Restaurant Seating Blog

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Restaurant Furniture Layout: Avoid the Clobber Effect

ladder back wood chairEver eat at a restaurant where every time someone wanted to get to a nearby table or leave the place, you had to interrupt your meal and get up or move your chair? Or you got clobbered in the head by someone’s shoulderbag or a waiter’s tray because there’s simply not enough space to navigate between tables?

Too many restaurants crowd their furniture for all the wrong reasons—poor space planning, too eager to fit in extra tables, bad traffic patterns, restaurant chairs and tables that are scaled all wrong for the space they occupy.

Planning or re-doing your restaurant dining area? Make sure you pay attention to a few very important details. Consider your traffic pattern. Not only do your customers need to get around, but also your bus staff and waitpersons. Sure, you’ve provided comfortable chairs, stools, and tables to fit the mood and your customer base, but now where do you put them? The more elegant the venue, the more space you may need to provide. Folks spending a lot on a meal are not as likely to put up with being jostled and interrupted all the time. Do you need to be flexible—like moving a few tables together to accommodate large parties? Keep that in mind, and make sure you select table bases that facilitate doing so, to avoid having people bang their legs into table legs.

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Restaurant Seating: Age Does Matter

Who are your restaurant or bar patrons? Young sophisticates? Business lunchers? On-the-go young families? Retirees with time on their hands? Maybe all of the above?

vertical slat wood chairWho you serve should impact the restaurant furniture you select. If your customers can be counted on to be kind to your furniture, feel free to incorporate padded cushions on your barstools and chairs in color schemes and finishes that complement your décor. If toddlers make up much of your clientele, waterproofed cushions on chairs and booths are great, but make sure you also take a good look at the extensive selections of wood chairs, metal chairs, and table tops that don’t require a lot of upkeep and special care. Middle-aged and retiree patrons will appreciate sturdy chairs and table bases that can safely support them as they sit and get up.

Looks count when it comes to restaurant furniture, but functionality should always be part of the equation.

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Restaurant Furniture – An Interior Design Check List

The dollar amount you budget for the interior design of your space is contingent upon your location, clientele, finish types, quality of materials used and the design details unique to your environment.

Below you will find some generic topics used in restaurant design. Use this check list to determine if you accounted for most of your decorative needs.

• Flooring: ceramic tile, carpet, stained concrete slab, wood, linoleum, etc.
• Wall covering: paint, wallpaper, faux finish, wainscoting, wood panel.
• Ceiling: paint, moldings, tin ceiling, etc.
• Lighting: task, decorative, etc.
• Window treatments: blinds, curtains, shades, etc.
• Bars: size, style, equipment, finishes
• Furniture: barstools, tables, chairs**, lounge seating, etc.
• Tabletop: centerpieces, tabletop accessories, etc.
• Decorative accessories: artwork, mirrors, pictures, sculpture
• Fixtures: display fixtures
• New additions: new walls, conceptual architectural elements, etc.
• Labor costs: The list above represents material costs. Don’t forget labor
• HVAC
• Structural changes
• Sound Systems
• Acoustical considerations
• Kitchen equipment
• Flexible Nightclub lighting
• Design Consulting Fees
• Sprinkler Systems

This list is to help you get started. We recommend you consult with a professional. Interior Designers can help you save money by taking advantage of their planning, design and construction experience.
Design is a business just like running a restaurant, nightclub or other hospitality organization.
Entering into a renovation project without adequate knowledge can be very costly.

**Many people underestimate the cost of chairs. Chairs can range for $40.00 to $600.00. This range is based on quality and warranty given by the manufacturer. Remember, restaurant furniture set in a busy environment is subjected to extensive abuse. You should not approach furniture that is not backed up by manufacturer’s warranty. Please check carefully for delivery lead times – this is also important when replacement or additional seating is needed.

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