Choosing the Right Table & Chairs for Your Restaurant

The choice of tables and chairs in a restaurant is more than just a matter of functionality. It’s a vital aspect that significantly influences the overall dining experience of your customers.

The right selection can enhance the ambiance, promote comfort, and even reinforce your restaurant’s brand identity.

In this article, we will discuss the essential considerations when it comes to choosing the right tables and chairs for your restaurant.

Consider Your Restaurant’s Style and Theme

The ambiance and concept of your restaurant significantly influence your customers’ dining experience. Your furniture selection should seamlessly align with the atmosphere you want to create.

Different dining establishments necessitate specific furniture choices. For instance, casual diners often favor a cozy ambiance, opting for wooden tables and cushioned chairs that exude familiarity and comfort.

In contrast, fine-dining restaurants require a touch of sophistication, featuring refined tables and chairs adorned with leather upholstery to convey luxury and class. Your choice of furnishings should encapsulate your restaurant’s character and culinary offerings.

Luxury Travel Magazine highlights the diverse furniture designs across the Americas, reflecting the region’s unique cultural essence. American diners, reminiscent of mid-century America, evoke nostalgia with retro booths and counter stools.

Mexican cantinas feature Equipale chairs, blending pigskin and cedar for comfort and charm. Brazilian churrascarias embrace communal dining with long wooden tables and benches, enhancing the festive churrasco experience.

Canadian log cabin restaurants incorporate log benches and natural wood textures, bringing the rugged wilderness indoors for a rustic ambiance. Peruvian cevicherias capture vibrant street culture with vivid plastic chairs, while Argentine parrillas exude rustic elegance through iron and leather chairs.

Think About the Size and Layout of Your Space

The size and layout of your restaurant space are fundamental considerations when selecting the right tables and chairs. These factors have a direct impact on the comfort and efficiency of your dining establishment.

Primarily, you need to assess the available space and consider how many customers you want to accommodate. Striking the right balance is crucial. You want to provide enough seating for your patrons without overcrowding the area.

Furthermore, the layout of your restaurant is equally important. A well-designed layout ensures that there is ample room for customers to move around comfortably. Adequate spacing between tables and chairs is essential for diners’ comfort and plays a significant role in adhering to health and safety regulations.

According to Forbes, it’s important to adjust your seating based on demand. Reduced seating may be necessary if fewer people are using the dining room. This will allow you to focus on maintaining a comfortable and safe dining experience while ensuring profitability.

A rule of thumb is to allocate around 60% of the restaurant’s square footage to dining space, with the remaining 40% designated to other areas. This balance between seating and functional space is critical in optimizing both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Choose Durable and Easy-To-Clean Furniture

The furniture in a restaurant faces constant wear and tear due to heavy customer use. It must endure the daily challenges of spills, stains, and frequent cleaning. Opting for high-quality, robust materials such as hardwood, metal, or certain types of plastic ensures longevity and resistance to damage.

Equally crucial is the ease of cleaning. Restaurants are prone to spills and messes, making it imperative to choose furniture that can be effortlessly wiped down and sanitized. Chairs with smooth surfaces and tables with sealed finishes are practical choices, as they facilitate quick cleaning, allowing staff to maintain a hygienic environment.

Moreover, investing in furniture designed with stain-resistant or waterproof materials adds an extra layer of protection, reducing the likelihood of permanent damage.

The Style of Your Tables and Chairs

While durability, cleanliness, and comfort are essential, the aesthetics of your furniture should not be overlooked. Your furniture should be in sync with the atmosphere of your restaurant, as it significantly influences the first impression your establishment makes on customers.

For a memorable impact, consider the design of your chairs. High-backed chairs can provide a sense of grandeur, which might be suitable for fine-dining establishments or venues with higher ceilings.

On the other hand, if your restaurant has lower ceilings or you prefer a more understated look. Chairs with backs that are closer in height to the tables can create a cozier atmosphere in such areas.

Bistro chairs are a popular choice in many restaurants. These chairs often feature intricate designs, elegant curves, and decorative patterns, adding a touch of sophistication to any setting.

Tables&Tops notes that bistro chairs come in various materials, such as metal, wood, or even rattan. Their charm lies in their ability to effortlessly blend with diverse decor styles.

For instance, if your restaurant exudes a casual and rustic vibe, wooden bistro chairs can add a warm, welcoming touch. On the other hand, metal bistro chairs can bring a more contemporary and industrial flair to the space. Their versatility makes them a fantastic choice for a range of restaurant themes and concepts.

Consider the Comfort of Your Guests

Customers should feel at ease throughout their meal, encouraging them to linger, enjoy their dining experience, and potentially return. To achieve this, it’s essential to consider the appropriate spacing and dimensions based on the type of dining establishment you run.

Total Food Service outlines standard seating recommendations that serve as a basis for determining appropriate space allocation in restaurants. For example, upscale dining establishments typically allocate 18–20 square feet per customer, whereas fast-food outlets suffice with 11–14 square feet.

Additionally, precise furniture specifications, including table height (29″–30″), bar height (30″–36″–42″), seat height (17″–18″), and bar stool height (29″–30″), significantly impact guests’ overall comfort.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right tables and chairs for your restaurant involves a thoughtful balance between functionality, aesthetics, and customer comfort.

By carefully considering these aspects, you can curate a space that attracts patrons and keeps them coming back, building a loyal customer base. The right choice of furniture is an investment that contributes significantly to its ambiance, customer satisfaction, and overall appeal.