When it comes to designing your restaurant, one of the most critical aspects to consider is the furniture. The right furniture links your design elements and enhances restaurant flow. The wrong furniture can create an unwelcoming atmosphere in your establishment.
Restaurant furniture is available in an array of styles, materials, and price points. When purchasing tables and chairs for your establishment, there are several factors to consider.
Tables and chairs for commercial use
It is important to ensure that you purchase commercial grade furnishings when shopping for commercial chairs and tables. Even though this may seem like a no-brainer, many new restaurant owners believe that it makes no difference whether they purchase commercial furniture or residential furniture.
During business hours, customers will be coming in and out of your establishment. They will be rearranging chairs, and possibly even tables, throughout the room. Some people will find it more difficult to sit than others. Certain guests will bring their children or will cause havoc on the chairs and tables.
Residential-grade furniture will not withstand this level of abuse. Commercial grade furniture is constructed with long-term use in mind.
If you decide to buy tables in a metal restaurant, consider using a fully welded option.
Commercial furniture will not only be durable, but it will also be backed by a suitable warranty. If a residential chair is used in a commercial setting, it is possible that the warranty on the chair will not be honored. Why? As a result, the chair was not intended to be used for that purpose.
Your Atmosphere or Theme
When purchasing restaurant tables and chairs, one of the most important factors to consider is the environment or theme of the establishment. The furniture you choose for your restaurant should complement the overall design of the space.
You may have a mix of cozy coffee shops, couches and lounge chairs if you’re running a casual café. You may have tufted wooden velvet or vinyl booths if you plan to open a speakeasy-style restaurant.
It is essential that the color, style, and material complement the overall theme and style of your restaurant. If the furniture appears to be out of place, it has the potential to undermine your entire design concept. Remember that your furnishings should be reflected in every aspect of design of your restaurant.
The style and durability of the room are crucial, but you need to take into account the height and width and the sitting space of the furniture.
And, in case you’re wondering, yes, restaurant dining tables do have size restrictions.
The Standard for Restaurant Tables and Chairs
Seat heights on standard restaurant chairs should be 18” tall to accommodate dining tables with a standard height of 30.” The chair’s overall height is entirely dependent on the theme of your restaurant and your personal preference.
What is the standard width of restaurant dining chairs in terms of width? A minimum width of 16” is recommended. For maximum comfort and durability, fine dining restaurants typically have wider seats.
It is recommended that there be two feet between each person at the table when dining in a fast-casual restaurant. For each person in a fine dining establishment, aim for 30 inches of space.
Also important is selecting a restaurant dining table that allows for plenty of leg room. Ideally, 10-12″ between the chair’s seat and the bottom of the table should exist. If your chairs have armrests, ensure that the space between the armrest and the underside of the table is at least six inches.
High-Top Seating
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a high table with stools? Look for bar stools with a 30″ seat height and counter stools with a 24″ seat height. To accommodate standard high top table chairs, bar or pub tables should be 42 inches in height.
You want the same space for each person with high top seats – 24.” Legroom is governed by the same rules as headroom. The seat and the base of the bar or high table should be 10-12″ apart.
The majority of restaurant tables and chair sets will be available in the standard sizes and heights mentioned previously.
How Long Will Guests Stay?
As a restaurant proprietor, you want to ensure that your customers are as comfortable as possible, correct? Both yes and no.
It’s important to think about how long your guests will be in your home. If you own a fast-casual restaurant, you can expect the majority of your customers to stay for 45 minutes to an hour at most. You want a quick turn-around so that you can get as much work done as possible, which is especially important if you have a limited amount of space.
When shopping for commercial restaurant chairs, you should look for ones that will keep your customers comfortable for at least an hour, but not so comfortable that they will spend the entire time at your tables. For this type of setting Stiffer wooden restaurant chairs can be the right choice.
If you own a fine dining establishment and expect your customers to spend several hours at a table, plush upholstered seating may be the most comfortable option for keeping them as comfortable as possible during their visit.
Upkeep and Care
When selecting restaurant table and chair sets, one of the most important factors to consider is maintenance and care.
Look for materials that are easy to clean and maintain, such as aluminum anodised or powder coated steel, if you run a casual restaurant. High-end, fine-dining establishments may find that having high-maintenance furnishings is well worth the extra care and attention they require.
Maintaining the furniture requires proper training, which your staff will receive as part of their employment. If the maintenance process is overly complicated, errors will occur, resulting in unnecessary damage to your furniture.
Procurement
What method will you use to obtain the furniture for your commercial restaurant?
Attending a restaurant furniture auction can help you save money on your next purchase. Auctions are excellent places to find great deals, but keep in mind that the inventory is limited in these venues. You may not be able to find 3 additional sets if you need six tables and chairs and the auction has only three sets.
Restaurant furniture wholesalers continue to provide competitive pricing, but you won’t have to worry about running out of inventory. Wholesalers usually require minimum orders. Wholesale cannot be an option for you if you run a small establishment with just a few tables.
You can also buy directly from the manufacturer of restaurants, but you can pay much higher prices.
Versatility
You can find furniture that can be used both indoors and outdoors, provided that your restaurant has an outside sitting area.
Dual-purpose furniture is equally at home on the patio or in the dining room. Aluminum and polypropylene are excellent materials for indoor-outdoor restaurant tables and chairs.
This is not a decision to be taken lightly, as it involves the purchase of furniture for your restaurant. When weighing your options, keep all of these considerations in mind, and don’t forget to keep your budget in mind as well.
