When choosing restaurant furniture, it is important to look at the basics first. No matter what your initial preference, you need to consider a few things before you actually start the selection process. You have to ask yourself the following questions:
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How big is my restaurant?
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What is the specific design and theme of the restaurant?
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What is my budget for buying restaurant furniture?
Once you have determined the guidelines for your selection, you can then look at the possible materials and styles you would like for your restaurant furniture.
Materials for Restaurant Furniture
What materials are restaurant furniture made from? They can actually be built of a variety of materials including:
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Fabric – upholstery
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Metal
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Plastic
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Vinyl
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Wood
The options above can meet a wide range of budgets and requirements. However, there are certain characteristics that you need to be sure your restaurant furniture contains.
Characteristics of Good Restaurant Furniture
When it comes to selecting good restaurant furniture for your store, you need to take into consideration several factors. These need to combine appearance with usefulness. In general, restaurant furniture needs to be:
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Durable: Chairs and tables need to be able to handle the abuse they will receive.
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Light: Chairs, in particular, have to be easily moved and adjusted by wait staff, cleaning staff and, most importantly, by the client. People need to be able to move the chair on their own with ease.
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Washable: All restaurant furniture must be able to be washed, cleaned and sanitized without adverse results. This may mean you need to avoid seating with crevices or cracks in which food and dirt particles can hide. Any fabric that covers the seating needs to be treated with a stain resistant substance to reduce the instances of replacement .
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Suitable: Everything must suit its purpose and fit into the design. Furniture needs to reflect the theme, style or atmosphere of the restaurant in which it is used.
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Stable: While tables may be light enough to move, they also have to be stable. They must be rock steady in their position on the floor.
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Versatile in addressing capacity: Make sure the tables and chairs are able to handle the number of guests in the restaurant. Depending on the nature of your restaurant and the layout, chairs and/or tables may be portable – allowing for the floor plan to shift in accordance with the number of guests. They may also be fixed and static. No matter what your restrictions or preference, make sure the tables and chairs (Banquettes and/or booths) are capable of holding the requisite number of guests.
Selecting the right restaurant furniture can be a challenge. If, however, you know your budget, have a grasp of the layout space and design, and understand the need to combine functionality with appearance, you should be able to make the right choice. Talk to other restaurateurs. They may be able to offer you some ideas of the best restaurant furniture for your own establishment.
