Restaurant Space Planning

When planning the dining room of your restaurant, you will obviously want to fit as many seats into your restaurant as possible. The more seats you have, the more patrons can dine at once, and the more money you make. Much thought goes into this part of the restaurant planning, you want to maximize your space, but you do not want to make your guests feel uncomfortable. Here are some guidelines to follow.

A general rule is to keep 24" to 30" in between chairs for a clear walkway. This is the distance from the back of one chair to the back of another chair at an adjacent table. The space between tables that do not have chairs should be between 36" and 42." And for walkways next to booths, the same 36" to 42" should be adequate for s

ervers to carry food and for guests to walk through.

Again, these are merely general ideas for space planning. Be aware of your local fire codes and restrictions as these vary from region to region.

The Best Place to Purchase Restaurant Furniture

Deciding where to purchase furniture for your restaurant is a big deal. There are several options available to you when you decide you're ready to furnish your establishment.

The first option is to go through a designer or contractor. Generally, if you choose to go this route, the designer will be in charge of the entire decor of the restaurant. From the flooring, to the wall covering, to the tables and chairs, they obtain and install everything. This is ideal if you do not want to be very involved in the design process. However, there are several downfalls to this method. For one, you do not get to be directly involved in the interior planning of your own restaurant. Secondly, you do not build a relationship with the furniture supplier. Building rapport with the furniture company is a good idea. Down the road, if you need more chairs and tables that match the existing furniture, chances are the furniture company will remember you and your project.

The other option is to buy directly from a restaurant furniture supplier. This method is good for restaurateurs who have a good idea of what they are looking for in furnishings for their restaurant. Visiting a show room will give you a good feeling of what kind of furniture is available. Keep in mind that many places can customize their products, build it from a design plan, or order furniture for you if they do not have it in stock. The benefit of dealing directly with the furniture supplier is that you are cutting out one more level of communication, cutting down on misunderstandings and further ensuring that you get exactly what you want.

Hazelwoods is a restaurant furniture supplier that deals both with design contractors and restaurant owners. Visit the website to check out their line of product.

Restaurant Booth Layout

Booths are a very popular seating solution for casual dining restaurants and they are becoming even more accepted in quick-serve and fine dining restaurants. As simple as they look, booths can pose several space planning issues.

You want to make sure that the tables you choose to go with your booths are the right size. If the table is too small, people will have to lean over to eat, but if the table is too large people will have a difficult time getting into the booth. Typically booths are 6' from the back of one seat to the back of the facing seat. This allows adequate room for a standard 30" wide table.

As for the length of the table, the only thing to remember is that you do not want the table protruding from the booth seats. Industry standard says that the table should end 1" short of the edge of the booth. This keeps sharp corners out of the walkway, preventing injuries and spills. Also, if the table is too long, it will be difficult for you guests to get in and out of the booth. Consider keeping your booths to a max of 4 people per booth and reserving tables for larger parties.

L-shaped booths are another option. They are great for corners, or for placing at the end of a banquette. You can combine 2 L-shaped booths to create more variety with booths. Keep in mind that L-shaped booths can still be difficult to get into and out of, so do not try to cram too many place settings in one section.

For booth design dimensions and layout ideas, visit Hazelwoods.

Adding Style to Restaurant Furniture

Many times, restaurant furniture can seem to get lost in the restaurant. Of course, I do not mean this literally. But sometimes when you walk into a restaurant, the furniture is just furniture. There are a few simple steps you can take to turn boring restaurant furniture into artwork.

First of all, add color!! Instead of using a plain black vinyl for seats, try a color that goes with your logo or simply a color you like. Even if your restaurant calls for sophistication, deep maroons and plums will do a lot to enhance the place. Try a different approach by adding color to the walls and using neutrals for the furniture. The contrast between the neutrals and bright colors is sure to add dimension to your restaurant. Another place to add color is on table tops. This is a good place to portray the theme of your restaurant. Put images, bottle caps, or even your logo on the top of your tables.

Second, experiment with different shapes! Table tops are available in many different shapes. Many tables can be custom shaped for your restaurant. If your budget doesn't allow for custom shapes, try alternating square and round for a unique look. Try adding curves and designs to the back of your dining chairs and bar stools. You can often order custom cut-outs in chair backs. Coffee cups and mugs are popular motifs for cafes, while martini and wine glasses can be used for bar stools.

Lastly, remember your booths! Booths can sometimes be forgotten as they are often pushed against a wall. As I said before, add color and shapes. You can add a piece that goes above the booth for extra style. Also, think about upholstery options, not just fabric choice. Take a look at some of the styles that Hazelwoods offers. Try adding buttons or channels to the booth backs.

Stylizing your restaurant furniture will not only liven up the atmosphere, but it will instill a sense of excitement in your guests when they walk through the door.

The In's and Out's of Bar Furniture

Bar furniture has different requirements than dining room furniture. It serves a completely different purpose to your customers. Chairs in a dining room are specifically meant to be pulled up to a table, whereas bar furniture is meant to be more conducive to conversation.

Comfort is not the most important thing when it comes to bar furniture, however it is always good to keep it in mind. Bar furniture has come a long way from the days when a simple 3-leg wooden stool would suffice. Now there are thousands of different options to choose from, some more comfortable than others. Think about how long you want your guests to sit at the bar when choosing seats. If the bar is the main focus of your establishment, you might want to go with something more comfortable, but if the bar is simply an add-on to a restaurant, you do not want people to get too comfortable in the bar.

Bar furniture should be able to be moved. Often, people in bars move stools and tables around to accommodate their group. Having moveable furniture allows guests to create their own seating arrangements which can enhance the experience they have in your restaurant. Many bars that have stationary bar stools have swivel seats installed on them. This helps to aid conversation in a bar setting.

The furniture you choose for your bar should not be merely an afterthought. It takes much consideration to produce a quality, function bar.

Chairs: Wood vs. Metal

When choosing chairs and bar stools for your dining room and bar, there are many things to consider, including materials used and comfort level.

The materials chosen for the construction of your chairs and bar stools can either enhance or detract from the aesthetic you are aiming for. While a metal chair will convey a sportier, more casual atmosphere, wood chairs can make the room seem more elegant or cozy. If your restaurant runs on the higher end of the dining spectrum, a chair such as the Beidermeier chair is sure to please your discriminating guests. A sports bar and grill may be more interested in metal chairs and bar stools that will stand up to the wear and tear caused by raucous fans.

When deciding how comfortable your chairs should be, consider your clientele. Who will be sitting in your chair. Also consider how long it will take them to eat their meal, pay their bill, and exit. Does your restaurant have the kind of atmosphere that would make a group want to stay and linger over a drink or dessert? If so, add a little extra padding to upholstered seats. In a fast food type of restaurant, comfort is not as important. As long as your customers have a place to sit that is comfortable for at least 30 minutes, while they eat, they will be satisfied.

Take Chances With Your Restaurant Furnishings!

Opening a new restaurant is one of the riskiest endeavors out there, so it makes sense to reduce any risk you can. However you want to be careful, because just like bland food, bland decor can turn away your guests. Restaurant furnishings may be the one area in your new business venture where you should feel comfortable taking risks.

Generally when people choose to dine out, they do so because they want to get out of their home for a meal. They are looking for a change of pace and something to stimulate their senses. Your restaurant should do more than just satisfy their taste buds, it should become a dining experience. Restaurant furniture plays a huge part in the ambiance of your restaurant. Feel free to experiment with new shapes and colors. Your customers do not have to live with the design scheme of your restaurant, so they won't mind being in a wild environment for a few hours.

Check out new ideas at Hazelwoods.