Restaurant Furniture

By Sharon V Chapman

The interior of a restaurant is almost as important as the food being served. Patrons won't continue to dine in a restaurant where the furniture is worn or so out of touch with the atmosphere of the restaurant as to be distracting. Many restaurants use their furniture and décor as a marketing tool, a lovely dining room that is warm and inviting is bound to attract customers.

There are many aspects to consider while deciding on restaurant furniture, one of which is what it is made of. Tables and chairs can be found that are made of wood, aluminum, bamboo, steel and more. The decision should be based on the overall scheme of the room and should blend well.

Restaurant furniture design should be one that is current and yet will still be fashionable in years to come. Restaurant furniture designs should be functional and appealing to the eye. It should also be expandable should business flourish. Trying to match restaurant furniture when the pattern has been discontinued is not a pleasant task and sometimes cannot be accomplished.

Theme

The dining room's décor should be based on the menu theme. For example, one would expect to see nautical items and nautical décor in a seafood restaurant, not multi-colored sombreros and Mexican memorabilia. After deciding on a theme for the restaurant, furniture should be chosen that complements the theme.

Restaurant furniture should be sturdy and able to withstand heavy use. Consideration should be give to the type of clientele the restaurant expects. Families tend to have more children and put a lot of wear and tear on furniture. An upscale restaurant can choose furniture that is more luxurious than other restaurants.

Material

Not only should the material that the furniture made of be considered, the material that covers the seats and the table tops should be looked at. The seat cushion material should be washable and easy to clean; it should also have a built-in stain protector to prevent stains from setting in to the material.

Seat cushions should be kept in good condition. Should tears occur, and they will with time, they should be replaced or repaired to keep the dining room fresh and inviting.

Table tops should be scratch resistant or have a glass or poly top cover to prevent damage to the wood. If a covering is not chosen the restaurant should have the wood tops sealed to prevent damage from liquids and hot plates.

Choosing restaurant furniture should be approached much like furnishing a home. It should be warm and inviting and show off the personality of the restaurant. It should be durable and functional, built to last and yet replaceable should the need arise.