How Instagram Has Changed the Way We Design Vancouver Restaurants

Social Media’s Influence on Restaurant Interior Design

OEB Brentwood // Designed by JDG // Photo by Twist&Shutter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the rise of social media, in particular, the photo-sharing app Instagram, interior design has never been more important for the restaurant industry in Vancouver. Roughly 1 billion people actively use Instagram and it has become an incredible marketing tool for many businesses, including interior designers.

Delicious food may attract your customers, but instagrammable restaurant interior design features could bring in a whole new demographic of visitors. Social media has a great influence on people’s perceptions and attraction to restaurants, and if they know you are photo-friendly, they will definitely want to book a reservation.

Whether that’s a mural that your guests can stand beside, a cozy nook filled with plants, or an eye-catching neon sign hanging overhead, our team at Janks Design Group is going to explain how exactly social media has changed the way we address restaurant interior design.

The professional interior designers at Janks Design Group have extensive knowledge about the changing interior design trends in the restaurant industry and know how to create a unique and instagrammable space.

 

You Can’t Get a Good Photo without the Right Lighting

Yugo Restaurant // Designed by JDG // Photo by: Fyfe Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How exactly has Instagram changed the way we, interior designers, think about a restaurant space? Well, because we know that most of your customers are likely going to have an Instagram account or simply enjoy taking pictures, we work to create an environment that has plenty of photo opportunities.

Lighting can play a big role in the aesthetics of your restaurant’s interior design. There are many types of lighting styles, from ambient to task lighting, but it all depends on the kind of mood you want for your restaurant.

One of the first things that will ruin a photo is bad lighting. People can be too shy to use the flash on their cameras, so they will miss out on an instagrammable moment, and therefore your business will miss out on free social media marketing.

People love taking photos of their food as soon as it gets placed on their table, perfectly untouched. Putting spotlights over each table is a small detail, but will make a big difference. Our team of experienced interior designers did this at Yugo, a Japanese and French fusion Vancouver restaurant.

Restaurant Yugo // Designed by JDG // Photo by Fyfe Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While many restaurants want to set the mood with dim, romantic lighting, it is not helpful for taking photos.

As professional interior designers, we can ensure good quality lighting for photos, as well as maintain your brand throughout the space. We will establish a balance, incorporating plenty of natural light throughout while providing warm tones with artificial lighting.

Decorative lighting can also be used to make your space more instagrammable. A popular lighting fixture is the neon sign. They look great in photos and can be a signature for your restaurant, a symbol that people will recognize on social media and will want to come experience in person.

You can be bold with a neon sign by incorporating humour or something that speaks to the current generation. This will evoke a reaction from your customers and just might encourage them to take a picture. This has been a proven tactic in the city of Vancouver which boasts a young nightlife culture.

 

Get Creative with your Restaurant Interior Design

Bar Botanique in Amsterdam // Designed by Studio Modijefsky // Photo Source: retaildesignblog.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your restaurant’s design can increase business as it attracts more visitors because it stands out from other restaurants. Our professional interior designers at JDG can create instagrammable features that will make people want to wait in line, just so they can grab a photo with their meal.

Fun and creative interior design elements are great for restaurants because they add colour and texture, and when combined with the right lighting and decor, pull everything together. Here are just a few:

 

Murals

Dandy’s Icecream // Designed by JDG // Photo by Fyfe Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once our interior designers have finished creating an instagrammable interior space, you can reflect your brand’s creativity and design on the outside.

The team of professional interior designers at JDG helped create the mural for Dandy’s Ice Cream in Regina, Saskatchewan. It reflects their brand colours and stands out in the space, making it a perfect backdrop for photo opportunities.

Murals are a great addition to the exterior of your restaurant. It will attract people walking by and give customers something to do while waiting for a table. These colourful artworks make for the perfect backdrop and are specifically designed to incorporate a person’s body in the photo, such as angel wings for example.

 

Tile

#ihavethisthingwithfloors // Photo Source: @ihavethisthingwithfloors @comeonayleen Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A trend that we have been continually seeing is beautiful and intricate tile in restaurant interior design. Tiles can be a colourful accent that adds to the overall aesthetic of your space.

If you own a modern-style restaurant that utilizes bright colours, florals, and patterns, then tile can add the flare you are looking for, while looking great in photos.

 

Plants

People typically love nature and incorporating plants into your restaurant’s interior design is a good idea. We added plants to the Earnest Ice Cream North Vancouver location because it paired perfectly with the other elements of biophilic design such as the wooden accents.

You can read more about how to incorporate organic and natural design in our article on biophilia.

Earnest Icecream // Designed by JDG // Photo by Fyfe Photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are an interior design firm located in Vancouver, British Columbia, specializing in the design of residential and commercial spaces.

If you are looking to create a memorable dining experience for your guests and utilize the power of social media marketing, the team at Janks Design Group can make your Vancouver restaurant interior, an instagrammable space.

Patios

How Interior Designers and the City of Vancouver are using outdoor space to help the food and beverage industry survive COVID-19.

