Entering a restaurant, cafe or bar, we, first of all, evaluate the interior of the establishment. Moreover, the atmosphere affects attendance no less than the professionalism of the chefs and the range of dishes. The mood of the establishment is mostly set by the furniture, so its choice should be given maximum attention. You need to take into account the type of establishment, its audience, and the chosen cuisine, as well as the general style, while not forgetting to focus on the quality and functionality of the furniture and take into account fashion trends. Let’s try to figure out how to choose furniture for HoReCa establishments, and what fashion trends this year should be taken into account.
Table of Contents
NO. 1. CHOOSING A FURNITURE STYLE
The whole atmosphere in a restaurant, bar, or cafe should be subject to a common theme – then the institution is perceived as harmonious and cozy. The design style largely depends on the format, customers, and cuisine. If it is a solid restaurant where diners come to relax and have a pleasant evening, the environment should be cozy, while providing everyone with enough personal space. Soft sofas and armchairs with large armrests are welcome.
If the institution is focused on a quick snack, then it is better to give preference to compact, simple furniture, which can be bright. For a family-type cafe, large tables should become mandatory, and for a children’s cafe – small chairs and tables. A diner can be equipped with high chairs and counters, and a romantic cafe with sofas for two and glass tables.
Oriental cuisine establishments are decorated minimalistically, in black, white, and red shades. If the restaurant is dedicated to the cuisine of a certain country, then it would not be out of place to purchase furniture that is traditionally used in local food establishments, borrow accessories, use paintings and decor that create the necessary atmosphere.
Recently, even ordinary cafes and bars are decorated in a certain style. If a country style is chosen, then the furniture should be wooden, rough, massive, Provence style requires the use of light artificially aged furniture, etc. Ideally, the choice of specific pieces of furniture and their quantity is preceded by drawing up a design project, which will reflect the concept of the institution.
This year’s fashion trends dictate a move away from frilly luxury and flashy solutions toward home furnishings.
- change chairs with high backs to more compact, traditional for home interiors;
- abandon partitions and cubicle division of space into so-called comfort zones;
- focus on the food, not the chic surroundings.
The halls of the most popular restaurants in Europe and Canada today are furnished with simple furniture, free from bulky decor details, and as open as possible to natural light.
NO. 2. ATTENTION TO THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE FURNITURE
Of course, the appearance of furniture is the main factor in its choice, but its quality and functionality should not be discounted. Before buying, it does not hurt to independently check the chairs, armchairs, and sofas for convenience and compliance with the height of the selected table. It happens that very nice-looking chairs turn out to be too low or soft, so they don’t allow a person not only to sit comfortably but also to reach for a drink or a plate on the table. Another common mistake in choosing furniture is too high or unstable hockers.
NO. 3. FURNITURE MATERIAL
In modern cafes, restaurants and bars, you can see furniture made from a mass of different materials: wood and metal occupy the leading positions, glass, plastic, stone and rattan are often used, as well as leather and various kinds of textiles. It is important that the material is of high quality and durable , so there is no point in saving. More expensive pieces of furniture will look more solid, and they will retain their attractive appearance longer.
Restaurant designer Irina Glik says that this year natural materials will be in special esteem . Stone stoves , natural wood, and textiles in combination with live plants make the establishment attractive for the whole family, almost in a home circle. And most importantly, you can come to such a restaurant in casual clothes without fear of violating the dress code.
Following fashion trends, do not forget about the chosen concept of the institution.
- For example, for a fast food cafe or a bistro, compact wooden or plastic chairs without armrests, as well as chairs on a metal frame, the main requirement for which is mobility and the smallest possible dimensions, would be appropriate.
- For a sushi bar, simple wooden chairs, geometrically correct wooden countertops, sofas with wear-resistant fabrics are suitable.
- For coffee houses , you can use armchairs and chairs with upholstered upholstery, massive tables, furniture with jacquard, tapestry leather upholstery are suitable for restaurants.
