Opening a restaurant or revamping one that’s been open for a while is a major undertaking. While many restaurateurs focus on making sure they have the best menu possible, that’s only one of the things they need to consider. 

Anyone who’s been in the restaurant industry for a while knows that the design scheme plays a primary role in how the guests perceive the experience. Consider these points while you’re creating the design scheme for your restaurant. 

Decide on the Overall Design Scheme

Before you can get the things you need to get your restaurant set up for customers, you have to determine what design scheme you want. This plays a role in everything from what type of tables and seating you need for the restaurant to the prints you’ll get for the wall. 

The design scheme needs to complement the food you’re serving. For example, a barbeque restaurant would likely need wood or metal tables and chairs so they’re easy to clean. A formal restaurant would probably do better with a more elegant scheme. 

Create the Seating Plan

The seating plan must take the other design features of the dining space into account. It should ensure that guests have a comfortable clearance around their table without leaving too much space unused. There should also be ample room for servers to walk around the tables, even if they have trays of food in their hands. You also have to ensure that you have pathways for people who have wheelchairs or walkers to get around. 

Another consideration is the view while they’re sitting. Most restaurant patrons won’t want to sit at a table that’s right by the bathroom or that’s directly facing a bathroom door, so be sure you think about that when you’re planning out the seating plan. 

Choose Restaurant Furniture

You want your restaurant customers comfortable while they’re in the restaurant. Choose comfortable restaurant furniture that works with the design scheme of the restaurant. You need to think about things like table height and size. Find chairs, booths, or a combination of both that match the other design elements in the restaurant. 

When you order the furniture, make sure you’re getting enough. It’s usually best to buy more than you’ll actually need. This ensures that you’re prepared if something happens to any furniture. Tables, chairs, and booths can break or become unusable. Having extras on hand means that you won’t have to cut down on the number of guests you can accommodate. Remember, you’ll need space to store those extras. 

Adjust the Restaurant Flow 

Pay close attention to how things are working with the flow of the restaurant so you can determine if changes are necessary. Resetting the seating chart, for example, might help you to get guests taken care of in a more efficient manner. If possible, try to use the furniture you already have in the restaurant. You may find that you need to order more comfortable restaurant furniture to get the best seating plan possible.