Since the effects of COVID-19 first struck Vancouver businesses, Janks Design Group has reached out to our existing food and beverage clients to offer our assistance as they navigate the new restrictions and guidelines.

Fortunately, on June 1st 2020, the City of Vancouver launched the Temporary Expedited Patio Program (TEPP). The TEPP allows businesses that serve food and liquor to temporarily expand their existing seating to the outdoors. This expansion gives Vancouver restaurants and other businesses the opportunity to somewhat maintain their seating capacity, while maintaining physical distancing requirements outlined by the Provincial Health Officer. Starting at the beginning of patio season – this program has proven successful. Within the first month of the launch, the City of Vancouver issued over 180 temporary patio permits – including Field & Social on East 5th Avenue, OEB Breakfast at Marinaside Crescent, and Vancouver Soup Company on East 1st Avenue.

Janks Design Group has been working with our clients to make use of the TEPP, with 3 patios already approved and set up, and many more on the way. By using our interior design knowledge of space planning, social arrangements, and clearances, we are able to make the most of the outdoor space available to each business. If you are looking to explore the city, and experience outdoor dining at one of the new temporary patio expansions, the City of Vancouver website outlines the recently approved temporary patios. Click here to learn more about the program, and which of your favourite local businesses is making use of the TEPP.

Who knows, perhaps Vancouver will follow in the famous footsteps of European restaurants and make outdoor dining a major aspect of the city.

Imagery Source: Unsplash

 

Interior Design Trends 2020

Over the past few months, JDG has been researching the predicted interior design trends of 2020. In 2019, we saw many trends flourish such as colour blocking, monochromatic schemes, and lots of “Instagramable” spaces. What design trends will 2020 bring for interior designers? Let’s take a look…

 

1) Softened Colours

Many of the trending interior design colours of 2020 stem from vibrant colours, but are softened to be more pleasing to the eye, and more comforting to the soul. Looking at Design Week in Milan, the trending interior design colours of 2020 are expected to be colours such as Pumpkin Red, Lemon Yellow, Champagne, and Fuscia. In addition, Pantone named their colour of the year “Classic Blue”, which is slightly bolder than the other expected trending colours of 2020. It seems that 2020 is going to be a year for taking interior design risks, and using colours that haven’t been used in a long time. These inspiring colours will help to create beautiful commercial spaces, whether it be a restaurant, retail store, or even a medical clinic.

Image Sources: (Left) Italian Bark (Right) Tumblr

Image Sources: (Left) Design Milk (Center) Yatzer (Right) Pantone

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_2) Arches

Arches are another interior design trend that we will be seeing a lot of in 2020. It seems that design trends will be moving away from rigid, rectangular, and linear lines, and moving further towards curvilinear lines, soft edges, and organic shapes. These softened forms are becoming extremely attractive interior design elements, as they offer a calming interior environment as a refuge from this fast-paced world. Although arches have been around for centuries, they are making a major comeback in a modernized form. These arches are originally found in Greece — in the doorways, windows, rooflines, and iconic swimming caves. Bringing forms like this into a design will really make a statement if they are integrated into unexpected places. We are so excited to bring this effortless element into our many interior design projects moving forward!

Image Sources: (Left) Lavorist (Right) YellowTrace

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3) Cane

This natural material started trending in late 2019, but is definitely continuing into 2020 with full force. Cane also dates back as far as the second century in India and China, and has recently made a comeback in a contemporary format. The beauty of cane is found through its effortless combination of visual and tactile texture. The neutral colour can be combined with almost any colour palette, which makes cane an excellent accent material for any interior design project. Incorporating tactile textures like cane in a space truly creates a genuine and calming environment. A common interior design application for cane is through furniture. People are drawn to natural materials, just like we are drawn to the beauty of the outdoors. Bringing natural materials into commercial environments can create a whole new experience for the end user.

Image Source: AtelierTwoPlus

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4) Indoor Gardens

In 2020, interior gardens will continue to make interior design projects stand out over the rest. This is especially true with commercial applications. Integrating plants and greenery into a commercial design feels unique and unexpected compared to residential environments. People often do not expect greenery at a restaurant, dental office, corporate office, or even a retail store. By including gardens in the interior design of these unexpected places, the overall design becomes more intriguing, inviting, and definitely more “instagramable”. This is all connected to Biophelia (check out our November 2019 blog to learn all about it).

Image Source: ArchDaily

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5) Built-In Seating

According to Dwell Magazine, built-in seating will be an impactful interior design trend for the year 2020. Not only does it create a focal point or unique element within a space, it also saves a ton of space. Loose tables and chairs alone are no longer acceptable if you want to make your seating design a trendy statement! Fortunately, Janks Design Group is ahead of the game, and we have already began integrating similar design elements into some of our current projects. The best part? This interior design detail can be applied to almost any environment, whether it be corporate, retail, restaurant, hospitality, or even residential design!

Image Source: Dwell Magazine

Sources:

 

Authentic Interior – 2020 Design Trends

Dwell – 2020 Design Trends

Wall Sauce – 2020 Design Trends

Italian Bark – 2020 Design Trends

Italian Bark – 2020 Design Trends from Milan Week