- For the summer playground of the establishment, it is better to use furniture that is as resistant as possible to adverse environmental conditions, which is why plastic and rattan are so often used.
NO. 4. CALCULATION OF THE NUMBER OF PIECES OF FURNITURE
To answer the question of how many pieces of this or that furniture need to be purchased, you need to draw up a plan for its placement in the institution in advance. When trying to accommodate as many tables as possible, remember that visitors and staff need to move freely around the room, and not maneuver between chairs and people.
When drawing up a plan for arranging furniture, it is worth considering that with its help you can zone the space . For this purpose, high backs of sofas or a competent selection of furniture of different shades are used. The need for zoning and how to carry it out should also be considered in advance.
NO. 5. WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF FURNITURE
Some pieces of furniture amaze with their unique design and non-standard shapes. They can even be comfortable to use and functional enough, but require specific care. For catering establishments, it is better not to choose furniture that takes too much time to maintain and put in order. The easier it is to take care of your furniture, the better.
NO. 6. PREFERENCE FOR COMMERCIAL FURNITURE
Don’t make the common mistake many restaurant and cafe owners make – don’t buy furniture designed for home use. The flow of people in catering establishments is large, the load on furniture is increased, so you need to choose furniture designed for commercial use. Furniture market research says that the average lifespan of home furniture is about 10 years, given that it will be used by a family of 3. If 10 people use the same items, then their service life will be halved, and now imagine if the number of people increases to hundreds.
Furniture for commercial use is made more durable, which is achieved by design features. For the manufacture of wooden products, the strongest wood species and additional fasteners are used. The paint and varnish covering also differs in the increased quality, and an upholstery create from easy-to-clean, durable and hygienic coverings. A two-year warranty on a commercial chair is equivalent to a 20-year home use period – a fact that speaks for itself. If there is no desire to buy new furniture every six months, it is better to immediately purchase high-quality products, made taking into account the conditions of future operation.
NO. 7. FEATURES OF THE CHOICE OF A BAR COUNTER AND BAR STOOLS
The bar counter requires special consideration. She is able to become a decoration of any institution if you arrange it correctly. First of all, you need to remember that the bar counter is selected taking into account the space required for technological equipment. Therefore, it is better to decide in advance what equipment the bartender will have at his disposal, otherwise it may not be possible to place the necessary elements later.
The bar counter can be made in the form of a straight line, be L-shaped, trapezoidal, semi-shaft, semi-circular, but the main requirement for it is the convenience of guests and good visibility of the bartender. According to tradition, an odd number of hawkers are placed at the bar counter, 50-60 cm of space is provided for each guest. As for other parameters, the optimal height is 112-115 cm, width is 60 cm, and the recommended height of bar stools is 80-83 cm.
The design solution of both the rack itself and the hockers can be absolutely anything – the main thing is that these elements fit into the general theme of the establishment or even become its highlight.
NO. 8. WE MAKE THE INTERIOR UNIQUE
Do not forget that decor items also significantly affect the perception of the interior and can make the establishment truly unique and memorable. Look for non-standard solutions! Svetlana Evdokimova, a recognized master of design, advises making the interior lighter and more transparent with the help of mirror surfaces , large glazing areas. Unusual chandeliers, original lamps help break the rigor of standard configurations, give the interior originality. Careful selection of the finishing palette, unbanal combinations of shades and tones will make the spatial solutions found unforgettable.
Designers of the Moscow specialized factory OTTO STELLE suggest putting the uniqueness of interior design in the foreground , and not ostentatious chic. Often a well-found image saves the design budget and at the same time attracts customers, such ideas are always hunted in the restaurant business.
Reconciling conflicting ideas can be difficult. However, furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars, presented in the www.ottostelle.ru catalog, at the same time:
- comfortable for visitors;
- fits perfectly into spaces of different styles;
- responds to current trends in interior design.
Decorating the halls of a restaurant should be as tasty as preparing dishes from its menu. This advice is worthy of becoming the main reference point for restaurant owners who want to reach the heights of professional Olympus.
