There's a lot of planning and preparation that goes into opening a new café or restaurant. From getting the right location and hiring staff members to buying furniture and food supplies, your to-do list is probably very full. Your furniture choice will form a big part of whether your guests will enjoy their restaurant experience, second to the food, of course. Below are a few considerations to help you settle in the best furniture within your budget.
1. Theme
You need to settle on theme on which your design elements will be based. The theme will affect your lighting, painting, and decorative artwork, as well as the table and chair choices. How do you want your guests to feel each time they come into the restaurant? The kind of food you serve of course will also determine the theme. It is best to speak with an interior designer who can help you to create a cohesive environment inside and outside the restaurant depending on your tastes, vision and patrons' needs.
2. Size
How much space you have will determine the kind of tables and chairs you can get. You should aim to have as many seats as possible without cramping the space. If you have ample room, consider placing booths along the walls and cluster seats for parties of various sizes in the centre. There should be enough space for patrons to pass around tables they are occupied – some suggest having at least one metre between table rows/columns. Look for a location with a little space on the outside that you can make use of – outside seating is preferable on hotter days, as well as warm, clear nights when guests can enjoy the view and stars.
3. Material
You'll have some kind of upholstery on seats, whether they are booths or cluster-style seats. Choose high-quality materials and ensure that they are finished properly. You can choose upholstery in vinyl, fabric or leather and frames in metal, wood and laminate/plastic among others. Product quality may be different, but a general rule is that heavier materials are better quality and more ideal for commercial applications since they are less prone to wear.
If you have metal-frame seats (as opposed to wooden seats), consider upholstering both the top and bottom so that patrons don't touch the metal parts – they can get cold and uncomfortable when temperatures are low. Wooden booths can be finished with fabric or leather upholstery depending on your theme. Plastic/laminate booths are common for fast-food style joints and kid-friendly hangouts where simplicity is desirable. They need no upholstery.
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