By Sina Sadeghpour, Contributor
As we enter the spring of 2020, restaurant owners might find themselves wondering what is going to make the biggest splash regarding restaurant interior design that will present the best experience for their guests.
To make sure that you stay one step ahead of the competition it may be worth updating the decor, style, or features of your restaurant. Not only will it wow your regulars, but it also can pull in new foot fall.
Two Categories of Restaurant Design Trends
So how should you redesign your restaurant? On the one hand you can choose to completely redesign your premises in a bold and adventurous way, or, alternatively, you can modify the existing design of your restaurant by adding new features. Remember that sometimes seemingly small changes can go a long way in the minds of your guests as well as making a real difference to your profitability.
The two main categories of restaurant design can be understood as conceptual design trends and design element trends. Both approaches offer a world of possibilities and one need not rule out the other. You can, if you desire, get the best of both worlds.
Conceptual Design Trends
Some of the most successful restaurant businesses are focusing on a central theme that permeates the whole experience for their customers. This centers around the practical design of the restaurant and will impact how your business operates on a day to day basis. Taking this approach can help to build a strong and memorable foundation for your brand that is quantified through the experience of your clientele.
Communal Eating is Booming in Popularity.
In the last few years, there has been a big expansion in the open dining concept as well as communal eating. This growth includes food halls, shared spaces, and open tables where customers can mingle and enjoy the great food on offer with strangers. This creates a very social dining experience.
It can seem like a bold strategy but there are business advantages such as making the most of the seating space you have available. Unlike more traditional layouts, where two people may be sitting on a table meant for four, with open seating arrangements you can boost your profits while creating an exciting and sociable experience for your guests.
Rooftop Dining is Chic & Will Never Go Out of Fashion.
Most people really do love to eat outside and it’s such a rare treat to eat amazing food on a lovely rooftop with great views. Of course this is weather dependent, but even if you’re operating in a climate that is variable, you can make the necessary accommodations to make this possible. Good heating, if it’s cold, and a canopy in case of rain, will actually add to the experience for your diners.
To throw in more personality to your rooftop you can employ plants, umbrellas, statues, and sculptures that capture the essence of your brand. Outdoor patio heaters keep the mood warm as well as your customers if you’re serving up food in a cold spell.
Designated Ordering & Waiting Areas Increase Efficiency
As people get more used to ordering take-out meals and home deliveries, it can be a wise to separate your restaurant into two parts -- one part that handles the deliveries and take-outs and the other which serves your guests who are eating inhouse. This will add to your efficiency while avoiding disturbing the dining experience of your customers who are eating in your establishment.
Employ a holding area where take-out customers can wait for their meals. Perhaps have some comfy chairs for them to wait in, some stacks of magazines to pass the time, and, of course, some flyers that advertise your business! You can also use this designated area for delivery drivers to pick meals up from for delivery.
Design Element Trends
Design elements are aspects of your restaurant that can easily be changed without major overhauls or redesign work. These elements include things like lighting, the color coding of your premises, and decor. These may seem like minor alterations, but when they are done right, they have a major impact on your customers and the general feel of the experience that you offer.
Handmade Tableware Connects Your Restaurant to Your Community.
Handmade tableware -- such as bowls, plates and furniture -- connects your business to the wider community of artisans in your area. This can be especially effective if your region is famous for a particular type of craft; for example, ceramics.
Your customers will love the earthy feel of the experience and it will add a fantastic layer of sensuality to your menu. People are finding more and more value in the craft work of artisans, so using unique glassware, plates and other tableware is a great way to connect with your customers and help to support your local artisan economy.
Wood Elements Bring the Outdoors Inside.
By incorporating wooden elements within your restaurant, you will immediately create a cozy and warm feeling that your clientele will naturally appreciate. This can mean lovely wooden furniture, with the knots of wood visible, but it can also translate into wall features, vases, and even lamp bases.
To make this work for you it could be as simple as a new wooden hostess station, handmade wooden seats in the waiting area, or new tables throughout your restaurant. This is a great feature because it appeals to all demographics and never goes out of style.
Mix & Match Furniture Creates a Friendly and Relaxed Atmosphere.
In the past decade, the mix and match style of furnishing has become a real favorite in residential settings. Now the trend is moving into the restaurant scene as well. Guests feel at home straight away and will be relaxed and appreciative.
To really pull this off though you should try to maintain a unified theme, whether that’s the color of the furniture or the general style. If you really want to create a “welcome home” feeling then using pillows is always a safe bet.
Plants & Fresh Green Spaces Let Restaurant Guests Know Where Their Food Came From.
Using plants and fresh green salads and vegetables as part of your restaurant’s decor is a new trend that is thriving. People are becoming ever more concerned about where their food is coming from, and if they can see the salad, they are about to eat happily growing nearby it is bound to be a success.
If you have an outdoor seating area why not consider growing the vegetables right there? You can be very inventive with this as well. For example, you can grow salad on wall gardens under lights within the restaurant. Not only will this create a strong bond of trust with your guests, but it will also add a lovely touch of life and vibrancy to the space.
The Main Lessons from Restaurant Design Trends in 2020
There’s never been a more exciting and innovative time in the history of restaurant design which is a fantastic thing for customers, but it also means that restaurateurs are sometimes having to take bold steps to appeal to an increasingly demanding clientele.
Customers are More Time Sensitive with Take-out Orders.
With our lives becoming busier, and the internet offering so many options for fast pick-up and delivery services, customers are becoming very sensitive to the amount of time they have to wait for a pre-order take-out.
Make sure that your business is available online and that you have the orders ready as soon as you can for their pickup. Having a comfortable waiting area will help with this and you may even consider creating a memorable feature, such as a fish tank, to take your customers mind of the short wait!
Relaxed & Natural Dining Areas are becoming more Popular.
Guests are increasingly less worried about formal dining experiences and are trending towards a “home from home” experience in a relaxed but unique environment. Catering to this can include communal dining, mix and match furniture or even a restaurant cat that people get to know over time!
Restaurant Design Trends are Fast Moving but Some Things are Forever.
Although the trends in restaurant design are moving fast at this time there will always be some basics that endure. Guests love to feel they are in a unique and special environment, they always enjoy good food, and, depending on your choices, if you create the right features that appeal to them they will keep on coming back.
So whether you decide to completely remodel your restaurant interior, redesign the space or add some amazing new design elements, always do it with your customers in mind and your efforts will not go unnoticed in 2020.