velvets. With a growing focus on sustainability, you might decide to incorporate recycled materials into your design.

Consider your concept and colour palette in relation to furnishings and upholstery. A triadic approach uses three colours that are evenly spaced around the restaurant. The 60/30/10 rule has one dominant colour, a secondary colour and an accent colour. Alternatively, an analogous palette uses shades or hues next to each other on the colour wheel. These different approaches to colour will have an impact on your restaurant concept.

Restaurant design and furniture

Although there has been a shift towards cosier dining spaces in recent years, furniture and furnishings ultimately depend on the restaurant concept. Restaurant designers usually aim to create a balance between aesthetics and ergonomics. Customers need to feel relaxed and at ease, so they can enjoy their dining experience. Restaurateurs’ focus should be on creating an enticing ambience that encourages clientele to become repeat customers.

When we designed furniture for Italian restaurant Ave Mario, we considered the visually stunning and highly immersive interior scheme. Part of the Big Mamma Group, the restaurant concept pays homage to a 70s Italian singer, Mario Merola. The interior design draws from Italian churches with artworks adorning the walls. We built beautiful, scalloped banquettes with plain and fluted booth seating to create memorable and ambient spaces.

A different example of interior design can be seen in the restaurant concept for the Flat Iron Restaurant. Situated in the busy Westfield London shopping centre, this restaurant has succeeded in adapting to ever-evolving customer demands. We designed three high-end styles of seating, including tan leather booths for couples on steak nights. We also built wooden-backed and tan-leather-backed banquettes to create a mix of seating styles.

When it comes to restaurant chains, it’s important to ensure a clear narrative and connection between each individual restaurant. Our seating design for Thai restaurant, Giggling Squid in Oxford, used the chain’s colour palette throughout the restaurant. We have also built seating for different Nandos’ restaurants, creating a wow factor while maintaining the brand identity.

Booths, banquettes and custom wooden dining benches

Whether you are creating an individual restaurant or a new chain establishment, designing restaurant spaces requires careful balance. For more upmarket restaurants, there may be a greater focus on ambience and luxurious materials. Mid-priced eateries, however, might be focused on customers’ comfort. Lower end restaurants are often designed for practicality and high footfall, therefore, think easy-to-clean chairs, benches and tabletops.

Consider how you would like your diners to be seated in terms of the restaurant concept and intended atmosphere. Booth seating, for example, can offer privacy for more intimate dining experiences. Bench seating can be an efficient way to increase the number of covers, while banquette seating is very versatile and can be shaped around awkward corners.

Booths can also be designed for different clientele. Small booths offer intimacy for couples, while large booths offer a solution for accommodating groups. Ideal for celebrations, this can help to separate noisy parties from couples seeking privacy.

Banquettes can be used in conjunction with freestanding tables and chairs. Particularly suited to restaurant-bar settings, this open form of seating is ideal for families and more sociable environments.

Wooden bench seating is a practical way to optimise the number of covers, especially in family restaurants. Benches can help to maximise the use of space in more informal settings and are another great solution for sociable environments, such as pub-restaurants.

Handmade bespoke furniture for restaurants

A successful restaurant design understands the needs of the intended clientele. The concept needs to create a clear narrative using relevant colour palettes, objects, furnishings, upholstery and lighting. Restaurant seating needs to combine function with aesthetics and comfort, while aligning to the restaurant design concept.

Whether you choose dining booths, banquettes or benches you can also custom-design matching freestanding chairs. If you are a restaurant owner or manager, our design team will help you transform your dining setting with handmade, bespoke furniture. Every seat we design is specially crafted for the intended space, concept and interior décor scheme.

We offer a variety of materials, upholstery and stitching finishes to match any restaurant colour palette. For some examples of our restaurant furniture designs, see our Gallery.

When you start working with us, you will be designated a dedicated project manager. Using the latest computer-aided design software, our talented design team will visualise your seating, ensuring it complements your restaurant concept. Our skilled production team will custom-build your restaurant seating using specialist hand tools and CNC machinery. Your seating will then be quality checked, delivered and installed at your restaurant by our team.

Contact us to discuss handmade bespoke seating for your restaurant or hospitality setting.