January 7, 2023
Did you know that finding a way to improve your customer reviews by only a half star can result in a revenue boost of up to 9%?
Considering this, why not focus on your restaurant’s interior design to give your ratings a boost?
The success of a restaurant doesn’t depend solely on food. At JDG, we can guide you through the process of designing an incredible restaurant – from initial inspiration to permitting and construction.
Here are some of our top restaurant interior design tips to help you think outside the box.
Although it’s tempting, don’t start ripping apart anything just yet!
The first step is to develop a layout that is functional and efficient for both guests and staff. This restaurant interior design cheat sheet will be a great tool to help you plan out your restaurant. For example, most restaurants locate their washrooms away from the entry and windows, closer to the kitchen and back of the restaurant. This ensures your guests get to enjoy the natural lighting and view from windows.
A detailed and efficient layout will also help customers and servers move freely about your restaurant. This can be a constant challenge depending on how much space you have on your floor plan. Overall, the layout is the foundation of the design process and of your restaurant’s success – both design and functionality wise.
OEB Breakfast Co, Burnaby, B.C / Photo by: Christine Pienaar Photography / Design by: JDG
Lighting and colour selection is a vital element of restaurant interior design. You should involve both natural and artificial light to capture the essence of your establishment, and strategically select colours that boost the appetite and mood of your guests.
Creating a perfect balance of lighting levels can help influence our moods, emotions and feelings. Studies have shown that brighter light can intensify our emotions while lower light keeps them steady.
Here are some quick tips on how colours affect our brains and moods:
Dandy’s Artisan Icecream, Regina, SK / Photo by: Andrew Fyfe Photography / Design by: JDG
Flooring is another critical component of restaurant interior design. There are several choices for flooring – from hardwood, synthetic and more – but you should consider the following features:
If you’re interested in discussing the many flooring options out there, don’t hesitate to reach out to an expert at JDG.
Tap & Barrel Bridges, Vancouver, B.C / Design by: Tap & Barrel and JDG
Is your bistro a local hole-in-the-wall with lots of charm, character and history? Or is your restaurant modern and sophisticated, serving the bustling business worker community?’
No matter what your brand values are, you don’t want to throw your guests off. Tablecloths and chandeliers will feel out of place at a college brunch joint for example.
Check out this restaurant’s interior design example in Brentwood. The owner wanted customers to walk into a fresh farmhouse as they entered this brunch establishment. By incorporating some raw materials and subtle barn elements, we were able to illustrate the brand’s grassroots values to every customer at OEB Breakfast Co.
Ask yourself: What do you want your customers to feel and remember about your restaurant?
If you need help or more inspiration, you can see our other restaurant interior design examples on our project page.