restaurants are now aiming for Instagram-worthy interiors, thanks to the exposure the social media platform provides.
Delicious food will always be the heart of any restaurant. However, with the abundance of choices nowadays, you need to be extra creative in order to draw customers in and get them to try your dishes. In fact, as we shared in our ‘A World Without Digital Technology’ post, many restaurants are now aiming for Instagram-worthy interiors, thanks to the exposure the social media platform provides.
Of course, a restaurant’s interiors should go beyond grabbing surface-level attention. It should offer more than just providing a cool backdrop for photos, as restaurant interiors can make all the difference between a mediocre experience and a journey they’ll never forget. Plus, top interior designer Tom Strother also shares that interiors can help support operations within the establishment.
That being said, here’s exactly how decor and design can help create meaningful dining experiences.
Lighting to set the mood
Credit: Retail Design Blog
Lighting plays a key role in determining a restaurant’s ambience. If the lights are too bright, they can end up bothering customers who want to dine with a certain degree of intimacy under a soft gleam. On the other hand, if a room is too dark, it can be unflattering for both your food and guests.
To strike the right balance, a simple yet effective design fix is to incorporate soft lighting techniques. Task lighting or accent lighting on wall fixtures can provide a warm and comforting glow. What’s more is that the soft shadows produced by these lighting styles can positively influence your guests and allow them to savour your dishes. Thrive Global suggests dim lighting encourages people to eat at a slower pace, while also helping them feel more relaxed in a restaurant.
A great way of creating light is the ‘instagramable’ magnet of neon, you can create your own neon sign that represents your brand, allows you to set the main lighting to mood of your space and ensure everyone is going to want to share the cool neon design on their social media.
Calming colours
Credit: Delightfull
Colour makes an immediate impact on customers, so be sure to choose wisely when selecting a palette. To this end, rich and contemporary shades of blue come highly recommended in a list of interior design trends for autumn by HomeServe Living. This strong shade is still very popular, with online searches for “black and navy blue kitchens” going up 93% in the past few months. Around the world, people are looking to adopt “Scandi-noir” elegance into their homes. One reason for this is that the colour helps individuals feel positive and calm — which is something any restaurant wants their customers to experience, according to The Telegraph.
In contrast, light shades continue to be the default option for many spaces. From ivories and beiges, to pristine whites and pale yellows — these hues symbolise leisure and relaxation, which explains why upscale restaurants and bistros typically go for this end of the colour spectrum.
Material finishes
Credit: Lighting Stores
The dining table is an integral design piece for any restaurant, as it acts as the centre of a guest’s dining experience. Marble tables are still very trendy, but they can be quite intimidating for your guests. Similarly, modern glass table tops can feel rather restrictive. On that note, Architecture Art Designs state that wooden tables are your best bet if you’re trying to create a comfortable, pleasant atmosphere. Additionally, there is a multitude of different options when it comes to wood — whether you’re going for rustic glamour with pine, or walnut to add an element of sophistication.
Personalising with sound
Credit: Baux
No restaurant wants their customer to have a dull time, and the sound of conversation can truly bring a space to life. However, too much noise can undoubtedly drive others away. True enough, The Guardian reports that 8 out of 10 guests would leave a restaurant early if the place was too loud. Thankfully, you don’t have to ruin your customers’ mood by asking them to tone things down, as adding acoustic panels in your restaurant can help manage noise levels. You can decide to have them installed in your walls or mounted on top of your ceiling to cushion any uncomfortable echoes. This will ensure a pleasant, more personal dining experience — where people don’t have to shout over one another to be heard.
All in all, design is no longer something a business can afford to ignore. But as aforementioned, it isn’t the be-all and end-all solution to creating a restaurant that people will flock to over and over. To do that, you need your interiors to work together with your dishes, and even your customer service, to create a truly meaningful experience.
